The Community and Public Sector Union has today welcomed plans revealed by
the Federal Government to boost whistleblower protections, with the
introduction of legislation in the parliament’s final sitting for 2022.
This legislation is crucial for Australian Public Service workers who
should be able to speak up and expose wrongdoing without fear – they
shouldn’t be forced to make a choice between keeping their job or doing
what is right.
It’s in the best interests of public sector workers and the Australian
public.
For over 5 years, the former Coalition government sat on recommendations of
an important review, failing to take action to update legislation and
properly protect whistleblowers in the public sector.
Whistleblowers must have protected avenues for receiving independent advice
from appropriate bodies including their relevant trade union. It is also
important that the legislation is expanded to include parliamentarians’
staff who do not currently have whistleblower protections.
The CPSU looks forward to working directly with the Attorney General to
ensure staff are adequately protected under these new reforms.
Quotes Attributable to Melissa Donnelly
Reform of the public sector whistleblower system and the introduction of a
National Anti-Corruption Commission are long overdue and were entirely
neglected by the former government.
Public sector workers shouldn’t be forced to decide between keeping their
job or doing what is right. It is in the public interest for APS employees
to be able to do both.
If there were better protections in place prior to the rolling out of the
Coalition’s cruel robodebt program, you have to wonder whether it could
have been brought to a halt earlier.
Media Contact: Tori McGregor 0429 000 620