A structure that adds value

 

The criteria for Board membership are in accordance with the GOC Act. This states that in appointing a person as a Director, the Governor-in-Council must have regard to that person's ability to contribute to the statutory GOC's commercial performance and implementation of its Statement of Corporate Intent.

Gladstone Marine Pilots Services (GMPS) has the same Directors as GPC. All Directors are non-executive Directors. GPC is committed to ensuring that all new members of the Board receive an effective induction to their Board and Committee responsibilities as well as an overview of our structure, operations, policies and processes. Directors are appointed for a term of three years, but may be reappointed after that time.

 

Role of the Board

 

Our Board assumes overall responsibility for corporate governance practices within GPC and monitors the performance of the Corporation, its management and employees. The Board, in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), establish and implement our operational, financial and strategic direction as outlined in our one-year (Statement of Corporate Intent 2019–20), five-year (Corporate Plan 2018–2023) and long-term (50-year Strategic Plan 2012–2062) plans. Ongoing government, customer, community and employee consultation assist the Board to enact the corporate objectives defined in these plans.

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Induction of new members and continuing professional development

 

A comprehensive Directors' induction is carried out for new Directors appointed to the Board. This includes a site visit to familiarise them with our operations as well as information and briefings covering enabling legislation, corporate planning documents, relevant policies and details of Board administrative arrangements. Directors are kept advised of relevant industry related seminars, workshops and conferences to update their skills and knowledge and are also encouraged to attend these events as part of a continuing professional development policy enabling them to undertake their role effectively.​

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Board meetings

 

The Chair and CEO discuss and finalise the agenda for each meeting. Standing items include:

• apologies, declarations and minutes of meetings

• declarations of interest or pecuniary interest

• management action list and correspondence

• committee reports

• monthly reports on GPC's financial performance

• monthly reports on GPC's non-financial performance (through a CEO's report detailing the activities of each department)

• commercial and governance decisions requiring resolution

• monthly reports on projects and new infrastructure.

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Meetings may include presentations by GPC employees or invited guests. Board papers are circulated in digital format one week before the meeting to provide sufficient time for review of agenda items and enable Directors to request additional information to support them in their decision making.

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Board Committees

 

Effective 30 November 2021, the Group established a Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) and a People Performance and Culture Committee (PPCC). Prior to this, the Group had a Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (FAR) and a Governance and People Committee (GAP). The newly reconstituted Board decided to restructure the existing committees and form 2 new committees to absorb the roles and responsibilities of the previous committees.

 

ARC Charter 

PPCC Charter – under review

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​Director independence 

 

Each Director must declare their material interests external to GPC to allow for the identification of any areas of activity that may lead to a conflict of interest. A declaration of Directors' other interests is a standing agenda item at the commencement of every ordinary Board meeting. Directors absent themselves from meetings while any matters of potential conflict of interest are discussed. In accordance with its Charter, the Board (at least annually) ensures that the independence criterion as set out in the Charter is satisfied for each Director.

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Gaining independent advice

 

Independent professional advice at GPC's expense is available to the Board and individual Directors to assist them in carrying out their designated duties.

 

Board performance review

 

The Board, as part of its governance process, has committed to ensure a regular process of review is in place. The Chair conducts a review of the skills around the Board table and identifies any skills that may be required in the future. While the Chair does not have the right to appoint Directors, it is acknowledged that shareholding Ministers take skill requirements into account when appointing Directors.

Performance of the Board, its Committees and individual Directors is reviewed and evaluated on a regular basis. A review was conducted during the 2018-19 financial year and the next review is scheduled for the 2019-20 financial year. The review involves individual sessions between the Chair and each Director. Occasionally, an external consultant may be engaged to assist with the evaluation and review of Board performance. Directors' attendance at 2018-19 Board meetings was in accordance with their individual terms of appointment to the Board.

 

Remuneration arrangements for the Board

 

Directors' remuneration is determined by shareholding Ministers and the 2018-19 details of Directors' remuneration are disclosed in the Notes to the Accounts in accordance with GOC remuneration disclosure requirements (see Note 20).

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​Internal audit

 

Internal audit is an independent function that assists the Board and Management in the effective discharge of their responsibilities. The Finance, Investment, Commercial and Audit Committee defines the internal auditors' scope of work through establishment of an annual internal audit plan. It also reviews the reports of the internal auditors and assesses their quality of work. KPMG have been appointed GPC's internal auditors, ending 31 December 2020.

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External audit arrangements

 

GPC, in accordance with the Auditor General Act 2009, uses the Queensland Audit Office as its external auditor. 

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Dividend policy

 

GPC's dividend policy takes into account the return shareholders expect from their investment and the ongoing capital investment requirements of our business. In 2016-17, the Board recommended to shareholders a dividend payment of 100 per cent of after-tax profit, adjusted for any unrealised movements from the revaluation of non-current assets.

