What is a conflict of interest?

00:04:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AhmA8z6lIc

Sintesi

TLDRThe video explains the concept of conflict of interest for public officials, emphasizing the expectation for them to act in the public's interest rather than for personal gains. It provides examples, such as officials who have private interests that might intersect with their public roles, and outlines how to identify potential conflicts by examining personal interests, public duties, and their connections. It stresses the importance of declaring such conflicts, even if no wrongdoing is intended, to avoid accusations of corrupt conduct. A proper declaration should be in writing, timely, and accurate, allowing agencies to manage the situation effectively. Ignoring or concealing conflicts is deemed corrupt and unethical.

Punti di forza

  • 🤔 Conflicts of interest arise when personal interests could overshadow public duties.
  • ⚖️ Public officials must act in the public interest, not for personal gains.
  • 📝 Disclosing conflicts is crucial to maintain integrity and transparency.
  • 🚫 Concealing a conflict can be considered corrupt conduct.
  • 💼 Personal interests include financial ties, relationships, and social contacts.
  • 🔍 Regularly assess personal vs. public duties for any overlaps.
  • 🕒 Prompt and clear disclosure helps manage conflicts effectively.
  • 📜 Agencies will have a plan to handle reported conflicts.
  • 🏆 Honest self-assessment doesn't exempt from having conflicts.
  • 🌐 Visit ICAC website for further advice and guidance.

Linea temporale

  • 00:00:00 - 00:04:20

    Public officials should prioritize the public good over personal interests to avoid conflicts of interest, which arise when personal interests could potentially overshadow public duties. Such situations can lead to perceived or actual favoritism, even without intent. Examples include a heritage officer assessing council applications from his business clients or a compliance officer investigating a friend's business. To identify conflicts of interest, officials must consider their personal interests, public duties, and any overlap, as well as how others might perceive these interests. Disclosing conflicts involves documenting them in writing and cooperating with management plans to ensure integrity and prevent corrupt conduct. Moreover, failing to disclose can be considered corrupt behavior.

Mappa mentale

Mind Map

Domande frequenti

  • What is a conflict of interest?

    A conflict of interest occurs when public officials' personal interests might be favored over their public duties.

  • What are examples of conflicts of interest?

    Examples include a heritage officer with a private business in the property industry or a compliance officer investigating a business run by a friend.

  • How can one identify a conflict of interest?

    Consider your personal interests and public duties and assess for any connections or overlaps that may be perceived as favorable.

  • Why is it important to declare a conflict of interest?

    Declaring it protects against accusations of corrupt conduct and ensures public interest is prioritized.

  • What steps should be taken to declare a conflict of interest?

    It should be declared in writing, promptly, and accurately.

  • What might happen if someone conceals a conflict of interest?

    Concealing a conflict of interest could be considered corrupt conduct.

  • Are honest people exempt from conflicts of interest?

    No, even honest individuals can have conflicts of interest; they are determined by perception, not intent.

  • How does one's personal interest relate to their public duties?

    Personal interests could be financial, relational, or social, and may overlap with public duties.

  • Why is managing conflicts of interest essential for public officials?

    It ensures transparency and maintains public trust.

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Sottotitoli
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Scorrimento automatico:
  • 00:00:03
    public officials are expected to act for
  • 00:00:05
    the public good not their own personal
  • 00:00:08
    interests that means they should never
  • 00:00:10
    unduly benefit from their official
  • 00:00:12
    position being in a situation where they
  • 00:00:15
    might is called a conflict of interest a
  • 00:00:18
    conflict of interest exists when a
  • 00:00:21
    reasonable person might perceive that a
  • 00:00:23
    public officials personal interests
  • 00:00:25
    could be favored over their public
  • 00:00:27
    duties for example the Heritage Officer
  • 00:00:30
    had a council also has a private
  • 00:00:32
    business providing heritage advice to
  • 00:00:34
    the property industry from time to time
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    the heritage offices private clients
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    submit development applications to the
  • 00:00:41
    council that he has to assess the
  • 00:00:44
    university is running a tender process
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    for a new building project but a person
  • 00:00:49
    involved has a friend who wants to bid
  • 00:00:51
    for the work a compliance officer who
  • 00:00:54
    has to investigate unlawful behavior by
  • 00:00:57
    a business run by the captain of his
  • 00:00:59
    football team but how do you know if you
  • 00:01:01
    have a conflict of interest here are
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    four things to consider first think
  • 00:01:07
    about your personal interests these
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    include your financial interests such as
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    sources of income investments and debts
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    your relationships with family and
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    friends but also business associates
  • 00:01:20
    people in sporting or community groups
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    even your social media contacts next
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    think about your public duties all of
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    the things in your job description and
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    the tasks that your agency requires you
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    to perform but also to serve the public
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    interest and act ethically at all times
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    now consider whether there is a
  • 00:01:41
    connection or overlap between your
  • 00:01:44
    personal interests and your public
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    duties finally you need to consider
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    whether a reasonable person might
  • 00:01:51
    perceive that the personal interest
  • 00:01:53
    could be favored there are two common
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    mistakes that people make the first
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    mistake is to forget that a conflict
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    arises when a personal interest could be
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    favored over public duties even if you
  • 00:02:06
    don't take any action to favor your
  • 00:02:08
    personal interest you still have a
  • 00:02:10
    conflict of interest let's take an earl
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    your example if a public official is
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    working on a tender at a university and
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    knows that her friend wants to submit a
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    bid she has a conflict of interest even
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    if she never does anything to benefit
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    her friend the second most common
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    mistake people make is not to disclose
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    the conflict of interest because we see
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    ourselves as ethical honorable people it
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    can be challenging to imagine ourselves
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    ever doing the wrong thing putting it
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    another way you're not allowed to decide
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    that you don't have a conflict of
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    interest
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    just because you rate yourself as an
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    honest person so how do you declare a
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    conflict of interest your agency should
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    have a process in place but in a
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    nutshell it should be done in writing be
  • 00:03:01
    timely be accurate remember it only
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    requires a few minutes to protect
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    yourself
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    after all a public official who takes
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    advantage of a conflict of interest to
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    obtain a benefit for themselves or
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    someone close to them is probably
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    engaging in corrupt conduct also keep in
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    mind that intentionally concealing or
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    understating a conflict of interest is
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    dishonest and is likely to constitute
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    corrupt conduct once you disclose the
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    conflict of interest your agency then
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    comes up with a plan to manage it
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    whatever is decided you're expected to
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    cooperate to make sure the public
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    interest is put first so the key things
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    to remember are one conflicts of
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    interest occur when a reasonable person
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    might perceive that your personal
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    interests could be favored over your
  • 00:03:55
    public duties - if you conceal
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    understate or take advantage of a
  • 00:04:01
    conflict of interest you might be
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    engaging in corrupt conduct 3 disclose
  • 00:04:07
    your conflict of interest and comply
  • 00:04:09
    with the plan put in place to manage it
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    for more information visit
  • 00:04:14
    ICAC NSW gov dot a you
Tag
  • conflict of interest
  • public officials
  • ethics
  • corruption
  • transparency
  • disclosure
  • personal interest
  • public duty
  • integrity
  • ICAC