Whistleblowing International Network (WIN) wrote to attorney-general Mark Dreyfus on November 2 to express deep concern about the prosecutions of two whistleblowers, Richard Boyle and David McBride.
“Despite the clear intent of the prevailing legal framework, the prosecutions of Mr Boyle and Mr McBride — commenced and pursued for more than four years now — are proof that Australia’s PID Act has manifestly failed to fulfil its objectives,” the letter stated.
“These prosecutions actively and seriously discourage the making of public interest disclosures.”
As previously reported by The Mandarin, Boyle is facing prosecution over his public revelations of unethical debt collection practices in the Australian Taxation Office.
McBride’s case involves the former Australian Army lawyer exposing alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
The letter called for Dreyfus to intervene in the prosecutions of Boyle and McBride, to minimise the “chilling effect” of the cases.
Four demands were specificed in the letter: for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to explain how the two prosecutions are in the public interest, the reformation of disclosure provisions in federal whistleblowing laws, the establishment of a whistleblowing authority, and the reimbursement of Boyle and McBride’s legal fees.
The letter noted — and welcomed — Dreyfus’ commitments to reform the Public Interest Disclosure Act, but urged the attorney general to go further.
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