Whistleblowers protection

The Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 (the Act) encourages and facilitates making disclosures of improper conduct by public bodies or public sector employees, and protects whistleblowers who make those disclosures.

The Department of Treasury and Finance is committed to the aims and objectives of the Act. It does not tolerate improper conduct by its employees, officers or members, nor the taking of reprisals against those who come forward to disclose such conduct.

The Department of Treasury and Finance recognises the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices, and supports the making of disclosures that reveal corrupt conduct, conduct involving a substantial mismanagement of public resources, or conduct involving a substantial risk to public health and safety or the environment.

The Department of Treasury and Finance will take all reasonable steps to protect people who make such disclosures from any detrimental action in reprisal for making the disclosure. It will also afford natural justice to the person who is the subject of the disclosure.

What is 'improper conduct'?

Improper conduct means:

• conduct that is corrupt; or
• a substantial mismanagement of public resources; or
• conduct involving substantial risk to public health or safety; or
• conduct involving substantial risk to the environment.

The Act requires that the above conduct would, if proven, be a criminal offence or constitute reasonable grounds for dismissal.

How do I make a disclosure?

A disclosure is an allegation of improper or corrupt conduct. Disclosures of improper conduct or detrimental action by DTF or its employees may be made in writing or by telephone to the Protected Disclosure Coordinator:

Mr Darren Bloomfield
Director, Planning and Executive Services
Department of Treasury and Finance
Level 5, 1 Treasury Place
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002
Telephone: (03) 9651 5513

Disclosures may also be made directly to the Victorian Ombudsman:

Ombudsman Victoria
Level 9, 459 Collins Street (South Tower)
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Telephone: (03) 9613 6222
Toll Free: 1800 806 314

DTF's Annual Report contains the Department's disclosures pursuant to the Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 and details of the system for reporting and managing disclosures.

View the relevant section of the 2007-08 Annual Report (71 kb PDF)

Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 (43 kb PDF)