On 30 November 2016, the Senate referred an inquiry into whistleblower protections in the corporate, public and not-for-profit sectors to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Corporations and Financial Services. The following is a link to the website (registration is required to get access):
The referral of this issue to the joint parliamentary committee is consistent the Australian Government’s National Action Plan 2016-2018 under the Open Government Partnership, an initiative of the United Nations aimed at promoting transparency, fighting corruption and using technology to strengthen governance practices around the world (November 2016).
You can find the Australian Governments National Action Plan at http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwim9cCL8_DTAhWKk5QKHZ-aANoQFggiMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fogpau.pmc.gov.au%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F10%2FAustralias-first-Open-Government-National-Action-Plan-Draft-for-consultation-Accessible.pdf&usg=AFQjCNGkOWmxBvfAuE2MM2hvqroRji1e6w&sig2=In5n7ZTz6cCvC1DnjORx0w
A statement of the Australian Government’s commitment to better protection for whistleblowers is found at 1.1 in the plan (page 11):
“Australia will ensure appropriate protections are in place for people who report tax evasion or avoidance, corruption, waste, fraud and misconduct within the corporate sector.”
Written submissions to thee joint parliamentary committee closed on 11 February and the last public hearing was held on 28 April. The committee is due to report by 30 June. All of the written submissions and a transcript of evidence at the public hearings are on the website. There were many submissions made by a large number of individuals and organisations.
The AIPI is represented on a working party formed by Standards Australia to consider recommendations for an international whistleblower protection standard and also to consider an equivalent standard addressing whistleblower protection in this country.
