7.8.5.6 Courtesy and Integrity

Also in this Chapter:

• 7.8.5.1 Lawfulness
• 7.8.5.2 Fairness
• 7.8.5.3 Rationality
• 7.8.5.4 Openness
• 7.8.5.5 Diligence and Efficiency​​​​​​​

Hearing officers must ensure that parties appearing before them are treated with dignity, respect and courtesy. Officers need to have an awareness of, and sensitivity to, the diversity of the Australian community and, in particular, the obligations that arise under the Racial Discrimination, Sex Discrimination and Disability Discrimination Acts.

Thus, special effort may be required when explaining the proceedings or to otherwise accommodate the special needs of certain parties. It will certainly mean that parties are heard patiently and carefully and that disparaging remarks are not made by the hearing officer at the hearing or in their decision and that such remarks made by other parties are not tolerated. Cross examination can also raise particular issues, for example where questioning is overly aggressive or the credibility of a witness is attacked on irrelevant grounds.

Similarly, hearing officers are expected to act honestly and truthfully in the conduct of their duties and to disclose any conflict of interest that may arise. They must not use confidential information that may be available to them for advantage and must at all times act in a way that upholds the integrity of the Australian Public Service and the decision making process.