An independent investigation into the actions of former Australian Public Service Commissioner, John Lloyd (pictured) in 2015 has found he breached the APS Code of Conduct.
Centring around allegations that Mr Lloyd emailed a document relating to research conducted by the APS Commission to an outside organisation he once worked for, the investigation for the Merit Protection Commissioner by former Commonwealth Ombudsman and Australian Information Commissioner, John McMillan, concluded that he had.
In her judgement however, Merit Protection Commissioner, Linda Waugh, determined that the matter was not of sufficient gravity to warrant any action.
Mr Lloyd left his position on the day the investigation’s findings were made public.
According to outside media reports, the investigation found Mr Lloyd’s actions failed to uphold the good reputation of the APS Commission and were not consistent with APS Values.
“Ms Waugh found that Mr Lloyd was not driven by dishonesty or a lack of integrity, but a failure to recognise the ‘clear attendant risk’ of his actions.”
“There is no evidence that Mr Lloyd’s action was dishonest, was indicative of a lack of integrity or a misuse of Commonwealth resources,” Ms Waugh said.
Former Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Senator Eric Abetz, who held the position when Mr Lloyd was appointed APS Commissioner was reported as labelling the findings ‘farcical’.
“It is entirely unremarkable for information to be shared with third parties,” Senator Abetz said.
“During my time as a Minister there was information and data provided by my Department to trade unions that was not placed on the public record.”
He said that if it now became inappropriate to share information produced by the Government with third parties, ‘deep ramifications’ could result.
