Australian Public Service Commission and Merit Protection Commissioner 2025-26 combined annual report
Summary
The report's own summary: Commissioner’s review, pages 8 to 9
Generated summary: written by an AI model from the report text and checked against the cited pages.
The Australian Public Service Commission and Merit Protection Commissioner reported on their work in 2025–26, covering public service capability, integrity, workforce management and employment reviews.
combined annual report, page 8 · combined annual report, page 138 · combined annual report, page 145
The Commission assessed six measures of its performance and reported achieving four, substantially achieving one and partly achieving one.
The Merit Protection Commissioner reported receiving 109 applications to review Code of Conduct decisions and 199 applications concerning other employment decisions.
The Merit Protection Commissioner reported recommending that 40% of reviewed Code of Conduct breach or sanction decisions be set aside or varied.
combined annual report, page 144 · combined annual report, page 157
The Merit Protection Commissioner concluded that recurring problems in these decisions showed a continuing gap in agencies' ability to manage misconduct and apply the Code of Conduct.
The Merit Protection Commissioner reported that all recommendations it made to agency heads in 2025–26 were accepted and implemented.
In the body's own words
- Finding
However, we did observe that, once a declaration is made, the consideration of specific and relevant strategies on how to best manage the conflict is often cursory and seemingly perfunctory.
- Conclusion
Overall, the Commission achieved its purpose for the reporting period.
- Finding
All the recommendations made by the MPC to agency heads in 2025–26 were accepted and implemented.
Complaints and investigations 5
Applications received
109
Printed as
Applications received Breach decisions reviewed Sanction decisions reviewed Number of agencies 109 43 25 35
Applications received
199
Printed as
Applications received Reviews completed Complaints about final entitlements On hand at end of year 199 36 15 12
Applications received
65
Printed as
Applications received 65 Applications closed 65
complaints about final entitlements
15
Printed as
This year, we received 15 complaints about final entitlements.
requests to conduct an inquiry
3
Printed as
In 2025–26, we received 3 requests to conduct an inquiry under this part of the Public Service Act.
Other figures 8
Total finalised during period
113
Printed as
Total finalised during period 113 199 65 2 15 394
Finalised
199
Printed as
Finalised 89 128 136 151 199
Applications closed
65
Printed as
Applications closed 65
Total reviewed
68
Printed as
Total reviewed 24 39 47 61 68
Promotion reviews
7
Printed as
Applications received Promotion reviews Own motions audits Agencies 65 7 2 5
Completed audits
2
Printed as
Own motion audits Number Completed audits 2
enquiries
1051
Printed as
we received and responded to 1051 enquiries
Applications
267
Printed as
This year we received 267 applications for review of a promotion decision.
About the document
- Edition
- Current edition
- Reading status
- Read by OPAX
- Pages
- 214
- Figures not found in the report
- Investigations commenced; Public hearings; Recommendations made; Referrals to prosecution