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- Policies and initiatives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Artificial intelligence
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian Space Agency
- Boosting innovation and science
- Co-hosting the Square Kilometre Array
- Increasing international collaboration
- Industry growth centres
- Industry Innovation and Science Australia
- National Measurement Institute
- Optical astronomy in Australia
- Participating in the digital economy
- Promoting innovation precincts
- Science in our department
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
Energy
Resources
Northern Australia
Trade
Business support
Measurement services
Government to government services
- Regulations and standards
Emissions reduction
Energy
Resources
- Applying to export rough diamonds
- Applying to export uranium and controlled ores
- Offshore mineral exploration and mining
- Offshore oil and gas exploration and development
- Offshore petroleum exploration acreage release process
- Regulating offshore oil and gas in Australian Commonwealth waters
- Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine
- Taxes and royalties on minerals and petroleum
Measurement
Trade
Space industry
Building industry
Business support
- Funding and incentives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Australian Square Kilometre Array Fellowships Programme
- Business Research and Innovation Initiative
- Business-research collaboration
- Collaborating with Asia-Pacific on science, research and innovation
- Collaborating with China on science and research
- Collaborating with India on science and research
- Cooperative research centres
- Enabling international space investment
- Industry 4.0
- Inspiring Australia: Science engagement in Australia
- International research collaboration
- Moon to Mars: opportunities for Australian businesses
- Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
- Research and Development Tax Incentive
- Supporting advanced manufacturing
- Supporting business and innovation
- Supporting space infrastructure growth
- Transitioning Australia’s automotive manufacturing industry
- Venture capital
Resources
- About us
COVID-19
Jobs
Who we are
- Our Ministers
- Our Executive team
- Organisation chart
- Our portfolio agencies
- Overseas engagement
- Anti-Dumping Commission
- Anti-Dumping Review Panel
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian SKA Office
- Australian Space Agency
- Critical Minerals Facilitation Office
- National Measurement Institute
- Office of Innovation and Science Australia
- Office of Northern Australia
- Office of the Chief Economist
- Office of the Chief Scientist
Who we work with
Reporting and accountability
- Annual report
- Assurance and Audit Committee
- Budget statements
- Campaign Certification Statements
- Continuing Order of the Senate
- Corporate plan
- Deregulation agenda
- Freedom of information
- Gifts and benefits register
- Grants reporting
- Information Publication Scheme
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- Privacy impact assessments
- Public interest disclosure
- Senate Order 15: portfolio appointments and vacancies
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On this page
Public interest disclosure
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (PID Act) underpins the Australian Government’s Public interest disclosure (PID) scheme. Public officials can use the PID scheme to report suspected wrongdoing in the Australian public sector. The scheme protects the discloser from reprisal.
Our department can also issue public interest certificates.
Examples of wrongdoing
The following are some examples of wrongdoing:
- suspected illegal conduct
- corruption
- maladministration
- abuse of public trust
- scientific research deception
- wasting public money
- unreasonable danger to health or safety
- danger to the environment
- abuse of position
- conduct which may be grounds for disciplinary action
Who can make a PID
Generally, a discloser must be a current or former public official. This includes:
- Australian Public Service employees
- Australian Government company employees and directors
- Australian Government contracted service providers
- statutory office holders
Protections provided under the PID Act
To gain the protection of the PID Act you must comply with the Act’s requirements.
The PID Act ensures you are immune from civil, criminal and administrative liability (including disciplinary action) that might otherwise arise from making the disclosure. This is subject to some exceptions.
The protection will also ensure there’s no:
- disclosure of your identity without consent
- reprisal action and threats of reprisal
How to make a PID
Who to report to
To gain the protection of the PID Act you must disclose to an authorised person.
You can make a PID about our department by contacting the Secretary, or an authorised officer. Our authorised officers are:
- Russ Campbell, email: Russ.Campbell@industry.gov.au, phone: +61 2 6213 7324
- Jo Evans, email: Jo.Evans@industry.gov.au, phone: +61 2 6243 7096
- Elizabeth Kelly, email: Elizabeth.Kelly@industry.gov.au phone: +61 2 6102 8830
- Andrew Lewis, email: Andrew.Lewis@industry.gov.au, phone: +61 2 6276 1459
- David Luchetti, email: David.Luchetti@industry.gov.au, phone: +61 2 6213 6068
- Luise McCulloch, email: Luise.McCulloch@industry.gov.au, phone: +61 2 6102 8257
- Duncan McIntyre, email: Duncan.McIntyre@industry.gov.au, phone: +61 2 6213 7180
- Sean Sullivan, email: Sean.Sullivan@industry.gov.au, phone: +61 4 1969 7039
- David Williamson, email: David.Williamson@industry.gov.au, phone +61 2 6213 7305
You can also tell your manager about your disclosure and they will pass it to an authorised officer.
The PID scheme is designed to facilitate internal disclosures and investigations. In limited circumstances, you may want to make a PID to someone outside the Australian Government. If you're considering making such a disclosure, it is important to seek independent legal advice to see if you are protected under the Act.
What information to include
You don’t have to follow a specific format to make a disclosure.
A disclosure can be made:
- anonymously or openly
- verbally (in person or by phone)
- in writing (by email or hardcopy)
Our department prefers PIDs in writing. Please try to cover the following information in your PID:
- your name and contact details (although you may choose to remain anonymous)
- details of the alleged wrongdoing
- who you think committed the alleged wrongdoing
- when and where the alleged wrongdoing occurred
- any relevant evidence surrounding the alleged wrongdoing
- whether you did anything in response to the alleged wrongdoing
- others who know about the alleged wrongdoing and any action they have taken
- whether you believe your information is a PID under the PID Act
- if you’re concerned about possible reprisals as a result of making your disclosure
- if you have any supporting correspondence or documentation and if you can provide copies
After you make a PID
Our Secretary decides how the PID scheme operates in our department. Details can be found in the PID procedure [473KB PDF] [147KB DOCX].
Read more
Read about Public interest disclosure on the Commonwealth Ombudsman website.
Last updated: 8 December 2020
Content ID: 26691