Whistleblowing and the media

Public interest disclosures (whistleblowing)

Providing information about wrongdoing in the public sector is commonly known as “whistleblowing”. The legal term for it is “making a public interest disclosure” (PID).

Public interest disclosures about corruption can be made to the CCC. 

In Queensland, public sector employees who disclose information as a result of genuine concern about possible corruption in the public sector are protected by law (the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010) from reprisals.

Whistleblowing and the media

If a public sector employee informs a journalist of suspected corruption without reporting it to a proper authority,  they are not covered by legal protection (that is, under the PID Act) from reprisal.