Public interest disclosure scheme for Australian Government agencies

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (Cth) (Act), which establishes a new public interest disclosure scheme for the Commonwealth public sector, comes into force on 15 January 2014.

By then, Commonwealth agencies should have ensured that:

• agency officers with functions under the Act understand the nature and extent of their responsibilities;
• agency staff and contractors understand their rights and their obligations under the Act; and
• they have procedures in place to facilitate public interest disclosures.

THE PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURE SCHEME

The new Act aims to promote integrity and accountability in the Commonwealth public sector by:

• establishing a robust legislative framework to encourage and facilitate disclosure of wrongdoing;