Crossbench MPs have urged the federal government to drop criminal charges against a former Australian Taxation Office debt collector, saying the whistleblower is a hero not a villain.
Richard Boyle's case came before the South Australian Court of Appeal on Wednesday as he tried to overturn an earlier ruling that he should face a trial for releasing protected information
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has declined to comment directly on the matter, but Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie on Thursday said it was extraordinary the government was continuing with a case launched under the previous coalition administration.
"You would have thought the new government would see the sense in dropping the prosecution," Mr Wilkie said.
"This is the government that said that we're going to review all of the public interest disclosure protections for whistleblowers and make them stronger - but in reality, they're doing what they can to make them weaker.
"I call again on the government to drop this prosecution to treat the whistleblower as a hero, not a villain."
In recent civil proceedings in the South Australian District Court, Boyle argued his actions were consistent with the federal government's Public Interest Disclosure Act, rendering him immune from prosecution.
But in March, Judge Liesl Kudelka dismissed his claim, ruling he was not protected by the act, effectively clearing the way for his criminal trial to proceed.
Boyle is facing more than 20 charges relating to the release...
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