Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018

The principal officer of a public sector agency or council must ensure that 1 or more officers or employees of the agency or council are designated as responsible officers of the agency or council for the purposes of this Act.

The regulations may prescribe qualifications for persons designated as responsible officers for the purposes of this Act.

The principal officer of a public sector agency or council must ensure that the name and contact details of each responsible officer of the agency or council are made available to officers and employees of the agency or council.

The principal officer of a public sector agency or council must ensure that a document setting out procedures—

for a person who wants to make an appropriate disclosure of public interest information to the agency or council; and

for officers and employees of the agency or council dealing with such a disclosure, is prepared and maintained in accordance with any applicable guidelines prepared under section 14.

The document required under subsection (4) must—

without limiting that subsection, include—

clear obligations on the public sector agency or council and its officers and employees to take action to protect informants; and

risk management steps for assessing and minimising—

detrimental action against people because of public interest disclosures; and

detriment to people against whom allegations are made in a disclosure; and

be made available free of charge on the Internet, and—

in the case of a public sector agency—at premises determined by the responsible Minister; or

in the case of a council—at the principal office of the council, for inspection by members of the public.

This section does not apply to—

a public sector agency consisting only of a single person;

a public sector agency or council that has been granted an exemption, in writing, by the Commission.