Codes of conduct

The Board has approved a code of conduct for directors and executive officers (PDF 29kb) to promote ethical and responsible decision making.

The Board has also approved a code of conduct (PDF 66kb) setting out minimum standards of conduct for all officers and employees of Western Power, as well as a legislative and regulatory compliance policy (PDF 77kb) and a conflict of interest policy (PDF 262kb). The code of conduct outlines Western Power’s position on a range of ethical and legal issues and summarises its policies on matters such as compliance with laws, occupational health and safety, conflicts of interest, corporate opportunity, confidentiality, protection of corporate assets and diversity in the workplace and responsibility for the environment.

The codes of conduct and the respective policies:

guide compliance with Western Power’s legal and other obligations to its stakeholders, including the Minister and the Government, employees, customers, the community, unions and regulatory authorities; and
are designed to reflect Western Power’s commitment to appropriate corporate practices.

Compliance with the principles contained within these documents will also assist Western Power in effectively managing risks and meeting its legal and compliance obligations.

Western Power also has a policy on whistleblowing (PDF 145kb). The purpose of the policy is to help detect and address misconduct, help provide an environment in which persons feel able to raise issues of concern to them and Western Power and help protect people who report misconduct in good faith.

In accordance with the Electricity Corporations Act, the Board has also adopted minimum standards of merit, equity and probity applicable to management of Western Power’s staff and a joint policy on staff transfers. The latter has been approved by the Minister and ensures that staff of Western Power and the other electricity corporations created by the Act have the opportunity to move between the corporations and their respective subsidiaries without loss of entitlements.

As Western Power is not a listed company and has no transferable securities, it is not necessary for it to have a policy in relation to trading in its securities. The potential for issues in relation to trading in other companies' shares whilst in possession of inside information is addressed in the statutory duties contained in the Act and further explained in an outline of the duties and obligations of directors and executive officers, a copy of which is provided to all directors and officers of Western Power.