March 28, 2023 — 5.00am
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Australians should not be punished for speaking the truth. When courageous whistleblowers speak up about human rights violations, government misfeasance or corporate misdeeds, we can demand action. But when wrongdoing stays in the dark, when Australian don’t speak up, there is no accountability. That is why whistleblowers play a vital democratic role – without them, often there is no justice.
On Monday, Judge Liesl Kudelka of the South Australian District Court dismissed former public servant Richard Boyle’s application for protection under the Public Interest Disclosure Act, which covers federal public sector whistleblowers. It is the latest sad twist in a sorry saga that has dragged on for almost five years, and a major blow to the protection of fundamental rights in this country. It is a case of acute injustice; a case that must end now.
Boyle previously worked at the Australian Taxation Office in the debt collection team. He became concerned about the inconsistent and arbitrary use of debt recovery powers, including garnishee orders – which allow the ATO to take money from taxpayers’ bank accounts. Boyle had described internal pressures to be heavy-handed, even where taxpayers were at risk of suicide, or facing domestic violence or mental health crises.
So he spoke up. He made an internal disclosure under the Public Interest Disclosure Act. He went to the tax ombudsman, the Inspector-General of...
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