The Protected Disclosure Act 2012 (The Act) replaced the Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 in February 2013.
The Act encourages and facilitates disclosures of improper conduct by public officers, public bodies and other persons, including detrimental action taken in reprisal for a person making a disclosure under the Act. The Act also provides protections for people when they do make a disclosure.
ESTA is committed to the aims and objectives of the Act. It does not tolerate improper conduct by its employees, officers or members, nor the taking of reprisals against those who come forward to disclose such conduct.
ESTA recognises the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices, and supports the making of disclosures that reveal:
- corrupt conduct
- conduct involving a substantial mismanagement of public resources, or
- conduct involving a substantial risk to public health and safety or the environment.
ESTA will take all reasonable steps to protect people who make such disclosures from any detrimental action in reprisal for making the disclosure. It will also afford natural justice to the person who is the subject of the disclosure.
What is a protected disclosure?
A protected disclosure is a complaint of corrupt or improper conduct by a public officer or body.
How to make a protected disclosure?
ESTA is not a public service body prescribed under the Act to receive a protected disclosure. Disclosures about ESTA, its employees, officers or members should be made directly to the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC).
Address: IBAC, GPO Box 24234, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001
Web: http://www.ibac.vic.gov.au
Phone: 1300 735 135
ESTA’s protected disclosure procedures
In accordance with section 58 of the Act, ESTA has prepared written procedures for the protection of persons making disclosures from detrimental actions by any employee, officer or member of ESTA.
Additional information
For more information and guidance on the Act please refer to the Protected Disclosure Act 2012 Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission Guidelines and ESTA's Welfare Management Procedures.