In brief - Employers need to be aware of a range of
changes to workplace laws that commence on 1 July 2019, and should
seek advice if unsure of their obligations. Civil penalties apply
for non-compliance.
The five key changes are:
-
Whistleblower laws
New
whistleblowing laws apply to all "regulated entities"
in the private sector. Any employer considered to be a "public
company" or "large proprietary company" (a broad
definition) will be required to have a compliant whistleblower
policy in place by 1 January 2020.
The laws will allow whistleblowers to make protected disclosures
about "misconduct, or improper state of affairs or
circumstances" within an organisation. Examples include
insider trading; insolvent trading; fraud; failure to comply with
statutory accounting and reporting requirements; money laundering
offences; offences involving terrorism financing; activity that
exploits loopholes in the law to harm the administration of
government
