A public interest disclosure is a report made by an individual about serious or significant improper conduct in the Tasmanian public sector. It is also known as blowing the whistle.
The legislation
The Ombudsman reviews and investigates disclosures under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2002 (Tas). The purpose of the Act is to:
- encourage and facilitate disclosures of improper conduct by Tasmanian public officers and public bodies (disclosing improper conduct is also called ‘whistleblowing’)
- protect people who make those disclosures and others from reprisals
- make sure disclosures of improper conduct are properly investigated and dealt with
- provide natural justice for all parties involved in those disclosures.
The Ombudsman has a number of functions under this Act. The Ombudsman receives disclosures from public officers, contractors and sometimes from members of the public and determines if the disclosures are public interest disclosures. If they are public interest disclosures, the Ombudsman investigates them.
The Ombudsman is also notified about public interest disclosures made internally to public bodies, monitors the investigations of those public bodies and sometimes reviews their decisions.
The Ombudsman can also provide advice to public bodies on the Act.