The Queensland Ombudsman, Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Public Service Commission have worked together to develop a series of guides about public interest disclosures for the Queensland public sector. These guides draw on findings from the three-year Whistling While They Work national research project, led by Griffith University.
Reporting suspected wrongdoing is vital to the integrity of the Queensland public sector. These guides inform whistleblowers on what to consider before reporting wrongdoing, and assist organisations in developing a workplace where employees are encouraged to disclose wrongdoing without fear of reprisal, where employees receive the necessary support and feedback, and where cases are investigated in a thorough and timely manner.
An outline of the guides, and the first two guides are now available:
A third guide for organisations on managing public interest disclosures will be released later in the year.
In the interim period, a good practice checklist is available for organisations to evaluate existing policies and procedures and identify areas for improvement:
The Whistling While They Work National Research Project
In February 2005, the Queensland Ombudsman's Office became one of fourteen industry partners, representing Australia’s leading integrity and public sector management agencies, in the national Whistling While They Work research project. The study was the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Australia, involving six universities and the most comprehensive empirical study of whistleblowing conducted worldwide with evidence captured from 7,663 public officials across 118 public agencies.
The project aimed to identify and develop best practice systems for the management of people in the public sector who are willing to make public interest disclosures or give evidence about misconduct or maladministration.
The first report, ‘Whistleblowing in the Australian public sector’ (edited by AJ Brown 2008, ANU E Press, Canberra) reviewed the experiences of public sector officers, managers, case-handlers and whistleblowers in reporting managing the reporting of wrongdoing. A second project report, with more detail on practical solutions for encouraging public interest disclosures in agencies, as well as new model procedures for managing whistleblowing, will be release in the second half of 2009.
Public Interest Disclosure Legislation In Australia: A Joint Issue Paper
In November 2006, the Queensland, New South Wales and Commonwealth Ombudsman offices released a joint issues paper entitled ‘Public Interest Disclosure Legislation in Australia: Towards the Next Generation’, which reviewed all existing public sector whistleblowing legislation.
Prepared by Dr A J Brown of Griffith University as part of the ‘Whistling While They Work’ research project, the paper illustrated the inconsistencies between the nine Acts covering whistleblowing in Australia — ranging from who will be protected, how they will be protected and the obligations on agencies themselves.
It also recommended a coherent, national approach across all Australian governments to the revision of whistleblower protection laws.
Public Interest Disclosure Legislation in Australia: Towards the Next Generation - summary (PDF Format 157k)
Public Interest Disclosure Legislation in Australia: Towards the Next Generation - full paper (PDF Format 786k)