The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (Cwlth) (PID Act) commenced on 15 January 2014.
The PID Act promotes the integrity and accountability of the Australian Government public sector by:
- encouraging public officials to disclose information on suspected wrongdoing in the public sector
- offering protections to ‘whistleblowers’ from reprisal action
- ensuring disclosures are properly investigated.
Disclosable conduct
Disclosable conduct is conduct by an agency, public official or a contracted Australian Government service provider that:
- breaks the law
- is corrupt
- perverts the course of justice
- wastes public money
- abuses public trust
- endangers health or safety
- endangers the environment
- is misconduct relating to scientific research
- commits maladministration.
Who can make a disclosure?
A 'public official' (current or former) can disclose information they believe on reasonable grounds shows disclosable conduct. The term includes:
- Australian Government public servants
- Parliamentary service employees
- members of the Australian Defence Force
- staff and directors of Australian Government companies
- statutory office holders
- staff of Australian Government contracted service providers.
Protections for people who disclose
The identity of anyone who discloses information will be kept confidential as far as practicable. It is an offence to provide information that can identify them without their consent, unless authorised by the PID Act.
Authorised officers
Under the PID Act, every Australian Government agency must appoint authorised officers to handle public interest disclosures. Disclosures can also be made to a supervisor or manager, who must pass it to an authorised officer.
AIHW authorised officers are:
- Head, Data Governance & Integration Group
- Head, Ethics and Privacy Unit.
Authorised officers may be contacted by email at [email protected].
Procedures
The Institute’s Public Interest Disclosure Procedures provide guidance to help ensure that the Institute’s duties under the PID act are administered in a consistent, lawful and transparent matter.