Former Australian Taxation Office debt collector Richard Boyle will stand trial on criminal charges after losing a bid to halt his prosecution over allegedly releasing protected information.
In civil proceedings in the South Australian District Court, Boyle had argued that his whistleblower actions were consistent with the federal government's Public Interest Disclosure Act, rendering him immune from prosecution.
But in a decision on Monday, Judge Liesl Kudelka dismissed Boyle's claim, effectively clearing the way for his trial to proceed later this year.
It has prompted a fresh wave of criticism of Australia's whistleblower laws.
"The decision today only underscores the urgent need for law reform to ensure whistleblower protections are real and don't just exist on paper," Human Rights Law Centre senior lawyer Kieran Pender said.
"The attorney-general should prioritise comprehensive reform to the act and the establishment of a whistleblower protection authority.
"Whistleblowers make Australia a better place and our laws need to reflect that."
Federal independent MP Andrew Wilkie urged the government to drop the criminal proceedings against Boyle, saying the civil judgment had revealed again how deficient the Public Interest Disclosure Act was.
"The federal government understands there are deficiencies and is reviewing the act. But until that review is completed and the act is amended, the government should do the right thing and drop the legal action against Mr Boyle," Mr...
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