I acknowledge Senator Moore’s very close and long-term interest in Public Service issues. I am pleased to be able to inform the Senate that the government is today honouring another of its election commitments. It is an important one; I think it is fundamental to our approach to integrity in government. I acknowledge that in September last year my colleague Senator Wong, in an excellent speech on Labor’s approach to the Australian Public Service, said:

A Labor government would require that the Australian Public Service Commissioner provide public ethics advice, as part of its functions.

The government, therefore, is establishing an Ethics Advisory Service within the Australian Public Service Commission. Funds for this purpose are being provided in the 2008-09 additional estimates. It will be operational from April next year.