Our policies
On this page:
Powerlink Queensland is a Transmission Network Service Provider under the National Electricity Market arrangements. Further details of those services and the standards are available under our Corporate profile page.
Powerlink also offers a limited range of associated services that contribute to profitability, and develop and retain key skills by leveraging core competencies where we have a sustainable competitive advantage.
Policy for recruiting employees and current vacancies
Powerlink Queensland is committed to maintaining a workforce of competent, committed and empowered people in a constructive workplace environment with employment conditions that are equitable and competitive. This means we will:
- provide conditions of employment which ensure equal employment opportunities and which are free from discriminatory practices
- provide opportunities for career development in keeping with individual career aspirations and organisational needs, and
- maintain a workplace environment which promotes consultation and clear communication and which supports continuous learning and improvement, creative thinking, innovation and best practice.
More information about recruitment is on the Careers page.
Powerlink’s Code of Conduct (PDF 1.3MB) aims to ensure our employees perform their work cooperatively, honestly, ethically and with respect and consideration for others, while being mindful of the impact they can have on the communities they work within.
It recognises we may face difficult decisions in relation to the most appropriate course of action in the workplace. With clear guidelines based on our mission, vision and values, we can ensure our decisions reflect our own high standards and those expected by our stakeholders. The Code of Conduct applies to all employees (PDF 1.3MB) and contractors (PDF 290KB).
Powerlink respects complaints received from both internal and external sources for the insights they may provide to the way Powerlink performs its functions as a Government Owned Corporation.
Powerlink is subject to obligations under the Corporations Act 2001, Government Owned Corporations Act 1993 and Public Interest Disclosure Act 2001 with respect to the handling of complaints about alleged wrongdoing, including official misconduct.
To ensure the appropriate management of complaints, Powerlink carries out an assessment to determine whether a complaint should be addressed according to appropriate operational procedures or in accordance with specific legislative requirements.
In this context, Powerlink is supportive of complaints that may assist in addressing issues which may constitute a public interest disclosure for the purposes of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010. Powerlink has a Complaints Management Procedure to advise Powerlink employees of reporting requirements and the framework for managing complaints.
Working for a government owned corporation (GOC) often means being in a position of trust. When the conduct of an employee does, or might be perceived to, involve a conflict between private interests and corporate duty, this trust is placed at risk and a potential or actual conflict of interest may arise.
- A potential conflict of interest exists when it appears an employee’s private interests could interfere with the proper and impartial performance of official duties in the best interests of Powerlink.
- An actual conflict of interest exists when a reasonable person, in possession of the relevant facts, would conclude that the employee’s private interests are likely to interfere with the proper and impartial performance of official duties in the best interests of Powerlink.
In such circumstances, Powerlink employees must put personal views or interests aside and report any actual or potential conflict of interest. The public must be able to trust that Powerlink employees will act impartially, and in accordance with our policies, procedures and guidelines.
The primary purpose of the Share Trading Policy Framework is to mitigate the risk of inappropriate trading of shares by Powerlink employees, managers and directors. This framework is a supplementary policy to Powerlink’s Conflict of Interest Policy.
The policy is built around a number of concepts, including:
- Watch List.
- Blackout Periods.
- Reporting.
- Annual Compliance Declarations.
The Powerlink Corporate Entertainment and Hospitality Policy (PDF 59KB) is based on the Government Owned Corporations Corporate Entertainment and Hospitality Guidelines (‘Guidelines’) and provides guidance to what is considered reasonable expenditure in relation to corporate entertainment and hospitality. It also clarifies accountability for expenditure while recognising management will need to exercise its judgment in relation to the expenditure contributing to Powerlink’s overall business goals.
Expenditure is to be relevant and appropriate to the circumstances, and prudent in balancing the expected business benefits with community standards of reasonableness.
Powerlink proactively manages Workplace Health and Safety and Electrical Safety so our activities are free from accidents and incidents. We use strategies including:
- Complying with relevant Workplace Health and Safety and Electrical Safety Legislation and Standards with progressive auditing to ensure compliance.
- Integrating Workplace Health and Safety responsibilities into all activities of all employees to promote ownership and control of their continual wellbeing.
- Openly consulting with employees and relevant stakeholders about all matters that may affect their health and safety.
- Ensuring that Continual Improvement Action Plans are developed and implemented.
- Providing training and support to enable its employees to perform their duties with a minimum of risk, regardless of their work location, whether local, interstate or overseas.
- Maintaining records and statistics to enable monitoring of performance and trends.
More safety information is located in the Safety section of this website.
Powerlink Queensland is committed to responsible environmental management as an integral part of its business activities. We demonstrate this commitment by:
- Consulting openly, honestly and proactively with the community and statutory authorities on the potential environmental impacts of its plans and activities. Powerlink Queensland is responsive to constructive suggestions to eliminate or minimise potentially adverse impacts.
- Incorporating environmental factors such as land use, noise and visual impact, protection of flora and fauna, pollution prevention, and waste management into the fundamental business processes and procedures.
- Maintaining a structured approach to managing our environmental aspects through an Environmental Management System.
- Seeking continual improvement in the environmental performance of our operations.
- Complying with relevant environmental legislation.
- Building and encouraging ownership of environmental care among our people by providing training and support.
More environmental information is located in the Community and environment section of this website.
Powerlink Queensland’s Chief Executive is accountable for implementing the release of information process at Powerlink Queensland. The Chief Financial Officer is designated as the senior executive responsible for operation of the release of information process.
Legal Counsel, Corporate Lawyer, Manager Legal and Commercial and the Chief Financial Officer are directed and authorised by the Board to deal with applications and make decisions on access to documents made under the Right To Information Act 2009 (RTI Act) and Information Privacy Act 2009 (IP Act)
All staff are to immediately refer all requests for access to documents under the RTI Act or IP Act to one of these officers.
The Manager Legal and Commercial, and the Chief Financial Officer are directed and authorised to deal with applications for internal review of decisions made under the RTI and IP Acts. .