Conduct and ethics

The City of Stirling is serious about preventing misconduct, corruption and fraud. The City has a separate code of conduct for elected members and employees in their dealings with the community and others; and a statement of business ethics to manage our relations with suppliers.

The City has established a dedicated hotline for reporting alleged misconduct, corruption or fraud. The City will investigate fully all reports and treat them with the utmost confidentiality. Persons disclosing misconduct or corruption-related matters are protected from reprisal or detrimental action by the Corruption and Crime Commission Act 2003 and other ‘whistleblower’ protection laws.

Code of conduct

Recent changes to the Local Government Act 1995 require the City to adopt a separate Codes of Conduct for Elected Members and employees.

Council is required to adopt the Code of Conduct for Elected Members, Committee Members and Candidates, and the Chief Executive Officer is to adopt the Code of Conduct for employees.

The City of Stirling Elected Member Code of Conduct sets the standards for the behaviour and conduct for Elected Member, Committee Members and Candidates.

Complaint of an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct by an Elected Member must be made in writing by completing the Code of Conduct Breach Complaint Form.

The City of Stirling Employees Code of Conduct sets the standard for all City's employees for behaviour and conduct.

Statement of business ethics

A statement of business ethics has also been introduced to outline the expectations of goods and services providers. These include:

• Complying with all Australian laws

• Understanding the City’s policies, guidelines and procedures
• Providing accurate and reliable advice and information when required 
• Declaring actual or perceived conflicts of interest as soon possible 
• Dealing ethically, fairly and honestly 
• Taking all reasonable measures to prevent disclosure of confidential information 
• Not engaging in any form of collusion, especially with City employees
• Not discussing City business or information with the media
• Reporting any unethical practices in business relationships.

It also includes information on the City’s commitment to ethical dealings with providers, and what they can expect from us, such as:

• Using public resources effectively and efficiently
• Dealing with all individuals and organisations in a fair, honest and ethical manner 
• Avoiding any conflicts of interest (whether real or perceived) 
• Never seeking gifts or other personal benefits
• Treating all suppliers impartially and fairly, and giving equal access to information to assist with quotations, tendering or supply
• Full and clear documentation for an effective audit trail, allowing for fair contract performance review
• As far as reasonably possible, purchasing energy-efficient equipment, environmentally-friendly products and products containing recycled materials, whilst taking value-for-money into account
• Not requesting tenders unless the City has a firm commitment to proceed to contract (however, Council reserves the right not to proceed with any tender so advertised) 
• Not disclosing confidential or proprietary information
• Reporting misconduct, corruption and fraud.

City of Stirling Integrity Strategy

The City of Stirling Integrity Strategy outlines the City's approach to ensuring it not only acts with integrity, honesty and transparency; but is seen doing so by making reasoned decisions without bias by following fair and objective processes. This strategy applies to all employees and elected members at the City.

The City recognises the work of the WA Government in developing and implementing the Integrity Strategy for WA Public Authorities 2020-2023. 

The City has adopted the WA Government Integrity Strategy in developing this strategy, utilising the Integrity Snapshot Tool to assess its approach to integrity and identify areas of improvement.