Media Release
Whistleblower Project – release of discussion paper & call for submissions
Today, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has released a discussion paper about whistleblower protections in South Australia.
ICAC is now calling for submissions from anyone who has something to say about South Australia’s whistleblower protection regime.
Last month, Commissioner Emma Townsend announced that ICAC would embark upon a project examining the adequacy and effectiveness of whistleblower protections in South Australia - the release of the discussion paper and call for submissions is the first major milestone for the project.
Commissioner Townsend said, “Whistleblowers play a vital role in the exposure of wrongdoing in public administration and, therefore, the maintenance of public integrity. Recent data suggests that some South Australians remain reticent to report notwithstanding the protections in the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (SA). South Australia has an opportunity to take a close look at whether our whistleblower protection regime is sufficient.”
The discussion paper released today contains an overview of the regime and prompts consideration of 9 key issues relating to the regime, but ICAC is interested to hear about any important matters concerning whistleblower protections in South Australia.
ICAC now invites any individual or group with knowledge, experiences or views they wish to share about whistleblowing in South Australia to make a submission.
ICAC is gathering information with a view to making recommendations to the South Australian Parliament, including about whether improvements need to be made to the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (SA) and whether there is a need for other initiatives to ensure whistleblowers are protected and whistleblowing is encouraged.
ICAC will receive submissions until 10 November 2025. More information about the project, including how to make a submission, is available here.
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For media enquires, contact media@icac.sa.gov.au or 0428 389 493.
