CPA Australia says confusing reporting rules deter whistleblowers, urging Treasury to fund independent triage and support
CPA Australia has called for a dedicated Whistleblower Protection Office to help Australians report corporate and tax misconduct, arguing the current system is too complex and risks discouraging people from speaking up.
The call comes as Treasury's statutory review of tax and corporate whistleblowing – triggered under section 1317AK of the Corporations Act 2001 – considers reforms following the KPMG Australia scandal, in which a former audit director's 2024 disclosure about the misuse of confidential Lendlease board papers led to a federal parliamentary inquiry and the resignation of the firm's chief executive, audit boss and chairman.
In its submission to Treasury, CPA Australia said uncertainty about who is protected, what can be disclosed and where disclosures should be made creates unnecessary barriers for potential whistleblowers. Belinda Zohrab, regulations and standards lead at CPA Australia, said Australians who want to report misconduct should be able to do so confidently and without fear.
"Whistleblowers play an important role in identifying corporate and tax misconduct, but the current framework – particularly in the corporate regime – can be difficult for ordinary people to navigate," Zohrab said.
"A person considering whether to report wrongdoing is likely to be focused on three things: whether they will remain anonymous, whether they will...
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