What happens if you blow the whistle and lose your job — but are then vindicated by an independent inquiry?
Three years ago an anonymous Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) official was frogmarched out of his office — and later threatened with criminal action — after internal emails became public via a television exposé on the Takata airbag scandal.
The official was concerned the ACCC had not reacted quickly enough on the threat to public safety of the potentially deadly airbags and used its powers only after a driver was killed by shrapnel from an exploding airbag which penetrated his neck, causing him to bleed to death.
Now a coroner’s hearing has confirmed that many of the official’s warnings were on the mark.
For one thing it means the official feels confident about revealing his identity. His name is Dean Wright. He held a senior executive level position as assistant director of the ACCC’s product safety branch and he was 52 at the time.
“I am entirely comfortable with what I did,” Wright told Crikey. “I felt I had no choice.
“I don’t regret my part in revealing the truth about the years of dithering. I’d like to believe that the coronial court’s recommendations will save lives and prevent further horrific injuries.”
Does he feel he is owed an apology?
“Yes. That would be the right thing to do, but more to the point the ACCC owes the public an apology for not being truthful.”
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