Declare a gift or benefit

Use the Gifts and benefits guideline to determine if it is appropriate to accept or provide a gift or benefit.

Consider:

• why the gift or benefit is offered or provided
• what the public perception will be if the gift or benefit is accepted.

If you’re unsure whether to accept a gift or benefit, speak to you supervisor or HR team.

You must declare any gifts and benefits received as part of your official duties to avoid any perception of conflicts of interest or inappropriate influence.

See your intranet or speak to your supervisor or HR team to find out how your agency does this.

You’ll need to:

• take reasonable steps to determine the value of the gift or benefit (deliberately undervaluing a gift or benefit may be considered misconduct)
• consider if you have received multiple gifts or benefits from the same donor or related donors. If so, consider the total value for the financial year, not just the individual gifts and benefits
• consider the timing and purpose of the gift (if you’re in a sensitive role where you make decisions that affect the department or the government). In some circumstances, a gift which may not be high in value, may still be intended to influence and should be declined or declared.

Gifts or benefits with a cumulative value of $150 or less

Providing you have assessed and determined it is appropriate to accept or provide the gift or benefit, you can provide or retain it without approval and do not need to complete your agency's Declaration of Gifts and Benefits Received form.

Gifts or benefits with a cumulative value of between $150 and $350

Providing you have assessed and determined it is appropriate to accept or provide the gift or benefit, you can provide or retain it with appropriate approval (e.g. deputy director-general or other senior executive).

You must complete your agency’s Declaration of Gifts and Benefits Received form. See your intranet or speak to your HR team.

Gifts or benefits with a cumulative value of more than $350

In rare circumstances and providing you have assessed and determined it is appropriate to accept or provide the gift or benefit, you can provide or retain it with appropriate approval (e.g. deputy director-general or other senior executive).

You must complete your agency’s Declaration of Gifts and Benefits Received form. See your intranet or speak to your HR team.

Agencies must record gifts and benefits received or given with a retail value of more than $150 in a central Gifts and Benefits Register which must be published quarterly.

Gift registers should remain published on an agency's website for 12 months, at which point they may be taken down and archived in accordance with Retention and Disposal Schedule for Administrative Records. Copies of previous registers should be made available upon request.

• Employees: speak to your supervisor or local HR team.
• HR specialists: contact the PSC Advisory Service.