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Act ethically and responsibly  

 

GPC's ethical standards such as the Code of Conduct, Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy, and Risk Management Policy, and the means by which we implement them, form part of the induction for all new Board members and employees. Updates are provided as new policy developments occur and as part of our CEO's annual business update sessions. 

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You can view our policies on our Release of Information Publication Scheme page.

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Code of Conduct

 

A Code of Conduct has been developed and formally adopted by the Board. The code gives detailed advice on the responsibility and accountability of individuals for reporting and investigating reports of unethical practices. It also provides comprehensive examples to illustrate application of the code. Employees are reminded of their obligations under the code during annual business update sessions presented by the CEO. Our code reflects the requirements of the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994.

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View our Code of Conduct​.

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Fraud and Corruption Prevention policy

 

Fraud and Corruption Prevention applies to all Directors and our employees. A policy was developed to assist Management and employees in the discharge of their responsibilities by setting out the procedures for managing fraud and corruption.

The Company Secretary is the Fraud Control Officer for the purposes of the policy. All incidences of theft and related activity are reported to the Audit and Compliance Committee by the Fraud Control Officer on a regular basis for consideration of fraud control initiatives. Employees are also reminded of their obligations under this policy at the annual business update sessions.

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Whistleblowers

 

All suspected and actual misconduct and reprisal action must be reported in accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure (PID) Procedure. 

Under our Code of Conduct, all GPC employees are required to report any reasonably based suspicion of theft, fraud, assault, corruption and/or official misconduct to their manager, another appropriate officer of GPC, the PID Officer, through GPC's confidential reporting hotline (1800 063 408), through the Crime and Corruption Commission or by phoning 1800 061 611.

While the GPC Hotline is intended primarily to be a service for employees, contractors and customers of GPC, the same reporting channel is available for the community to raise issues and concerns. No calls to the Hotline will be dismissed on the basis of their source. The service is provided by Deloitte.

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GPC Hotline

 

The GPC Hotline is a free call number, 1800 063 408, and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Procedure on Public Interest Disclosure 

 

On 1 January 2010, the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2010 (PID Act) came into effect. The PID Act creates an obligation on GPC to implement reasonable procedures to deal with Public Interest Disclosures (PIDs).

GPC is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace where strong ethical standards are upheld and displayed through employee behaviour. This includes the reporting and management of misconduct and reprisal, legally referred to as PID. This Procedure has been developed to encourage the reporting of PIDs, provide transparent and accessible reporting processes, and protect employees who make a PID.

The Company Secretary is the PID Officer for the purposes of the Procedure. All PIDs and related activity are reported to the Finance, Investment, Commercial and Audit Committee by the PID Officer on a regular basis for consideration. Employees are also reminded of their obligations under this Procedure at the annual business update sessions. 

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Public Interest Disclosure​ Procedure

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Recognise and manage risk 

 

Our Board retains ultimate responsibility for risk management and for determining the appropriate level of risk that the Board is willing to accept in the conduct of our business activities. The CEO provides the interface between the business units and the Board. Overall, the CEO has the ultimate responsibility for maintaining a Board-endorsed, robust corporate risk management system within GPC that through transparency in reporting reflects the true state of business risk exposure.

 

GPC is committed to:

• behaving as a responsible corporate citizen, protecting employees, customers, contractors and their property, as well as the community and the broader environment from unnecessary injury, loss or damage

• achieving our business objectives by minimising the impact of risks we can meaningfully and realistically control which would otherwise significantly affect our assets and earnings

• finding the right balance between the cost of control and the risks we are willing to accept as the legitimate grounds for earning reward.

 

Supervisors are required to ensure that as new risks are identified, or current risks are removed or escalated, the Business Risk Database is updated and that risks are communicated to their respective business units. A formal review of each business unit's risks must also be conducted by supervisors at least once a year as part of the business planning and budgeting process. These reviews consider the completeness of the risks identified, the accuracy of assessments, and review the effectiveness and continued operation of identified controls and accountabilities.

The principles behind this policy are based on AS/NZ 31000:2009 Risk Management — Principles and Guidelines, and Principle 7 of the Queensland Government's Corporate Governance Guidelines for Government Owned Corporations — February 2009.

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Records management

 

GPC is aware of its responsibilities under the Public Records Act 2002 and in 2015–16 GPC formulated an Information Management Policy, Records Management Standard and Archive Management Procedure in line with ISO 40 Recordkeeping used under the Financial Accountability Act 2009 to improve recordkeeping practices. This will ensure that operational business needs, legal, evidential and accountability requirements are met, and stakeholder expectations are fulfilled.