Public Interest Disclosures

New legislation has introduced changes to the Protected Disclosure Act 2012 which has been renamed the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012. The new legislation has increased protection for disclosures, provided clarification around confidentiality arrangements, no loss of protections if reporting to the ‘wrong’ agency and created a new Integrity and Oversight Committee (IOC), to oversee Victorian integrity agencies, including IBAC.

Council is committed to the aims and objectives of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012 in ensuring that people who report improper conduct or serious professional misconduct by its Councillors, officers or members of special committees appointed by Council can do so in the knowledge that protections exist to safeguard personal privacy and prevent reprisals including bullying, harassment or legal action.

Council recognises the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices, and supports the making of disclosures that reveal improper conduct including:

conduct involving a substantial mismanagement of public resources;
substantial risk to public health, safety; or
substantial risk to the environment.

Council will take all reasonable steps to protect people who make such disclosures from any detrimental action in reprisal for making the disclosure, including the welfare of the person making the disclosure and confidentiality of information.

Public Interest Disclosure Procedures(PDF, 2MB)

Public Interest Disclosures – Quick Guide(PDF, 133KB)

Who Can Receive Public Interest Disclosures? (Reference Guide)(PDF, 2MB)

Public Interest Disclosures - Application Form(PDF, 291KB)