In recent years, whistle-blower protection has featured prominently in the debate over a new national integrity commission rather than in relation to changes to the existing legislative provisions. In the wake of the public inquiry into former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, the creation of a national anti-corruption watchdog is shaping up to be an important issue for the upcoming 2022 federal election and with that, the introduction of further protections for individuals who blow the whistle on suspected corruption. While the Coalition and the ALP have both expressed an intention to establish a “federal ICAC”, there is considerable divergence as to the terms upon which their respective commissions would ultimately operate.
Both major parties went to the polls in the lead up to the 2019 federal election promising to establish an integrity commission that would investigate corruption issues at a national level within 12 months of taking office. However, despite winning government, this deadline was not ultimately met by the Coalition, and it recently conceded that it would not bring the issue back before parliament before the election this year (citing a lack of bipartisan support for its model).
So, what developments can we expect in the whistleblowing space from the major political parties in the lead up to – and following – this year’s federal election?
Introduction of a national integrity commission has been on the...
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