The State Services Authority has responsibility for promoting high standards of integrity and conduct in the public sector. This function is performed independently by the Public Sector Standards Commissioner (PSSC).

By working collaboratively with public sector employers the PSSC seeks to promote high standards of integrity and conduct in the Victorian public sector by:

• issuing codes of conduct that reinforce the public sector values
• issuing standards on how to apply the employment principles and how to conduct reviews
• promoting the values, employment principles, standards and codes through publications such as the Ethics Framework and the Ethics Resource Kit
• requiring information from public sector employers about their application of the values, employment principles, standards and codes
• reviewing complaints, making recommendations, and reporting to the Premier
• establishing a Register of Lobbyists (from 1 December 2009).

The public sector values underpin and reflect the behaviours essential to the relationship between the public sector and the Government, the public sector and the community, and the between those who work in the public sector. The employment principles provide Victorian public sector employees with a framework for ensuring all employment processes are fair and merit based.

The activities of the PSSC positively impact on the manner in which public sector bodies and public officials operate, make decisions and provide services to the Government and the Victorian community.