CPSU welcomes new whistleblower law

Date: 18 March 2010

The new National Secretary of the CPSU, Nadine Flood, has warmly welcomed proposed new whistleblower legislation.

Cabinet Secretary Joe Ludwig yesterday tabled the Government's response to a parliamentary inquiry into whistleblowing. Under the government's plan, Federal public servants would have the right to leak to journalists details of corruption, misconduct. and government waste and would be shielded from criminal penalties, including jail terms, for revealing serious wrongdoings to the public.

"New laws to protect whistleblowers are long overdue," Ms Flood said. "Currently public service staff have no protection and the way issues have been handled has been inconsistent."

Ms Flood said the union hoped the new legislation would lead to a change in culture within the community.

"The community needs to have confidence in the integrity of the Australian Public Service. Decent whistleblower laws are a key part of the mix.

"This legislation is not a free for all. There is an onus on public service workers to ensure complaints are reasonable and serious.

"It does not give public service workers the right to openly criticize policy they disagree with."

Under the government plan, public servants must first report their concerns to a senior officer in their own workplace, or to an agency such as the Commonwealth Ombudsman, before speaking out to a third party.

"Given the importance of the issue the CPSU is calling for bipartisan support on this legislation,"

Ms Flood said. "The issue should be above politics."

For further information

Contact:	Nadine Flood
Union:	CPSU National Secretary
Contact Mobile:	0407 731330
WWW:	http://www.cpsu.org.au/

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