❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the rationale behind requiring State Library volunteers to sign a code of conduct and the impact on volunteer numbers. The Minister deflects responsibility, citing government and departmental policy, and reports no volunteer departures due to the requirement, with an increase in overall volunteer numbers.
AnsweredQoN 3326Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the Minister explain the rationale behind his decision to require volunteers at the State Library of Western Australia to read the Department of Culture and the Arts Portfolio Code of Conduct and sign an acknowledgement form, or otherwise leave?
(2) How many volunteers refused to sign and have subsequently left?
(3) How many years of volunteering at the State Library did these particular volunteers have between them?
(4) How many volunteers were there at the State Library before this directive?
(5) How many are there now?
(2) How many volunteers refused to sign and have subsequently left?
(3) How many years of volunteering at the State Library did these particular volunteers have between them?
(4) How many volunteers were there at the State Library before this directive?
(5) How many are there now?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 August 2010
Responded by
Minister for Culture and the Arts
Response time
40 days
(1) As Minister I have not provided any directive regarding the signing of the Code of Conduct by volunteers. It is the Director General, Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA) and the Chief Executive Officer, State Library of Western Australia (SLWA) who require volunteers working within the State Library of Western Australia to abide by the Department of Culture and the Arts Portfolio Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct is based on Public Sector Standards of conduct. The rationale behind this is that:
· It is Government policy (refer to Public Sector Commission circular, Number 16 2009), that it is desirable to make volunteers aware of the agency's expectations of them;
· It is Government policy, (see above circular), that formalising a volunteer's recognition of the agency's expectations of them through signed acceptance is permissible;
· It is DCA and SLWA policy, through the DCA Portfolio Code of Conduct, that it is appropriate for volunteers and employees to be held to the same standard of conduct. Whilst volunteering for the SLWA, volunteers are representing the organisation and the public service and are therefore required to uphold the organisational values and behavioural code;
· As it is unlikely that the public will differentiate between a volunteer and an employee when attending SLWA locations, it is appropriate to hold volunteers and employees to the same standard of conduct.
(2) Nil
(3) Not applicable
(4) 48
(5) 72
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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· It is Government policy (refer to Public Sector Commission circular, Number 16 2009), that it is desirable to make volunteers aware of the agency's expectations of them;
· It is Government policy, (see above circular), that formalising a volunteer's recognition of the agency's expectations of them through signed acceptance is permissible;
· It is DCA and SLWA policy, through the DCA Portfolio Code of Conduct, that it is appropriate for volunteers and employees to be held to the same standard of conduct. Whilst volunteering for the SLWA, volunteers are representing the organisation and the public service and are therefore required to uphold the organisational values and behavioural code;
· As it is unlikely that the public will differentiate between a volunteer and an employee when attending SLWA locations, it is appropriate to hold volunteers and employees to the same standard of conduct.
(2) Nil
(3) Not applicable
(4) 48
(5) 72
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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