This bill is currently before Parliament.
Law, justice & rights
The bill would create a new independent Whistleblower Protection AuthorityThe new federal body the bill would establish to support whistleblowers, receive disclosures, coordinate with agencies and investigate harmful treatment linked to whistleblowing. to help people who have disclosed, or may disclose, wrongdoing under federal whistleblower laws.
The bill was introduced because its sponsors argued that Australia’s existing whistleblower laws left people to navigate complex disclosure systems without a dedicated body to protect and support them. Senator Pocock’s incorporated second readingThe parliamentary stage where a bill’s broad purpose and principles are debated. speech pointed to a 1994 Senate report that had recommended a dedicated whistleblower body, and to more recent cases where whistleblowers faced prosecution, legal risk or personal cost after speaking up. The bill’s practical answer was to create one federal authorityThe new federal body the bill would establish to support whistleblowers, receive disclosures, coordinate with agencies and investigate harmful treatment linked to whistleblowing. that could receive disclosures, coordinate with agencies, investigate mistreatment and help whistleblowers obtain advice, support and remedies.
The bill sits in a long-running debate about whether Australia’s integrity framework protects whistleblowers strongly enough. Its sponsors linked the proposal to a 1994 Senate recommendation, Labor’s earlier public promises, prosecutions and legal risks faced by named whistleblowers, and later Senate committee scrutiny after the bill was restored in the new Parliament.
The supplied public record did not include a substantive argument against creating the Whistleblower Protection AuthorityThe new federal body the bill would establish to support whistleblowers, receive disclosures, coordinate with agencies and investigate harmful treatment linked to whistleblowing.. The collected speeches were from crossbench supporters, and the APH material records committee referral and scrutiny steps rather than opposition to the bill.
Senator David Pocock, with Senator Jacqui Lambie listed as co-sponsor introduced this bill. Supportive speeches so far have come from some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
Not yet
Final passage
No final vote yet
The bill has not yet completed passage through Parliament.
Days since introduction
484 days
Updated 10 June 2026.
Meaning
The bill would create a new independent Whistleblower Protection AuthorityThe new federal body the bill would establish to support whistleblowers, receive disclosures, coordinate with agencies and investigate harmful treatment linked to whistleblowing. to help people who have disclosed, or may disclose, wrongdoing under federal whistleblower laws.
The new authorityThe new federal body the bill would establish to support whistleblowers, receive disclosures, coordinate with agencies and investigate harmful treatment linked to whistleblowing. would be led by a Whistleblower Protection CommissionerThe independent officer who would lead the authority and hold most of its decision-making, investigation, reporting and support powers., supported by up to two Deputy Commissioners, a Chief Executive Officer and staff.
The CommissionerThe independent officer who would lead the authority and hold most of its decision-making, investigation, reporting and support powers. could receive disclosures, protect whistleblowers’ identity and confidentiality as far as the law allows, refer matters to other bodies, and monitor how agencies handle whistleblower issues.
Public officials would have to refer information that raises a whistleblower protection issueA reprisal, victimisation, harmful act or failure to protect someone because they made, may make, or are connected to a whistleblower disclosure. to the CommissionerThe independent officer who would lead the authority and hold most of its decision-making, investigation, reporting and support powers., unless they had already acted on it or reasonably believed the CommissionerThe independent officer who would lead the authority and hold most of its decision-making, investigation, reporting and support powers. already knew about it.
The CommissionerThe independent officer who would lead the authority and hold most of its decision-making, investigation, reporting and support powers. could investigate reprisals or other harmful treatment linked to whistleblowing, conduct public inquiries, recommend remedies, support legal action, and accept enforceable undertakings for civil remedy breaches.
The bill would also create a Whistleblower Protection Advisory CouncilA proposed advisory body of a chair and six to ten other members that would give strategic advice, but not advice about particular people or investigations. and a 12-member parliamentary joint committeeA committee made up of members from both houses of Parliament. This bill would create one to consider commissioner appointments and review the Commissioner’s performance. to help oversee appointments and review the CommissionerThe independent officer who would lead the authority and hold most of its decision-making, investigation, reporting and support powers.’s performance.
