Publication date: 9 November 2023
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (PID Act) promotes the integrity and accountability of the Commonwealth public sector through a Public Interest Disclosure (PID) scheme that allows the reporting of suspected wrongdoing by public officials.
All Australian Government agencies, Commonwealth companies and public authorities have responsibilities under the PID Act to investigate suspected wrongdoing and take appropriate action.
What behaviour can be reported?
Behaviour or information can be disclosed that you believe on reasonable grounds tends to show ‘disclosable conduct’.
Disclosable conduct that may be subject to the PID Act includes but is not limited to:
- a contravention of the law
- corruption
- perverting the course of justice
- maladministration
- abuse of public trust
- falsifying scientific research
- wastage of public money, or
- conduct that is a danger to health, safety or the environment.
Who can make a disclosure?
Current or former public officials can make a disclosure under the PID Act.
This includes:
- public servants (ongoing, non-ongoing and casual)
- parliamentary service employees
- statutory office holders
- staff of Commonwealth companies
- service providers under a Commonwealth contract
- temporary employees engaged through a recruitment agency.
How to make a public interest disclosure
The OAIC has several authorised officers appointed under the PID Act:
- Melanie Drayton, Chief Operating Officer
- Annamie Hale, Assistant Commissioner Corporate
- Pennie Snowden, Assistant Commissioner Dispute Resolution
- Andre Castaldi, Assistant Commissioner Regulation and Strategy
- David Moore, Principal Lawyer.
To submit a public interest disclosure or for more information:
| PID@oaic.gov.au | |
| Post | GPO Box 5288 |
Note, the OAIC uses the above email address for PID matters only and restricts access to it to authorised officers.
If your disclosure relates to one of the OAIC’s authorised officers, please email integrity@oaic.gov.au to discuss arrangements for making a confidential disclosure to a specific authorised officer. This correspondence should be marked ‘Confidential – PID advice’. Do not name the Authorised Officer in this correspondence.
While undertaking their duties, if an authorised officer becomes aware of corrupt conduct that is ‘serious or systemic’, they are required to report the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
A discloser’s identify and contact details, as well as the content of your public interest disclosure, will be protected in accordance with the PID Act. If you wish to remain anonymous and do not wish to have your identity or contact details provided to the principal officer or investigator, clearly state this in your correspondence.
Protections for people who make a disclosure
The PID Act offers protection to disclosers and witnesses from reprisal action. The OAIC will not tolerate any reprisal action against a person who makes a disclosure in accordance with the Act.
Privacy notice
Your personal information is protected by Australian law, including the Privacy Act 1988, and is collected by the OAIC for the purpose of responding to and/or investigating a public interest disclosure.
Your information may be disclosed to other parties if required by any Australian law.
More information about how the OAIC manages your personal information and how to make a privacy complaint about how the OAIC has handled your information, can be found in the OAIC privacy policy.
Further information
See the Commonwealth Ombudsman on:
- Public Interest Disclosure (Commonwealth Ombudsman)
- Assessing and managing the risk of reprisal (Commonwealth Ombudsman)
