Human rights officials have warned Australia risks being left behind the rest of the world unless a national authority is set up to help protect whistleblowers.
A parliamentary inquiry is examining whistleblower protection reform, set to be implemented ahead of the start of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Senior lawyer for the Human Rights Law Centre Kieran Pender said while other countries had set up broader bodies to oversee whistleblower protections, Australia was yet to establish a similar organisation.
"International best practice is moving inevitably towards a whistleblower protection authority being a central part of whistleblowing schemes," he told the inquiry.
"Australia risks being left behind if we don't have a whistleblower protection authority operating soon."
Mr Pender said the reforms proposed by the government - which are the subject of Monday's inquiry - were a welcome step forward but more needed to be done to protect people exposing wrongdoings.
"Shortcomings in this bill raise concerns about a continued piecemeal approach to whistleblower protections," he said.
"Unfortunately, proposed amendments in this bill, if they are not revised before being enacted, may make it less likely ... that people will have confidence to speak up and be properly protected."
Concerns had been raised behaviour such as bullying, sexual harassment or interpersonal conflict would not be able to be reported with adequate whistleblower protections.
Mr Pender said the...
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