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
The Authority consists of: (a) the Commissioner; and (b) the Deputy Commissioners; and (c) the CEO; and (d) the staff referred to in section 63.Whistleblower Protection Authority introduced bill text
The Commissioner has the following functions: ... to receive disclosures of wrongdoing from any person; ... to safeguard the identity and confidentiality of persons who make disclosures of wrongdoing, to the maximum extent possible by law and appropriate to the circumstances; ... to assess and, where appropriate, refer disclosures of wrongdoing to appropriate Commonwealth agencies, other government agencies, or other bodies, with functions and powers to deal with those disclosures.Whistleblower Protection Authority introduced bill text
As soon as practicable after a public official becomes aware of an allegation, or information, that raises a whistleblower protection issue, the public official must: (a) refer the allegation or information to the Commissioner under section 16; or (b) if the public official is an employee of a Commonwealth agency other than the head of the agency—notify the head of the agency of the allegation or information.Whistleblower Protection Authority introduced bill text
The Commissioner can investigate detrimental action incurred by a whistleblower, arising or resulting from disclosing wrongdoing, and conduct public inquiries into such matters. They may report on the results of such inquiries and investigations and communicate with appropriate authorities and to the public about the findings of such investigations and inquiries.Whistleblower Protection Authority explanatory memorandum
The Advisory Council consists of the following members: (a) a Chair; (b) at least 6, and not more than 10, other members. ... The Committee is to consist of 12 members: (a) 6 members of the Senate appointed by the Senate; and (b) 6 members of the House of Representatives appointed by that House.Whistleblower Protection Authority introduced bill text
Context
The bill sits in a long-running debate about whether Australia’s integrity framework protects whistleblowers strongly enough. Its sponsors linked the proposal to a 1994 Senate recommendation, Labor’s earlier public promises, prosecutions and legal risks faced by named whistleblowers, and later Senate committee scrutiny after the bill was restored in the new Parliament.
Senate report backs a dedicated body
Senator Pocock’s second readingThe parliamentary stage where a bill’s broad purpose and principles are debated. speech said the Senate Select Committee on Public Interest Whistleblowing recommended a dedicated body to protect whistleblowers and act on disclosures in its report In the Public Interest.
Second reading speech ↗Labor promise cited by sponsors
The second readingThe parliamentary stage where a bill’s broad purpose and principles are debated. speeches said a Whistleblower Protection AuthorityThe new federal body the bill would establish to support whistleblowers, receive disclosures, coordinate with agencies and investigate harmful treatment linked to whistleblowing. was something Labor had promised before the 2019 election, and used that promise to argue the proposal was overdue.
Second reading speeches ↗Richard Boyle case tests federal protections
The Australian Financial Review described Richard Boyle’s prosecution as a major test of public service whistleblower protection laws under the Public Interest Disclosure Act.
Australian Financial Review ↗Government flags whistleblower legislation
The Australian Financial Review reported Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus saying whistleblower protection laws would be introduced and would play a role alongside the National Anti-Corruption CommissionThe federal anti-corruption body. The bill borrows some NACC investigation and confidentiality rules for the proposed whistleblower authority..
Australian Financial Review ↗Crossbench pushes stronger protections
Public reporting described crossbench politicians, lawyers, academics and transparency bodies backing stronger whistleblower protections, including possible financial rewards for major disclosures.
Australian Financial Review ↗Bill introduced in the Senate
Senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie introduced the Whistleblower Protection AuthorityThe new federal body the bill would establish to support whistleblowers, receive disclosures, coordinate with agencies and investigate harmful treatment linked to whistleblowing. Bill 2025 in the Senate and moved the second readingThe parliamentary stage where a bill’s broad purpose and principles are debated..
Parliament of Australia ↗First Senate inquiry begins
The bill was referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, but that inquiry lapsed at the end of the Parliament on 21 July 2025.
Parliament of Australia ↗Bill restored and re-referred
The Senate restored the bill to the Notice PaperThe official list of business before a house of Parliament. Restoring the bill to the Notice Paper put it back on the Senate’s agenda after it lapsed. and referred it again to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, with a committee report recorded for 29 August 2025.
Parliament of Australia ↗Legislative route
Senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie presented the bill in the Senate, starting its formal parliamentary path.
