C.2  Disclosure and management of conflicts of interest for advisors

Government departments engage a range of advisors from finance, commerce, the law, the environment and other professional services to assist in conducting PPP projects.

Close collaboration between small groups of specialist advisors is a key feature of these projects. This collaboration is necessary to deliver value-for-money results. However, the potential for conflicts of interest (COIs) in engaging advisors is heightened by the relatively small size of the Australian advisor market, the rationalisation of advisory firms and the scale and duration of PPP projects.

The information below provides an assessment framework and advice on managing COIs, not a rigid set of rules.

This guidance is intended to encourage greater advisor disclosure by outlining higher levels of certainty, consistency and accountability in the way disclosures are dealt with across government. There is an increased onus on advisors to identify and disclose all events and activities which will or could give rise to a Conflict of Interest. It is not expected that every disclosure will automatically constitute an actual Conflict of Interest.

Project Directors will coordinate the management of conflicts of interest, along with their existing project development activities, using this guidance, and existing probity tools and processes.

This COI framework should be read in conjunction with individual jurisdictions' specific requirements.