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WHISTLEBLOWERS IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Exposing wrongdoing can help make Canberra a better place to live and work, and parliamentary privilege can protect you if you want to speak up.

This means that if you share information with me as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) — or with my staff — for the purpose of parliamentary business, you may have legal protection. Many of the things MLAs do as part of our job are considered to be for the purpose of parliamentary business.

If you are — or used to be — an ACT public servant or government contractor, the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012 (the PID Act) also offers additional protections if you want to speak up about ‘disclosable conduct’ relating to your work.

MORE INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS

‘Disclosable conduct’ includes policies, practices or actions of a government agency or official that:

  • involve maladministration (for example, wasting public money or resources); or
  • result in a substantial and specific danger to public health, safety or the environment (for example, unsafe practices in a hospital, or releasing toxic materials into nature).

If you have previously raised your concerns at work through the PID process, and have not received any response within 3 months, you may be protected by the PID Act to make a disclosure to an MLA.  

Under the PID Act, whistleblowers are entitled to certain protections, including that:

  • no one can fire, harass or discriminate against you for blowing the whistle;
  • you cannot be sued or held legally responsible for making a report;
  • your name and details will be kept private unless you agree, or the law requires them to be shared; and
  • if you experience harm because of your report, you may be eligible for compensation.

If you suspect misconduct or other wrongdoing that is not disclosable conduct, you can make a report to the following entities:

If you would like further guidance, please feel free to call my office on (02) 6205 1475 from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.