BY SARAH STEPHEN
Immigration minister Philip Ruddock, in the June 7 Canberra Times, warned public servants not to get involved in politics by supporting the World Refugee Day rallies for refugees' rights on June 22-23.
Andrew Hall, spokesperson for the rapidly expanding Canberra Public Servants for Refugees network, says that public servants are not above politics, precisely because they are the ones who have to carry out the government's dirty work.
"Many public servants disagree with mandatory detention of asylum seekers and other aspects of the government's refugee policy, and a growing number are prepared to make their opposition known", Hall told Green Left Weekly.
"While Ruddock warns public servants to remember their apolitical role, he continues to use officials from the defence and immigration departments to cynically and unethically manipulate public opinion, as the 'children overboard lies' scandal and the government's complicity in the drowning of 353 asylum seekers both demonstrate.
"Ruddock questions the professionalism and judgement of public servants. Yet he is the minister forcing South Australian child welfare officers and health workers at Woomera detention centre not to carry out their duty of care, not to carry out their role as public servants", said Hall.
Public Servants for Refugees is a growing email network of public servants from more than 30 agencies concerned about the children, women and men being held in detention by the Australian government. Despite its small beginnings, the group is starting to ruffle some feathers in the immigration department.
On June 20, Australian and overseas staff working for the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) received an email bulletin signed by the head of department, Bill Farmer. The bulletin politely but firmly reminded staff of the "appropriate" conduct for public servants.
It stated: "The increased public scrutiny of our activities provides a timely reminder of our obligations as DIMIA employees. The public expects the highest standards of behaviour from its public servants. The APS and its employees have a well deserved reputation for professionalism in implementing the policies of elected government of the day, regardless of employees personal views.
"... there may be occasions when a perception of a conflict of interest may arise. This may occur where your personal affairs have an impact, or may be seen to have an impact, on your work. Inappropriate public comment, for instance, may be seen as a conflict of interest and may create a range of problems including compromising the conduct of DIMIA work.
"Inappropriate public comment includes:
- personal statements or opinions which may imply they are official comments;
- negative views or opinions about government policies, practices or personnel when acting in an official capacity or which throw doubt on your capacity for impartially performing your duties; and
- personal criticism of employees or clients of DIMIA, the Minister or the Minister's office.
"[Public service] employees have the right to publicise their personal views on the actions and policies of the government, but only on areas of operation that do not relate to their work [emphasis added]. You may, for instance, write to the press or talk with the media about matters that do not relate to the work of DIMIA. You must not use information derived from your official duties for any purpose other than your official duties."
From Green Left Weekly, June 26, 2002.
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