The new whistleblower protection regime – what it means for corporate counsel
From 1 July 2019 a new whistleblower protection regime was implemented, which will be relevant to almost all companies.
The amendments significantly alter and expand protection for ‘eligible whistleblowers’ who report wrongdoing in the corporate sphere and are likely to affect more than 30,000 companies across Australia.
The changes are significant and, among other things, include:
- the expansion of the definition of ‘whistleblower’ to cover officers, employees (paid and unpaid), individuals supplying goods and services (both paid and unpaid) and their employees, associates, and the relatives and dependants of any of the above listed
- allowing and protecting anonymous disclosures, including disclosure to journalists or parliamentarians in certain circumstances
- allowing the identity of whistleblowers to be protected
- the introduction of civil penalties for victimising or breaching the confidentiality of a whistleblower.
In this presentation, Cooper Grace Ward partner Charles Sweeney and Adelaide Hayes lead a discussion that covers:
- how the updated whistleblower protection regime differs from the previous regime
- which types of organisations need to comply
- likely impacts for those organisations
- practical tips for corporate counsel in the application of the new regime.
