Whistleblowers, transparency advocates and human rights groups have welcomed a push for an independent Whistleblower Protection Authority, with a landmark piece of legislation being introduced to Federal Parliament today.
The Whistleblower Protection Authority Bill will be introduced on Monday by Andrew Wilkie MP, Dr Helen Haines MP, Senator David Pocock and Senator Jacqui Lambie to establish a body with the power to oversee and enforce whistleblower protections, facilitate whistleblower disclosures, and safeguard whistleblowers from inside government or business who expose corruption and wrongdoing.
In recent years, too many Australian whistleblowers have lost their jobs, faced lawsuits or prosecution for speaking up in the public interest. This bill is a pivotal opportunity for the Albanese Government to address these failings and ensure comprehensive legal protections for whistleblowers.
Sharon Kelsey, former anti-corruption whistleblower and Transparency International Australia advisor said:
“Blowing the whistle can come at an enormous personal cost. A Whistleblower Protection Authority would be critical in ensuring that people, like me, who speak up are properly protected by the law and given meaningful and practical support.”
“By supporting this Authority we can restore public confidence in the institutions we value.”
Professor A J Brown AM, Chair of Transparency International Australia, said:
“Australia’s democracy should protect and empower whistleblowers who speak out to expose wrongdoing. The legislation being introduced today is a landmark step in showing how it can and should be done.
“With support across federal parliament for strong reform, we look forward to concrete commitments from all parties to support or improve on this model, to ensure we close the single biggest gap in our whistleblower protections so no whistleblower falls through the cracks.”
Kieran Pender, Associate Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre said:
“Whistleblowers make Australia a better place by exposing human rights violations, government wrongdoing and corporate misdeeds. Whistleblowers are being punished for speaking the truth – from experiencing retaliation at work or even facing prosecution.
“A Whistleblower Protection Authority would be a game-changer to ensure that whistleblowers are protected and supported. We commend the crossbench for pursuing this landmark reform.”
Read Making Australia’s Whistleblowing Law Work: Draft design principles for a Whistleblower Protection Authority developed by Transparency International Australia, Human Rights Law Centre and Griffith University’s Centre for Governance & Public Policy.