The government and coalition have dismissed a push for an Independent Whistleblower Protection Authority in a contentious Senate committee report.
The Whistleblower Protection Authority Bill 2025 was introduced to Parliament by independent Senator David Pocock to establish a new statutory authority, advisory council, and whistleblower protection commissioner.
It was sent to the Senate legal and constitutional affairs standing committee in February, with the inquiry resuming after the election.
The final report rejects the bill.
Committee chair Jana Stewart said it would interfere with the government’s response to a 2016 review of the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PID).
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“The independent statutory review … made 33 reform recommendations. The Attorney-General’s Department confirmed that the government has already implemented a majority of those recommendations, with stage 2 reforms currently underway and well advanced,” she said.
“Some of the remaining recommendations are complex and relate to structural or broader issues in the whistleblower framework.
“It would be prudent to allow the government to complete the stage 2 reforms currently underway in relation to the PID.
“In so doing … the government should consider the evidence received during this inquiry.”
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