1. Introduction

The Statement sets out the mutual commitments of Destination NSW and external parties engaged in business with us.

In this Statement, reference to:

  • Destination NSW includes all Destination NSW staff.
  • Suppliers includes all external parties, including contractors, consultants, tenderers, business partners, and sub-contractors.

Compliance with this Statement supports ethical, fair, and transparent relationships between Destination NSW and suppliers. By upholding these standards, we create a trusted environment that advances our mutual objectives in a responsible and ethical manner.

This Statement should be read in conjunction with the NSW Government Supplier Code of Conduct.

2. What you can expect from Destination NSW

We are committed to high standards of integrity and ethics in procurement.

Suppliers can expect that we will:

  • Comply with relevant laws, regulations, policies, government guidelines including the NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework.
  • Encourage fair and open competition to achieve value for money (noting that this does not always mean the lowest price).
  • Conduct all business in an honest, transparent, fair and impartial manner.
  • Identify and manage actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.
  • Prohibit acceptance of gifts, gratuities and hospitality without a reasonable business purpose or during any procurement process.
  • Disclose contracts and variations as required under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW).
  • Protect confidential and proprietary information throughout the procurement process, adhering to confidentiality requirements.
  • Respond promptly and fairly to feedback and complaints.
  • Provide fair and equitable opportunities for local suppliers and Aboriginal businesses.
  • Make all reasonable efforts to prevent modern slavery within supply chains, promoting fair and ethical workplaces free from exploitation.
  • Consider environmental sustainability in procurement decisions, including considerations around sustainable resources and circular economy.
  • Ensure all decisions are made in a fair and objective manner and subject to proper record keeping and accountability practices.

3. What we expect of suppliers

We expect suppliers engaging with Destination NSW to:

  • Operate ethically, conducting all dealings honestly, safely, and responsibly.
  • Comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, including the NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework.
  • Ensure that those providing labour hire and professional services contractors and consultants are informed of and comply with the NSW Government Supplier Code of Conduct.
  • Maintain accurate and complete records relating to work undertaken for or on behalf of Destination NSW.
  • Respect confidentiality, protect sensitive information, and avoid unauthorised disclosures,
    reporting any compromises or disclosures of Destination NSW data as soon as practical.
  • Never offer gifts, benefits, hospitality that is not related to a proper business purpose for Destination NSW or during a Destination NSW procurement process.
  • Declare and manage actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest as soon as identified and ensure declarations are provided in writing.
  • Ensure fair and ethical workplaces, actively working to prevent modern slavery in line with the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW).
  • Encourage employees to undertake training on ethical practices, modern slavery prevention, and Work, Health and Safety compliance.
  • Actively support the NSW Government social and sustainability priorities.
  • Promptly report any suspected fraud or corruption involving Destination NSW to the appropriate authorities or directly to Destination NSW.
  • Act with care and use Destination NSW resources in a proper, ethical and efficient manner
  • Understand that Destination NSW employees cannot endorse or make public comment about suppliers’ products or services.
  • Act in the public interest and not engage in any conduct which would bring Destination NSW or public sector into disrepute.

4. Principles of ethical conduct

Confidentiality and intellectual property rights

All Destination NSW information should be treated as confidential unless otherwise indicated or already lawfully in the public domain. This includes safeguarding all business-related documents and sensitive information throughout the procurement process, ensuring secure storage and preventing unauthorised dissemination.

In business relationships we will respect each other’s confidential information and intellectual property rights and will formally negotiate any access, license or use of intellectual property.

Accountability, transparency and communication

Destination NSW holds itself accountable for responsible and transparent use of public resources. We maintain detailed records of procurement processes and decisions.

All suppliers and partners are expected to uphold these principles by providing accurate information, communicating promptly about any issues that may affect performance, and cooperating in transparent reporting practices.

Communication between Destination NSW and suppliers should be direct and clear, fostering an environment of accountability and reducing the risk of perceived undue influence in our business relationships.

Gifts, gratuities and hospitality

Employees and contractors at Destination NSW must not solicit or accept any financial or non-financial benefits, as this can lead to conflicts of interest or perceptions of favouritism or preferential treatment.

Suppliers are also prohibited from offering gifts, benefits or hospitality to Destination NSW employees that is not related to a proper business purpose for Destination NSW or during a Destination NSW procurement process.

For instance, if any gift, benefit or hospitality does not have a clear business purpose in ensuring that a contract, event, investment or other business is delivering Destination NSW business outcomes for NSW, it should not be offered or solicited.

Any attempt to improperly influence Destination NSW employees through offers will be declared and reported to authorities, potentially leading to serious penalties.

Conflicts of Interest

All Destination NSW staff and suppliers are required to actively identify and promptly disclose any actual, perceived, or potential conflicts of interest. If any interest, whether financial, professional, or personal, could influence or be perceived to influence impartial decision-making, it must be reported to Destination NSW immediately.

For example, a potential conflict that may arise is if a supplier’s employee has a personal connection to a Destination NSW staff member, or if a supplier awards subcontracting work to a business owned by a relative of someone on their own management team.

Destination NSW expects suppliers to prioritise transparency by disclosing conflicts as soon as they are identified, allowing for timely resolution. When in doubt, it is always better to report a potential conflict, actual or perceived, rather than risk compromising the fairness of the procurement process.

Work Health and Safety and respectful behaviour

Suppliers are required to provide a safe working environment and must comply with all applicable Work, Health and Safety laws, regulations and obligations.

Suppliers must always engage in respectful workplace behaviour free from bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and discrimination.

Compliance with standards

Destination NSW expects all suppliers to adhere to relevant international and Australian standards that ensure ethical, compliant, and risk-aware practices.

This includes commitments to responsible information security management, robust risk controls, anti-corruption efforts, and sustainable environmental practices.

Suppliers are expected to actively implement and uphold these standards as part of their operations with Destination NSW. Compliance with these standards is critical for fostering a secure, ethical, and transparent working relationship with Destination NSW.

5. Implications of non-compliance with this Statement

Suppliers should be aware that failure to adhere to the ethical standards outlined in this statement and the NSW Government Supplier Code of Conduct, along with any corrupt or unethical behaviour, may result in serious consequences, including the consequences outlined in Section 3 of the NSW Government Supplier Code of Conduct.

6. Public Interest Disclosures

At Destination NSW, we encourage employees, contractors, suppliers, and volunteers to report any serious wrongdoing they encounter within Destination NSW. Reporting can help ensure accountability and foster integrity across our operations.

Protections are provided for individuals to disclose matters in the public interest, in line with the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022. Reports made under that Act are handled confidentially, and individuals are safeguarded from any detrimental action resulting from their disclosure.

For more information, please refer to the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport’s Public Interest Disclosure Policy, which Destination NSW has adopted.

7. Reporting corrupt conduct

If you are concerned about a possible breach of the NSW Government Supplier Code of Conduct and/or this Statement of Business Ethics that relates to Destination NSW, this can be directed internally to our Audit Risk & Governance Team by email to auditriskgovernance@dnsw.com.au

If you do not want to report the matter to Destination NSW, you can find out more about external channels and how to report at the serious complaints section on the NSW Government buy.nsw website.