Whistleblower Protection

The Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 (the Act) aims to encourage and assist a person wishing to make an allegation of improper conduct against staff of Victorian government authorities including councils.

A whistleblower is any person who makes a report or allegation (known as a disclosure) about improper conduct. The Moira Shire Council is committed to the aims and objectives of the Act. It does not tolerate improper conduct by its employees, officers or members, nor the taking of reprisals against those who come forward to disclose such conduct.

The Council recognises the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices, and supports the making of disclosures that reveal corrupt conduct, conduct involving a substantial mismanagement of public resources, or conduct involving a substantial risk to public health and safety or the environment.

The Council will take all reasonable steps to protect people who make such disclosures from any detrimental action in reprisal for making the disclosure. It will also afford natural justice to the person who is the subject of the disclosure.

Improper conduct is defined as:

• corrupt conduct
• a substantial mismanagement of public resources
• conduct involving substantial risk to public health or safety
• conduct involving substantial risk to environment

Any person can submit an allegation or complaint. The complaint must be made by an individual and not by a company, organisation or group of people.

Disclosures can be made to the Protected Disclosure Coordinator.

The Moira Shire Council ‘Whistleblowers Protection Act Procedures’ are available below for download:

Whistleblowers Protection Act Procedures

Whistleblowers Act