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Unacceptable behaviour

Highlights of the ATO's 2025 employee census results on unacceptable behaviour.

Published 21 November 2025

Discrimination

Employees who had perceived discrimination in the last 12 months in the course of their employment were asked what the basis was for the discrimination. Employees could select one or more responses from a list of items.

Only the 4 types of discrimination with the highest proportion of responses are presented here. These may vary between agencies, work units and with results for the APS overall.

Experience of discrimination

During the last 12 months and in connection with your work, have you experienced discrimination on the basis of your background or a personal characteristic:

  • Yes 7%
  • No 93%.
Experience of discrimination variance 1

During the last 12 months and in connection with your work, have you experienced discrimination on the basis of your background or a personal characteristic?

Variance from 2024

Variance from APS overall

Yes

−2

−2

No

+2

+2

Experience of discrimination variance 2

During the last 12 months and in connection with your work, have you experienced discrimination on the basis of your background or a personal characteristic?

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

Yes

−2

−2

No

+2

+2

Occurrence of discrimination

Did this discrimination occur in your current agency:

  • Yes 95%
  • No 5%.
Occurrence of discrimination variance 1

Did this discrimination occur in your current agency?

Variance from 2024

Variance from APS overall

Yes

+1

+1

No

−1

−1

Occurrence of discrimination variance 2

Did this discrimination occur in your current agency?

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

Yes

+1

+1

No

−1

−1

Basis of discrimination

The discrimination came from (multiple response):

  • Within my agency 95%
  • Another agency 3%
  • A customer, stakeholder or member of the public 4%
  • Other 4%.
Basis of discrimination variance 1

The discrimination came from (multiple response)

Variance from 2024

Variance from APS overall

Within my agency

-

+2

Another agency

-

−1

A customer, stakeholder or member of the public

-

−4

Other

-

−1

Basis of discrimination variance 2

The discrimination came from (multiple response)

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

Within my agency

+3

+3

Another agency

−1

−1

A customer, stakeholder or member of the public

−5

−5

Other

−1

−1

Reporting

Did you report the discrimination?

  • I reported the discrimination in accordance with my agency's policies and procedures 13%.
  • It was reported by someone else 4%.
  • I did not report the discrimination 83%.
Reporting of discrimination variance 1

Did you report the discrimination?

Variance from 2024

Variance from APS overall

I reported the discrimination in accordance with my agency's policies and procedures

-

−6

It was reported by someone else

-

0

I did not report the discrimination

-

+6

Reporting of discrimination variance 2

Did you report the discrimination?

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

I reported the discrimination in accordance with my agency's policies and procedures

−7

−7

It was reported by someone else

−1

−1

I did not report the discrimination

+8

+8

Bullying and harassment

Experience of bullying or harassment

During the last 12 months, have you been subjected to bullying or harassment in your current workplace:

  • Yes 7%
  • No 88%
  • Not sure 5%.
Experience of bullying or harassment variance 1

During the last 12 months, have you been subjected to bullying or harassment in your current workplace?

Variance from 2024

Variance from APS overall

Yes

−1

−2

No

+1

+2

Not sure

0

0

Experience of bullying or harassment variance 2

During the last 12 months, have you been subjected to bullying or harassment in your current workplace?

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

Yes

−2

−3

No

+3

+3

Not sure

0

0

Types of bullying or harassment

Employees who perceived bullying or harassment in the last 12 months were asked what type of bullying or harassment they experienced. Employees could select one or more responses from a list of items.

Only the 3 options with the highest proportion of responses are presented here. These may vary between agencies, work units and with results for the APS overall.

Types of bullying or harassment experienced (3 highest responses):

  • Interference with work tasks (e.g., withholding needed information, undermining or sabotage) 44%
  • Verbal abuse (e.g., offensive language, derogatory remarks, shouting or screaming) 41%
  • Inappropriate and unfair application of work policies or rules (e.g., performance management, access to leave, access to learning and development) 34%.

There is no variance data available on this question.

Reporting

Did you report the bullying or harassment:

  • I reported the behaviour in accordance with my agency's policies and procedures 31%.
  • It was reported by someone else 7%.
  • I did not report the behaviour 62%.
Reporting bullying or harassment variance 1

Did you report the bullying or harassment?

Variance from 2024

Variance from APS overall

I reported the behaviour in accordance with my agency's policies and procedures

−1

−6

It was reported by someone else

+2

0

I did not report the behaviour

−1

+7

Reporting bullying or harassment variance 2

Did you report the bullying or harassment?

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

I reported the behaviour in accordance with my agency's policies and procedures

−8

−8

It was reported by someone else

0

−1

I did not report the behaviour

+8

+9

Corruption

Corruption witnessed

During the last 12  months, excluding behaviour reported to you as part of your duties, have you observed a public official engaging in conduct in your agency that you would consider to be corruption:

  • Yes 1%
  • No 94%
  • Not sure 3%
  • Prefer not to answer 1%.
Corruption witnessed variance 1

During the last 12 months, excluding behaviour reported to you as part of your duties, have you observed a public official engaging in conduct in your agency that you would consider to be corruption?

Variance from 2024

Variance from APS overall

Yes

−1

−1

No

+2

+2

Not sure

0

−1

Would prefer not to answer

−1

0

Corruption witnessed variance 2

During the last 12 months, excluding behaviour reported to you as part of your duties, have you observed a public official engaging in conduct in your agency that you would consider to be corruption?

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

Yes

−1

−1

No

+2

+2

Not sure

−1

−1

Would prefer not to answer

0

0

Types of behaviour

Employees who indicated that they had observed potential conduct that would be considered to be corruption were asked to describe the conduct. Employees could select one or more responses from a list of items.

Only the 4 types of conduct with the highest proportion of responses are presented here. These may vary between agencies and with results for the APS overall.

Types of conduct witnessed (4 highest responses):

  • Abuse of office 70%
  • Adversely affecting the honesty or impartiality of a public official 37%
  • A breach of public trust 23%
  • Misuse of information or documents 19%.

There is no variance data available on this question.

Reporting

Did you report the conduct:

  • I reported the behaviour in accordance with my agency's policies and procedures 29%.
  • It was reported by someone else 11%.
  • I did not report the behaviour 61%.
Reporting variance 1

Did you report the conduct?

Variance from 2024

Variance from APS overall

I reported the behaviour in accordance with my agency's policies and procedures

+9

+3

It was reported by someone else

−2

−7

I did not report the behaviour

−6

+3

Reporting variance 2

Did you report the conduct?

Variance from larger operational agencies

Variance from extra-large sized agencies

I reported the behaviour in accordance with my agency's policies and procedures

+1

0

It was reported by someone else

−8

−8

I did not report the behaviour

+7

+8

QC105886