We are committed to the aims and objectives of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012.
The Act encourages and facilitates disclosing improper conduct by public bodies or public sector employees, and protects those who make disclosures. The Act also seeks to ensure that those disclosures are properly assessed, and where necessary, investigated.
We understand the loss and harm caused by fraud and corruption, and maintain a no tolerance system that prevents, detects, and responds quickly and appropriately.
We are committed to minimising internal and external fraud and corruption events by:
- understanding our risk factors
- building and leveraging existing controls
- ensuring staff awareness of indicators
- having the right people and controls in place to manage and monitor the Fraud and Corruption Control System.
We take all allegations or concerns regarding potential fraud and corruption seriously and commit to assessing each notification.
Reports of suspected fraudulent or corrupt activity will be treated in accordance with the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011 and/or the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 and Procedures.
All reasonable steps will be taken to provide those who have acted in good faith in reporting suspected fraudulent or corrupt activity, with protection against discrimination or retaliation.
We do not tolerate improper conduct by our employees, officers or members, or acts of retaliation against those who come forward to disclose such conduct.
We recognise the value of transparency and accountability in our administrative and management practices, and support the making of disclosures.
The procedures for handling disclosures have been prepared in accordance with guidelines set out by the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC).
The objective of the Act is to:
- encourage and facilitate the disclosure of:
- improper conduct by public officers and public bodies
- detrimental action taken in retaliation for a person making a disclosure under this Act
- people who make those disclosures
- people who may suffer detrimental action in reprisal for those disclosures
- provide confidentiality of the content of the disclosure and the identity of people who make those disclosures
- ensure that those disclosures are properly assessed and, where necessary investigated
The Act applies to Administrators and Council employees of the City of Whittlesea.
Anyone can make a disclosure if they have reasonable grounds to believe that improper conduct or detrimental action has occurred. A complaint should clearly show or suggest improper conduct or detrimental action by a public officer:
- improper conduct must be either criminal conduct or conduct serious enough to result in a person’s dismissal
- detrimental action includes harassment or discrimination, or other adverse action taken against the discloser, in retaliation for having reported the alleged improper conduct.
People seeking protection under the Act should carefully consider whether their complaint meets these basic thresholds above before reporting.
Full definitions of improper conduct and detrimental action can be found in the Public Interest Disclosure Procedures(PDF, 553KB).
Disclosures regarding City of Whittlesea employees should be made to a Public Interest Disclosure Officer. You can also make a disclosure directly to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).
Email: pid@whittlesea.vic.gov.au (this email is accessed by Public Interest Disclosure Officers).
Phone: 03 9217 2401
Mail:
CONFIDENTIAL
Attention: Public Interest Disclosure Officer
Whittlesea City Council
Locked Bag 1
Bundoora MDC VIC 3083
Disclosures regarding Whittlesea Administrators should be made directly to Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).
Telephone: 1300 735 135
Mail:
IBAC
GPO Box 24234
Melbourne VIC 3001
Visit the IBAC website
Where a disclosure is made directly to Council and Council determines that the information disclosed is likely to constitute a Public Interest Complaint, it will refer the matter to IBAC for review.
IBAC will determine who will investigate the matter and may refer the disclosure back to Council depending on the nature of the complaint.
Specific timeframes apply, and the discloser will be informed of actions taken throughout the process.
These procedures are designed to complement Council’s complaint handling and resolution procedures.
Members of the public are encouraged to contact Council with any complaints or concerns they may have about Council or Council employees.
For more information see, our Complaints handling and resolution procedures.