Probity
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that the process for providing funding under the Quality Use of Pathology Program is transparent and in accordance with published Guidelines.QUPC members will provide technical expertise only as part of the Department’s assessment of funding applications. Any committee members with a real or perceived interest in a funding application will be precluded from providing any input on that application. In addition, any member, as a nominee of an organisation on the QUPC that has submitted an application, will be precluded from providing any input to the Department in the assessment of that application.
The Department will ensure that all staff involved in the assessment of applications will adhere to the Chief Executive Instructions (CEI) in relation to probity and conflict of interest.
The Department will ensure that there is an appropriate separation of duties (i.e. anyone involved in the assessment of funding applications cannot approve them) and that the appropriate levels of transparency and probity are met. For further information on the CEI refer to the Department of Finance website.
- Note: Guidelines may be varied from time-to-time by the Australian Government as the needs of the program dictate. Amended Guidelines will be published on the Department’s website.
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest may exist, for example, if the applicant or any of its personnel:- has a relationship (whether professional, commercial or personal) with a party who is able to influence the application assessment process, such as a Department staff member;
- has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation, which is likely to interfere with or restrict the applicant in carrying out the proposed activities fairly and independently; or
- has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation from which they will receive personal gain as a result of the granting of funding under the Quality Use of Pathology Program.
Where an applicant subsequently identifies that an actual, apparent, or potential conflict of interest exists or might arise in relation to this application for funding, the applicant must inform the Department in writing immediately.
All members of the Quality Use of Pathology Committee and appropriate Departmental staff will be required to comply with and sign conflict of interest forms prior to any consideration of submissions. The Department will manage this process in conjunction with the Chair of the QUPC.
Confidentiality and Protection of Personal Information
Each applicant will be required to declare as part of their application, their ability to comply with the following Clause: 1 Interpretation (1.1), Confidential Information and Personal Information in the funding agreement it may enter into with the Australian Government.The Protection of Personal Information Clause requires the applicant to:
- comply with the Privacy Act (1988) (‘the Privacy Act’), including the 11 Information Privacy Principles (IPPs), as if it were an agency under the Privacy Act, and the National Privacy Principles (NPPs);
- refrain from engaging in direct marketing (s 16F of the Privacy Act), to the extent that the NPP and/or s 16F apply to theapplicant; and
- impose the same privacy obligations on any subcontractors it engages to assist with the Project.
The applicant is required to seek the Commonwealth’s consent in writing before disclosing Confidential Information. Further information can be found in the Standard Funding Agreement attached to the Invitation to Apply for Funding documentation on the Department’s website.