Andrew Podger
National President
Institute of Public Administration Australia

This monograph is the first of a planned series over the next few years as a joint venture between IPAA and ANZSOG.

ANZSOG is a unique collaboration amongst Australasian governments and higher education institutions to develop emerging leaders in the public sector and to support research on contemporary public policy and management issues. IPAA is the national association of those whose profession is public administration, promoting high standards and continuous professional development and disseminating research and practitioner experience through its journals and its seminars and conferences.

The two organisations are natural partners. Participants in ANZSOG programs are encouraged to be members and supporters of IPAA. Both are keen to promote research and to share lessons from practical experience.

IPAA is particularly keen to sponsor work that provides guidance on professional standards in public administration. IPAA’s Queensland Division has been taking the lead in developing some initial documents canvassing the standards that might apply today in such fields as values-based management and whistleblower arrangements.

This monograph by Anne Tiernan and Jennifer Menzies represents a substantial review of the rules and conventions applying in the lead-up to elections. Standards of behaviour at these times, including processes of decision-making, are important to our democratic system. They protect the apolitical and professional nature of the public service, ensuring it is well placed to serve whichever party wins the ensuing election and they ensure the incoming government has maximum capacity to pursue its mandate without being unduly constrained by decisions taken immediately before the election.

Guidance has long been available to public servants working for the Australian Government but has not been so widely known at State and local government levels. This monograph provides guidance on appropriate professional standards for those working at all levels of government in Australia (and New Zealand).

IPAA is pleased to co-sponsor this research with ANZSOG and looks forward to cooperating on further monographs that promote high standards in public administration.