The Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Whistleblower
Protections) Bill 2017 aims to create a single whistleblower
protection regime in the Corporations Act 2001 extending
to the corporate, financial and credit sectors.
The Bill introduces a specific whistleblower protection regime
for people who expose misconduct in tax affairs.
The legislation will apply to protected disclosures made on or
after 1 July 2018, including disclosures about events occurring
before that date. Whistleblowers will have access to compensation
and enhanced protection against victimisation after 1 July 2018,
regardless of when the disclosure was made.
Changes
A study conducted by the Australian Council of Superannuation
Investors (ACSI) found significant gaps when it examined
whistleblower policies at Australia's 200 biggest listed
companies. ACSI found that many whistleblowing systems did not
offer anonymity, were not accessible outside of work hours or
failed to make it clear that