The Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission receives and deals with public interest complaints that relate to a current or former member of parliament, minister or parliamentary secretary.
What is a public interest disclosure?
Under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 (Vic) (PID Act), a public interest disclosure (PID), commonly referred to as a whistleblower complaint, encourages reporting of improper conduct involving public officers or public organisations.
Disclosures are confidential and protections are available to shield reporters from negative consequences, such as harassment or job loss (referred to as 'detrimental action').
Who can make a public interest disclosure?
Anyone or a group of people can make a public interest disclosure.
What wrongdoing can I report?
You may make a public interest disclosure to the commission about:
- improper conduct by a member of parliament, minister or parliamentary secretary
- detrimental action taken against someone in reprisal for making a public interest disclosure.
What is improper conduct?
Improper conduct includes:
- corrupt conduct affecting honest performance of public duties
- dishonest actions breaching public trust
- misuse of information or resources for personal benefit
- actions posing risks to public health, safety or the environment
- serious misconduct such as theft or fraud.
Refer to section 4 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 for a complete definition.
How to make a public interest disclosure
Use our secure online report form to submit your public interest disclosure.
Your identity can remain confidential. You can communicate via encrypted messaging for updates while remaining anonymous.
If you need help completing the form or have any questions before completing the form, you can make an enquiry.
You can access help through the Translating and Interpreting Service at 131 450.
What happens after I submit a public interest disclosure
Reports suggesting improper conduct will be referred to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).
IBAC can investigate, dismiss or refer the public interest disclosure back to the commission for assessment as a public interest complaint.
We will then assess the public interest complaint, guided by our legislation, and decide whether to investigate.
We may also decide to treat the public interest complaint as a report of alleged misconduct.
If we decide not to investigate, or if we treat the public interest complaint as a report of alleged misconduct, we will inform you, including the reasons why.
Why we might not investigate
We may not proceed with an investigation if the report:
- lacks credibility or substance
- is trivial, frivolous or vexatious
- has already been addressed by another body.
Protections for reporters
If your disclosure qualifies as a public interest disclosure, you are legally protected from:
- detrimental action, such as harassment or discrimination
- civil or criminal liability for making the disclosure
- defamation claims related to the information provided.
Important considerations
Protections do not extend to false or misleading reports.
You remain accountable for your own misconduct, even if disclosed in a public interest disclosure.
See the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 for detailed information.
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