A WA parliamentary question regarding the effectiveness of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 ('whistleblower' legislation) in protecting public sector employees who report wrongdoing. The Premier defends the legislation, stating it already provides clear protection and is relatively new.

AnsweredQoN 2661Legislative Assembly
Asked
10 March 2004
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

(b) will the Premier concede that this is a vote of no-confidence in the much heralded ‘whistleblower’ legislation; (c) will the Premier now commit to amend the ‘whistleblower’ legislation to give clear protection to Public Servants and Public Sector Employees who want to report wrongdoing and unethical behaviour but will not because they fear retribution; and (d) if not, why not?
(c) will the Premier now commit to amend the ‘whistleblower’ legislation to give clear protection to Public Servants and Public Sector Employees who want to report wrongdoing and unethical behaviour but will not because they fear retribution; and (d) if not, why not?
(d) if not, why not?
(b) No, the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 , which provides protection for ‘whistleblowers’, is relatively new legislation and the public sector is still being educated about its impact and the protections it provides. (c) The legislation already provides clear protection for public servants and public sector employees who want to report wrongdoing and unethical behaviour. (d) Not applicable.
(c) The legislation already provides clear protection for public servants and public sector employees who want to report wrongdoing and unethical behaviour. (d) Not applicable.
(d) Not applicable.

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
30 March 2004
Response time
20 days
(a) Yes.
(b) No, the
Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003
, which provides protection for ‘whistleblowers’, is relatively new legislation and the public sector is still being educated about its impact and the protections it provides.
(c) The legislation already provides clear protection for public servants and public sector employees who want to report wrongdoing and unethical behaviour.
(d) Not applicable.

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