The NSW Ombudsman has published a report on ‘Public Interest Disclosures’ his office managed in 2017–18, otherwise known as ‘whistleblowing’.
The Ombudsman’s Public Interest Disclosures Act Annual Report shows that 1,166 reports were made about the conduct of NSW public sector staff or organisations in 2017–18.
Of these:
* 324 were made to public sector organisations, 80% of which primarily alleged corrupt conduct;
* 744 were made to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), 69% by the head of a public sector organisation who is required to notify the Commission of suspicions of corrupt conduct; and
* 98 were made to other external investigating authorities, including the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman, Michael Barnes, (pictured), said public sector employees played a vital role in exposing wrong conduct and building public trust in Government.
“Many of my office’s recent investigations were triggered because of the valuable information we received from insiders,” Mr Barnes said.
He said his report used behavioural economics to understand how managers responded to reports of wrongdoing.
He said it discusses cases where it appeared managers had ‘blind spots’ and failed to appreciate that their actions may be perceived as a reprisal against a whistleblower.
The Public Interest Disclosures Act 1994 encourages public officials to report serious wrongdoing – such as corrupt conduct or maladministration – in the NSW public sector by providing them with certain legal protections.
The Ombudsman’s 70-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
