Labor’s whistleblower bill goes too far in excluding personal conduct such as sexual harassment complaints from protection, the Greens and legal stakeholders have warned.
The Greens justice spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said the bill “excludes whistleblower complaints with a mixture of employment elements”, which he claims goes a step further than the related recommendation from a review into the laws.
The bill was introduced in November in a bid to improve whistleblower protections before the national anti-corruption commission opens its doors in June, but submissions to a parliamentary inquiry and Shoebridge’s comments signal an intention to make it tougher.
Examples in the bill of conduct that could no longer be the subject of a whistleblower complaint include interpersonal conflicts, bullying or harassment; disputes about promotions; terms and conditions of employment; and disciplinary action including suspension or termination.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for members of parliamentary staff to gain rights to make a protected public interest disclosure, while the independent MP Helen Haines continues to push for a whistleblower commissioner.
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, said he will consider those options but only in the second tranche of reforms and after consultation.
The bill seeks to implement the highest priority recommendations of the 2016 Moss review, which found that “the kinds of disclosable conduct are too broad”.
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