Canberra, 6 June 1968
4724. Unclassified Priority
Following is draft text of code of conduct which as l understand it in the light of comments passed to the department by the Administration ought to be acceptable to you with the possible exception of the preamble which is new. The point of the preamble is to get away from any suggestion that this code of conduct is a legal statement or is binding in precise terms. If the whole text is acceptable to you suggest you use it along with the text of the arrangements under section 251 and we will obtain final approval from the Minister within the next few days.
If you have any points of difficulty appreciate immediate advice.2
Begins.
‘Papua and New Guinea—code of conduct for holder of ministerial office
There are no precise or legally prescribed rules for the conduct of ministers or holders of ministerial office but over the centuries a generally accepted code of conduct has been evolved in the countries with a British parliamentary system of government. These notes are designed to assist holders of ministerial office understand the position. The Administrator may be consulted in any doubtful case.
Before he assumes office a holder of ministerial office should curtail for the period of his appointment his activities in outside interests that could conflict with his public responsibilities including private business and professional practices.
Apart from honorary directorships and directorships connected with charitable organisations or with private companies not primarily engaged in trade but dealing wholly or mainly with family affairs or interests he should also resign any directorships he may hold.
He should disclose in confidence to the Administrator any holdings he has of securities in companies having interests in the Territory whether or not such companies hold Government contracts at the time. He should avoid any situation in which conflict could occur between his private interests and his public duty eg by disposing of any such securities that might give rise to difficulty.
While in office he should not enter into transactions through which his private financial interest might come into conflict with his public duty or accept any favour from persons holding or seeking to obtain Government contracts.
He should not under any circumstances use official information he has received by virtue of his office for his own private profit or for that of his friends, or put himself or allow himself to be put in a position to use his official influence in support of any scheme or in the furtherance of any contract in regard to which he has an undisclosed private interest.
No holder of ministerial office should speculate in securities regarding which through receiving special early or confidential information he may be at an advantage over other people in anticipating market changes.
There should be no practice of journalism or communication with the press in other than an official capacity. This does not preclude writings of a literary, historical, scientific, philosophical or romantic nature.
In addition to these requirements in relation to private affairs, there is an obligation on holders of ministerial office to avoid using or making public for political purposes information received by them in the course of their official duties.’3
[NAA: A452, 1970/4521]
1 Document 197.
2 Hay and DOET appear to have agreed on the text below, though no record of ministerial approval has been found (see telex 5476, Hay to Warwick Smith, 7 June 1968, and handwritten note by unidentified DOET officer, 11 June 1968, NAA: A452, 1970/4521 ).
3 After consultation between Hay and the Ministerial Nominations Committee (consisting of Lapun, Neville, Diria, Kapena and J.P. Langro (MHA, West Sepik regional electorate)), Barnes approved appointment of the following Ministerial Members: Abal (Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries), Toliman (Education), Kapena (Labour), Giregire (Posts and Telegraphs), Ashton (Public Works), Tore Lokoloko (Public Health; MHA, Kerema open electorate) and Angmai Bilas (Trade and Industry; MHA, Mabuso open electorate). Assistant Ministerial Members were Oala-Rarua (Treasury), Diria (Local Government), Kurondo (Forests), Langro (Information and Extension Services), Watson (Co-operatives), J.A. Lue (Technical Education and Training; MHA, Bougainville regional electorate), Meck Singiliong (Rural Development; MHA, Finschhafen open electorate) and Andrew Wabiria (Lands, Surveys and Mines; MHA, Koroba open electorate). T.J. Leahy (MHA, Markham open electorate) was approved as an additional member of the AEC (submission, Ballard to Barnes, 13 June 1968, NAA: A452, 1970/4521 ). Ministerial office holders were sworn in on the afternoon of 14 June (telex 5625, Hay to Warwick Smith, ibid.). The Administration’s selection of these office holders was influenced by a concern to have a representative group. Hay had hoped to include members of Pangu, but given the Pati’s decision to form an ‘opposition’ (see footnote 9, Document 200), the criteria for ministerial representation were focussed on geography. The 17 positions available were split between four regions—highlands, NG mainland, NG islands and Papua (Hay interview, 1973–4, NLA: TRC 121/65,4: 1/31–2).