Introduced and read a first time
Senator Pocock moved the second readingThe parliamentary stage where a bill’s broad purpose and principles are debated. and tabled the explanatory memorandum, opening debate on the bill’s purpose.
Second readingThe parliamentary stage where a bill’s broad purpose and principles are debated. moved
The bill was referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry.
Referred to committee
The first committee inquiry did not finish before the Parliament ended.
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesThe source bundle records that the scrutiny committee considered the bill, but it does not include a detailed committee comment to summarise.
Considered in published report
The bill lapsed at the end of the Parliament before completing passage.
Lapsed at end of Parliament
The Senate restored the bill to the Notice PaperThe official list of business before a house of Parliament. Restoring the bill to the Notice Paper put it back on the Senate’s agenda after it lapsed., putting it back before the chamber in the new Parliament.
Restored to Notice PaperThe official list of business before a house of Parliament. Restoring the bill to the Notice Paper put it back on the Senate’s agenda after it lapsed.
The restored bill was referred again to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, with a committee report recorded for 29 August 2025.
Referred to committee
The bill returned to committee after being restored to the Senate Notice PaperThe official list of business before a house of Parliament. Restoring the bill to the Notice Paper put it back on the Senate’s agenda after it lapsed..
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesKey criticism
The supplied public record did not include a substantive argument against creating the Whistleblower Protection AuthorityThe new federal body the bill would establish to support whistleblowers, receive disclosures, coordinate with agencies and investigate harmful treatment linked to whistleblowing.. The collected speeches were from crossbench supporters, and the APH material records committee referral and scrutiny steps rather than opposition to the bill.
This does not prove the bill faced no criticism; it means no substantive criticism was present in the supplied source bundle.
Further sources
Votes
No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
David Pocock strongly supports the bill, saying Australia has talked about a dedicated whistleblower body since a 1994 Senate report but still leaves whistleblowers to bear too much risk alone.
Read in Hansard ↗Andrew Wilkie strongly supports the bill, arguing that whistleblowers are essential to democracy but are not safe under current laws.
Read in Hansard ↗Helen Haines supports the bill and frames it as an overdue one-stop shop for people who may expose wrongdoing.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
3 speakers · 3 support
“As the title suggests, this Bill establishes the Whistleblower Protection Authority, an independent statutory authority responsible for providing information, advice, assistance, guidance and support to whistleblowers and potential whistleblowers.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“But that wouldn't be the end of it, because another yawning gap is the means to facilitate whistleblowing in a practical sense, by establishing a whistleblower protection authority, which is what this bill I'm introducing today would do.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“A whistleblower protection authority will support and protect whistleblowers and potential whistleblowers by being that much needed one-step shop.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
Senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie presented the bill in the Senate, starting its formal parliamentary path.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second readingThe parliamentary stage where a bill’s broad purpose and principles are debated. opened
Senator Pocock moved the second readingThe parliamentary stage where a bill’s broad purpose and principles are debated. and tabled the explanatory memorandum, opening debate on the bill’s purpose.
Senate · Referred to committee
Sent to Senate committee
The bill was referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry.
Senate · Lapsed at end of Parliament
Lapsed
The bill lapsed at the end of the Parliament before completing passage.
Senate · Restored to Notice Paper
Restored
The Senate restored the bill to the Notice PaperThe official list of business before a house of Parliament. Restoring the bill to the Notice Paper put it back on the Senate’s agenda after it lapsed., putting it back before the chamber in the new Parliament.
Senate · Referred to committee
Re-referred to committee
The restored bill was referred again to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, with a committee report recorded for 29 August 2025.
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee
Referred to committee
The first committee inquiry did not finish before the Parliament ended.
The bill was referred on 13 February 2025; the inquiry lapsed at the end of Parliament on 21 July 2025.
APH bill page notesSenate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Considered in published report
The source bundle records that the scrutiny committee considered the bill, but it does not include a detailed committee comment to summarise.
The APH notes record scrutiny committee consideration in Scrutiny Digest 3 of 2025.
APH bill page notesSenate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee
Referred to committee
The bill returned to committee after being restored to the Senate Notice Paper.
After restoration, the bill was referred again, with a committee report recorded for 29 August 2025.
APH bill page notes