This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Law, justice & rights
The bill would create a national Whistleblower Protection AuthorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. to help whistleblowers and potential whistleblowers across all Commonwealth whistleblower protection lawsThe federal laws the bill would bring under one national support body, instead of leaving people to deal with separate schemes..
Australia’s integrity framework lacks a dedicated whistleblower authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws., leaving people who expose wrongdoing without clear support and vulnerable to mistreatment or reprisals. The bill creates an independent national authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. to receive disclosures, help and protect whistleblowers, investigate harm, and oversee how Commonwealth bodies handle cases.
Australia already had a patchwork of Commonwealth whistleblower laws, but the bill’s backers argued there was still no single authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. to guide, protect and back people who exposed wrongdoing, leaving them vulnerable to mistreatment and making major integrity bodies less effective. Citing recent disclosures such as robodebt and the PwC tax leaks as proof that whistleblowers uncover serious misconduct, the bill proposed a national authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. on 10 February 2025, but it lapsed at the dissolution of Parliament on 28 March 2025 before any new body was created.
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, and the available debate material focuses on the need for stronger help and protection for whistleblowers. The recorded speakers all supported the proposal, so there is no clearly documented parliamentary criticism beyond the absence of broader debate in this material.
Andrew Wilkie MPAn elected federal parliamentarian, mentioned in the draft because Andrew Wilkie is identified as an MP. introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
No
The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.
Final passage
No final passage
The bill has not completed passage and is no longer proceeding.
Time before failure
46 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
The bill would create a national Whistleblower Protection AuthorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. to help whistleblowers and potential whistleblowers across all Commonwealth whistleblower protection lawsThe federal laws the bill would bring under one national support body, instead of leaving people to deal with separate schemes..
People could report wrongdoing to the Whistleblower Protection CommissionerThe person who would run the Authority and decide how disclosures and retaliation complaints are handled. themselves, through someone else, anonymously, and either by speaking or in writing.
The Whistleblower Protection CommissionerThe person who would run the Authority and decide how disclosures and retaliation complaints are handled. could investigate retaliation or other harm linked to whistleblowing, either alone or together with another government agency.
Whistleblowers could get legal help, representation, and practical support such as non-legal costs, living support, or even a reward.
Parliament would get a dedicated joint committeeThe proposed committee that would review the Commissioner's performance and scrutinise senior appointments. to review how the Whistleblower Protection CommissionerThe person who would run the Authority and decide how disclosures and retaliation complaints are handled. is performing and to scrutinise top appointments.
This bill establishes the Whistleblower Protection Authority – a new, independent statutory authority responsible for providing information, advice, assistance, guidance and support to whistleblowers and potential whistleblowers. The Authority will have jurisdiction over all federal whistleblower protection laws.Whistleblower Protection Authority explanatory memorandum
Subclause 16(2) enables the person to make a disclosure on behalf of another person, Commonwealth agency or body, or association of persons. It also enables the person to make the disclosure or request anonymously, and either orally or in writing.Whistleblower Protection Authority explanatory memorandum
This clause specifies that the Commissioner may deal with an allegation, or information that raises a whistleblower protection issue, by investigating the whistleblower protection issue. They may choose to do this either alone or jointly with another appropriate government agency.Whistleblower Protection Authority explanatory memorandum
It also enables the Commissioner to provide or arrange for the provision of legal advice, representation or other practical support to whistleblowers and potential whistleblowers. Practical support may include payments for non-legal costs, services, living support or a reward.Whistleblower Protection Authority explanatory memorandum
This clause specifies that the functions of the Committee are to consider the proposed recommendations for the appointment of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners; monitor and review the performance of the Commissioner; and report to both Houses of the Parliament on matters connected with the performance of the Commissioner that the Committee thinks appropriate.Whistleblower Protection Authority explanatory memorandum
Context
Australia already had a patchwork of Commonwealth whistleblower laws, but the bill’s backers argued there was still no single authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. to guide, protect and back people who exposed wrongdoing, leaving them vulnerable to mistreatment and making major integrity bodies less effective. Citing recent disclosures such as robodebt and the PwC tax leaks as proof that whistleblowers uncover serious misconduct, the bill proposed a national authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. on 10 February 2025, but it lapsed at the dissolution of Parliament on 28 March 2025 before any new body was created.
Australia's integrity system is described as missing a whistleblower authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws.
The explanatory memorandumThe supporting document that explains how the bill is meant to work clause by clause. said Australia lacked a dedicated national body to support whistleblowers across Commonwealth laws, leaving people at risk when exposing wrongdoing.
Whistleblower Protection Authority explanatory memorandum ↗Robodebt and the PwC scandal are cited as proof whistleblowers face risk
During the second reading debate, supporters said recent disclosures such as robodebt, elder abuse in aged care and the PwC affair showed whistleblowers reveal major wrongdoing but still need stronger protection.
Hansard ↗House introduction proposes a national Whistleblower Protection AuthorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws.
The bill was introduced to create an independent authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. that could receive disclosures, support whistleblowers, investigate mistreatment and oversee how Commonwealth bodies handle cases.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Bill lapses at dissolution
The proposal fell away when Parliament was dissolved, so the new whistleblower authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. and its support powers were not established.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Considered by scrutiny committee (27/03/2025): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 3 of 2025
Considered by scrutiny committee
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, and the available debate material focuses on the need for stronger help and protection for whistleblowers. The recorded speakers all supported the proposal, so there is no clearly documented parliamentary criticism beyond the absence of broader debate in this material.
No party represented in the debate material opposed the bill.
Votes
No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Wilkie supports the whistleblower protection bill and urges the House to back it because Australia needs an independent authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. to help, protect and investigate whistleblowers.
Read in Hansard ↗Pocock strongly supports the bill and says a whistleblower protection authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. is long overdue.
Read in Hansard ↗Haines strongly supports the bill, saying Australia needs a whistleblower protection authorityThe proposed national body that would give whistleblowers advice, support and protection across Commonwealth whistleblowing laws. now because current laws are too weak and leave people like Richard Boyle exposed.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
3 speakers · 3 support
“A Whistleblower Protection Authority is long overdue and something the Labor Party promised before the 2019 Election. My crossbench colleagues and I are ready to work collaboratively with the Government to reform our country's whistleblower protection laws, and it starts today with this Bill. I urge the Government to get on board or get out of the way, so we can ensure whistleblowers are protected, not punished, prosecuted or imprisoned.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“My crossbench colleagues and I are ready to work collaboratively with the government and opposition to reform our country's whistleblower protection framework, and it starts today with this bill. So I urge them to get on board and support it and, in doing so, to finally demonstrate that they really do recognise whistleblowers as an essential building block of a healthy democracy and society.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is why we so desperately need the promise fulfilled by this Albanese government to establish a whistleblower protection authority to help future people come forward.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Lapsed at dissolution
Lapsed at dissolution
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Considered by scrutiny committee
Considered by scrutiny committee (27 Mar 2025): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 3 of 2025
APH bill page notes