PUBLIC AUTHORITY INTERNAL REPORTING SYSTEMS

The Government is committed to protecting public employees who make disclosures concerning corrupt conduct, maladministration and serious and substantial waste of public money. Under the Protected Disclosures Act 1994, it is an offence to take reprisal action against employees who report such matters.

To assist and encourage employees to make such reports, public agencies must have in place documented internal reporting procedures that provide clear and unequivocal protection to employees who report corrupt conduct, maladministration and serious and substantial waste of public money.

In this regard, it has come to my attention that some public agencies have not implemented such procedures or have not fully informed their employees as to what procedures are in place to make protected disclosures.

Consequently, I wish to confirm the Government's requirement that all public agencies implement within their organisation, by 30 January 1997, documented internal reporting procedures that provide clear and unequivocal protection to employees who make protected disclosures.

Public agencies must also ensure that employees are informed of the protection provided by the Protected Disclosures Act and the organisation's procedures for making protected disclosures. A summary of the provisions of the Act are contained in the attachment to this Circular.

To enable the Premier's Department to assess the extent and form of implementation of the Act in NSW public agencies, a copy of public agencies' internal reporting procedures, and a brief outline of what steps they have taken to inform their employees of these procedures and implement them in their organisation, should be sent to Mr David Roden, Director Workforce Policy, Premier's Department, GPO Box 5341, Sydney 2001 by 30 January 1997.

You may be aware that I have established at senior officer-level the Protected Disclosures Act Steering Committee to develop strategies to more effectively implement the Act across the NSW public sector. The committee has representatives from the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Office of the Auditor-General, and the Ombudsman's Office, The Cabinet Office, the Department of Local Government, the Police Integrity Commission and the Premier's Department.

Workshops on the Protected Disclosures Act have already been conducted for local councils. It is expected that workshops will also be conducted for State Government public agencies early next year. I understand that the Committee has recently written to public agencies asking them to nominate a contact officer for their agency in relation to protected disclosure matters that the Committee may work with. I would encourage public agencies to participate in this work.

To assist public agencies in developing and fully implementing internal reporting procedures, a comprehensive guidebook entitled Protected Disclosures Guidelines is available from the NSW Ombudsman, on (02) 9286 1000.

Any inquiries concerning this matter may be directed to Mr David Roden, Director, Workforce Policy, on (02) 9228 3372 or Mr Theo Vermeulen, Principal Policy Officer, Workforce Policy, on (02) 9228 5516.

Bob Carr
Premier

Issued by: Premier's Department
Contact officer: Theo Vermeulen
Telephone: (02) 9228 5516
Date: 19 November 1996