ARTICLE · 23 SEPTEMBER 2019

Whistleblower protection changes – Update your policy now

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Employers should ensure that policies and procedures reflect an obligation to avoid any breaches of the new legislation.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

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Australia amends whistleblower protection laws

New laws providing greater protection for whistleblowers were passed through federal parliament and take effect on 1 July 2019. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Whistleblower Protections) Act 2019 (Cth) (Whistleblower Act) was introduced to provide for a single, strengthened whistleblower regime to cover the corporate, financial and credit sectors.

WHAT ARE THE CHANGES?

The Whistleblower Act:

provides protection for a wider range of people to make protected disclosures, including former officers, employees and suppliers and family members of present and former officers, employees and suppliers
provides protection to whistleblowers if the protected disclosure was made to an 'eligible recipient', which includes officers, senior managers, the company's auditors, actuaries or any other person authorised by the company

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