Victorian public servants could be forced to work to support the Indigenous Voice to Parliament – despite rules forbidding staff from engaging in campaigns at the workplace

Victorian public servants could be forced to work to support the Voice despite rules forbidding them from engaging in any campaign activities at the workplace.

New guidance issued by the Victorian Public Sector Commissioner (VPSC) has claimed staff could be asked to work in support of the Yes campaign.

‘In the lead-up to the referendum, some employees in the Victorian public sector may be asked to undertake work that supports the Victorian government’s alignment with the national cabinet Statement of Intent,’ it reads. 

‘The government of the day can lawfully ask public sector employees (other than employees in special bodies) to do this as these employees must implement the policies and programs of the elected ­government.’

In February, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews signed a Statement of Intent committing the Commonwealth and all states and territories to support an Indigenous Voice to the federal parliament. 

But under previous rules, Victorian government public servants were told ‘you should not engage in any campaign activities within the workplace’.

Public servants are facing the confusing situation of possibly being forced to do work to support a Yes vote in the Indigenous Voice, but to at the same time not personally support it in the workplace

This includes ‘holding events which seek to encourage your colleagues to vote a particular way in the referendum’.

Public servants have also been warned not to ‘wear or display any campaign material in the workplace’.

The instruction is followed by the line: ‘You can, however, continue to wear materials that demonstrate support for First Nations staff without expressing a position on the Voice referendum.’ 

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The state government said it has not asked public servants to undertake work to support a Yes vote in the referendum.

Despite that, some government employees have already expressed their fears of what is to come once a date for the referendum is announced.  

‘Anyone who disagrees will have their card marked,’ a senior public servant told the Herald Sun.

While it is understood Victorian public servants with ideological objections can ask not to be be rostered for referendum-­related work, that may not be granted.

Liberal spokesman David Davis said the VPSC guidance ‘effectively mobilises on a war footing the tens of thousands of public servants who will ­either join the campaign or be ostracised’.

Mr Davis said Mr Andrews’ government is ‘weak’ and ‘pathetic’ in wanting to use the public service in ‘partisan campaigning for the Yes case’.

Daniel Andrews (pictured with his wife Catherine) has been accused of running a government that is ‘weak’ and ‘pathetic’ in wanting to use the public service in ‘partisan campaigning for the Yes case’

He said those who hold opposing views could find their ‘career will be stunted’ if they do not work to support the Yes case and will be ‘given special duties in the naughty corner’.

The rules for public servants do not stop them for working on either side of the referendum on their own time.

‘Victorian public sector employees have the freedom to participate in the referendum process in their private capacity, including engaging in public discussion. 

‘At the same time, all public sector employees need to also continue to comply with the seven public sector values in the Public Administration Act (2004).’ 

Those seven values public servants must uphold are responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership and human rights.