Griffith University

Flying Foxes, WikiLeaks and Freedom of Speech: Statutory Recognition of Public Whistleblowing in Australia

International Whistleblowing Research Network Conference
Middlesex University, London, UK
23-24 June 2011

Professor A.J. Brown
John F Kearney Professor of Public Law
Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland 4222 Australia

• Flying Foxes, WikiLeaks and Freedom of Speech: Statutory Recognition of Public Whistleblowing in Australia (.DOC 108K)

House of Representatives Committee report released

On 25 February 2009, the House of Representatives Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee released its report on proposed legislative reform for Commonwealth public sector whistleblower protection.

• Inquiry into whistleblowing protections within the Australian Government public sector

Comment on the report by project leader Professor A.J. Brown was published in The Australian on 27 February 2009.

• Professor A.J Brown's comments (PDF 102k)

First project report: Whistleblowing in the Australian Public Sector

On 9 September 2008, the first project report, Whistleblowing in the Australian Public Sector (edited by A J Brown) was published by ANU E-Press and launched by Senator John Faulkner.

Media coverage:

• ABC Report - 2nd September (PDF 12k)
• ABC World Today - 9th September (PDF 30k)
• Age - 10th September (PDF 83k)
• Australian - 7th August (PDF 86k)
• Australian - 9th September (PDF 79k)
• Australian - 10th September, p4 (PDF 72k)
• Australian - 10th September, p13 (PDF 344k)
• Canberra Times - 10th September Editorial, p10 (PDF 87k)
• Canberra Times - 10th September, p1 (PDF 97k)
• Canberra Times - 13th September, p4 (PDF 149k)
• Herald Sun - 10th September, p24 (PDF 79k)
• Hobart Mercury - 11th September Editorial (PDF 82k)
• NT News - 13th September, p26 (PDF 109k)
• ABC Radio National - The Law Report (26 June 2007)

ABC Radio National

Whistleblowers

An update on whistleblowing laws featuring Dr AJ Brown went to air on 26/6/07.

• Interview and audio transcript

Whistleblowers and the law

• The Law Report (7 November 2006)

Guests:

• Ms Toni Hoffman (Whistleblower, Dr Jayent Patel scandal, Bundaberg Hospital)
• Prof AJ Brown (Team Leader, Whistling While They Work Project, Griffith University)
• Mr Guy Dehn (Director, Public Concern at Work, UK)

Media Release, Thursday 2 November 2006

Whistleblower protection laws need national revision: new issues paper

A coherent, national approach to the revision of whistleblower protection laws needs to be considered by Australian governments, according to a new issues paper released today by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, NSW Ombudsman and Queensland Ombudsman.

• Media Release (PDF 118k)
• Public Interest Disclosure Legislation in Australia: Towards the Next Generation? - Summary (Final Version) (PDF 157k)
• Public Interest Disclosure Legislation in Australia: Towards the Next Generation? - Full Paper (Final Version) (PDF 785k)
• What happens to the Whistleblowers? Radio National The Science Show (3 September 2005) (PDF 102k)
• WA Public Servants to Participate in Griffith Whistleblower Study (27 July, 2005)
• AJ Brown featured in interview on Radio National (July 2005) (RAM file – requires Real Player)
• “Deep Throat” revealed: a conversation - Radio National (1 June 2005) (PDF 24k)