Codifying ethical conduct for Australian parliamentarians 1990-99

In the closing decade of the twentieth century, increasing attention was gi ven to the codification of ethical behavioural standards among public offic ials, internationally and throughout Australian jurisdictions. This paper d escribes, compares and provides a preliminary analysis of the limited Austr alian codification initiatives for elected public officials in State and fe deral Parliaments over this period, with particular focus on the New South Wales and Queensland legislatures. The paper shows that Members of Parliame nt an reluctant to adopt codes of ethics or conduct and forecasts that the focus on implementing codes alone, without a range of supporting ethics ini tiatives, is likely to be of little effect.