Public interest disclosure

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 (WA)(PID Act) aims to ensure openness and accountability in government by encouraging people to make certain disclosures and protecting them when they do.

A Public Interest Disclosure (PID) is a statement of wrongdoing of a public sector agency made in the public interest.

Organisational commitment

The City of Rockingham does not tolerate corrupt or other improper conduct.

The City is committed to the aims and objectives of the PID Act. The PID Act recognises the value and importance of reporting as a means of identifying and addressing wrongdoing.

The City strongly supports disclosures being made by employees about corrupt or other improper conduct. The City also strongly supports contractors and members of the community making disclosures of the same nature.

The City does not tolerate any of its employees, contractors or subcontractors taking reprisal action against anyone who makes or proposes to make a public interest disclosure.

The City will take all reasonable steps to protect employees from any detrimental action in reprisal for the making of a public interest disclosure.

The commitment to effectively manage public interest disclosures extends to a proper authority of the City, being its Public Interest Disclosure Officers (PID Officers). The PID Officers will abide by the Public Sector Commission’s PID Code of conduct and integrity in performing their duties.

The City is also committed to responding to public interest disclosures thoroughly and impartially. The City will treat all people in the disclosure process fairly, including those who may be the subject of a disclosure. 

The City will provide as much information as possible to people considering making a public interest disclosure. The guidelines are accessible to all employees and contractors. Copies are available from the PID Officers.  

The City is committed to dealing with all reports of suspected wrongdoing. The City encourages people to report, if they witness any such behaviour. The City will consider each matter under the appropriate reporting pathway and make every attempt to protect staff members making reports from any reprisals.

What is public interest information?

The PID Act only applies to disclosures of public interest information (defined in s. 3 of the PID Act). Public interest information means information that relates to the performance of a public function by a public authority, public officer or public sector contractor (either before or after the commencement of the PID Act) and shows or tends to show that a public authority, a public officer, or a public sector contractor is, has been or proposes to be involved in:

  • improper conduct; or
  • an act or omission that constitutes an offence under a written (State) law; or
  • substantial unauthorised or irregular use of, or substantial mismanagement of, public resources; or
  • an act done or omission that involves a substantial and specific risk of:
  1. injury to public health; or
  2. prejudice to public safety; or
  3. harm to the environment; or
  • a matter of administration that can be investigated under section 14 of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971 by the Parliamentary Commissioner (Ombudsman Western Australia).
Before making a Public Interest Disclosure

Before making a PID, it is important that you are aware of the rights and responsibilities imposed on disclosers and others under the PID Act:

  • it is an offence to make a disclosure if you know, or are reckless about, it being false and misleading
  • with some exceptions, the PID Officers will investigate your information and you will be expected to cooperate
  • you will have to keep your information confidential – or else you may lose protection and commit an offence under the Act.
Making a Public Interest Disclosure

If you wish to make a PID or seek further information, please contact one of the City’s PID officers set out below:

Name

Phone number

Email

Jim Olynyk(08) 9528 0322jim.olynyk@rockingham.wa.gov.au
Sarah Ward(08) 9527 0774sarah.ward@rockingham.wa.gov.au
Peter Doherty(08) 9527 0745peter.doherty@rockingham.wa.gov.au

A discloser needs to clearly identify that they are making a public interest disclosure. For the purposes of accountability and certainty, persons wishing to make a disclosure of public interest information under the PID Act are encouraged to do so in writing. As the City expects that most disclosures will be made in writing the City has developed a Lodgement Form which can be used for the purpose of making such a disclosure.

Further resources
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