Whistleblowing and Public Interest Disclosures

What is a public interest disclosure?

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 (PID Act) allows people to make disclosures about wrongdoing in public authorities, which include the state public sector, local governments, government trading enterprises, public universities, and some government boards and committees, and protects them when they do. The Act provides a framework for how the protected disclosure is investigated and the appropriate actions taken, without fear of reprisal against the discloser.

Curtin University’s PID Act Statement to Stakeholders outlines a summary of what a PID is, what should be done with that PID, the protection mechanisms in place, and contact points at Curtin for assistance.

To whom should I make a disclosure?

To be covered under the PID Act and for the protections of the PID Act to apply, a PID must be made to a proper authority. For matters that are within the sphere of responsibility of Curtin as a public authority, the proper authority is the Curtin University PID Officer. For other matters, a disclosure will need to be made to an external party, such as the Auditor General, Police, Corruption and Crime Commission, or Ombudsman.

To commence the process of making a confidential PID, contact is to be made via pid@curtin.edu.au. Access to this inbox is restricted to authorised PID officers and will allow the officers to confidentially discuss your matters of concern prior to making a formal disclosure, in-line with the Act.

What is meant by “wrong-doing”?

Under the Act, wrong-doing means any of the following:

• Improper conduct e.g. corruption, bribery, fraud, theft.
• Offences under written law.
• Substantial misuse or mismanagement of public resources.
• Substantial risk to public health, safety or the environment.
• Matters of administration that can be investigated under s14 of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971 (i.e. administration matters that affect a person in their personal capacity at Curtin that fall within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman).

Wrong-doing by who?

A disclosure of wrong-doing must be in regard to public interest information i.e. information that shows or tends to show wrongdoing by a public authority, public officer or public sector contractor when performing a public function.

This means a disclosure, to be covered under the Act, must be more than just a general complaint about dissatisfaction with a product or service, or a grievance that can be resolved by agreement between parties.