WANGARATTA-based Indi MP Helen Haines and fellow federal Independent MPs Andrew Wilkie, Senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie are joining together to introduce the Whistleblower Protection Authority Bill in the parliament.
They were joined by Professor AJ Brown from Griffith University, Australia’s eminent authority on whistleblower protections, last week, when they announced the bill will be introduced by Dr Haines and Mr Wilkie in the House of Representatives and Senators Pocock and Lambie in the senate during the first two sitting weeks of 2025.
Dr Haines said it was beyond time the government delivered on its promise and replaced the existing patchwork approach with comprehensive whistleblower protections.
"Every day we wait is another day that we deny protection to people who put themselves at enormous risk to expose the truth,” she said.
Mr Wilkie said it is "unconscionable" that whistleblowers are still being prosecuted in Australia "for doing the right thing and speaking up against wrongdoing”.
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“This is why we are giving notice to introduce a bill to the House of Representatives that will establish a Whistleblower Protection Authority.
“Whistleblowers make Australia a better place, but the government is failing to provide adequate support and protections, and is instead hell-bent on punishing anyone who speaks up and deterring those who might.
“A Whistleblower Protection Authority is long overdue and is something the Labor Party promised before the 2019 Federal Election.
"The government must end the war against whistleblowers by supporting my bill.
"Only then can we ensure whistleblowers are protected, not punished, prosecuted or imprisoned.”
Senator Pocock said whistleblowers shine a light on corruption, protect public funds, and hold powerful entities accountable.
“It's time we stopped punishing courage and started protecting it," he said.
"Thirty years ago, the senate recommended a dedicated authority to safeguard whistleblowers.
"Decades later, we’re still waiting.
"The Whistleblower Protection Authority created by this bill would finally provide protection for those who have the courage to speak out."
Senator Lambie described whistleblowers as heroes who need to be protected and not punished.
“Setting up a body to protect whistleblowers has been a key recommendation for decades – it’s time we got on with it,” she said.
