Legislation to implement priority reforms to the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 began on 1 July 2023, to coincide with the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The reforms improve protections for public sector whistleblowers and witnesses, including by expanding reprisal protections to those taken against a person who could make a public interest disclosure, and to capture indirect threats of reprisal. The reforms also ensure the PID Act is focused on serious integrity wrongdoing, such as fraud and corruption, and enhance oversight of the scheme by the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.
Whistleblower protections play an important role in promoting the integrity of public institutions. They ensure public trust and confidence in those institutions by helping bring to light allegations of wrongdoing.
All Australian Public Service portfolios were consulted in the development of the legislation. The Attorney-General’s Department, Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security are supporting agencies to implement the reforms. Support includes updated guidance material for agencies and whistleblowers.
Following the passage and implementation of these priority amendments, the Australian Government will begin a broader, second stage of reforms to the public sector whistleblowing framework. This will include public consultation on further reforms to address the underlying complexity of the PID scheme, and the need for additional supports for public sector whistleblowers.
