You want to blow the whistle.
Australian law protects whistleblowers, but only if the disclosure is made the right way. A mis-step at the start can cost you the protection entirely, so the time to take advice is before you report, not after.
Before you report
- Get advice first. The protections depend on who you are, what you are disclosing and who you disclose it to. A conversation with a lawyer is itself protected.
- Disclose to an eligible recipient. That generally means ASIC or APRA, an officer or senior manager of the company, or its designated whistleblower channel. Going to the media first can forfeit protection except in narrow emergency and public-interest circumstances with strict preconditions.
- Keep your notes, but do not take documents you are not entitled to. How you gathered material can matter later.
- You can remain anonymous, and victimising you for a protected disclosure is unlawful and actionable.
What we do
We advise before any disclosure is made, structure the disclosure so the protections apply, and act for you if retaliation follows.
Read more about our Investigations and Inquiries practice
Talk to us today
All consultations are private and confidential. For urgent matters please call +61 3 8676 7929. Telephone is answered out of hours. Contact us
