Public Interest Disclosure Act

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (PID Act), came into operation on 1 July 2019 and will replace the existing framework for the protection of appropriate disclosures about public interest information under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1992.

What is a Public Interest Disclosure?

The Public Interest Disclosure Act established a scheme that encourages and facilitates the disclosure of public interest information to certain persons or authorities. It provides protections for those who make appropriate disclosures of public interest information and sets out processes for dealing with those disclosures.

Public interest information

The Public Interest Disclosure Act protects information’s from civil or criminal liability for making appropriate disclosures of public interest information, which are defined as:

Environmental and Health Information - where there is a substantial risk to the environment or to public health and safety.
Public Administration Information - where there is a potential corruption, misconduct or maladministration in public administration.

Protections are provided for public officers who make an appropriate disclosure of public administration information and for all persons who make an appropriate disclosure of environmental and health information.

What is an appropriate disclosure?

Disclosure means an appropriate disclosure of public interest information made by an Informant to a Relevant Authority.

A person makes an appropriate disclosure of Environmental and Health Information if:

The person:
- Believes on reasonable grounds that the information is true; or
- Is not in a position to form a belief on reasonable grounds about the truth of the information, but believes on reasonable grounds that the information may be true and is of sufficient significance to justify its disclosure so that its truth may be investigated; and
The disclosure is made to a Relevant Authority

A person makes an appropriate disclosure of Public Administration Information if:

The person:
- Is a public officer;
- Reasonably suspects that the information raises a potential issue of corruption, misconduct or maladministration in public administration; and
The disclosure is made to a Relevant Authority

Who is the Relevant Authority?

Relevant Authority means the person or entity that receives an appropriate disclosure of public interest information in accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act.

View the full list of relevant authorities that can receive disclosures.

What Protections are given under the PID Act?

Where an appropriate disclosure is made to a relevant authority, the informant will be protected from all liability, despite of secrecy or confidentiality or any other restriction on disclosure (statutory or otherwise) which would otherwise apply.

How can I make a Public Interest Disclosure?

A Public Interest Disclosure can be made verbally, or in writing via hardcopy and post or email. The disclosure that is submitted in writing should be clearly marked ‘Private and Confidential’ and addressed to one of the responsible officers listed below:

City of Victor Harbor Responsible Officers

Manager Library and Customer Service - Vicki Hutchinson
Director Corporate and Customer Service - Karen Rokicinski
Governance and Policy Officer - Kyla Walker

Disclosures can be made to City of Victor Harbor Responsible Officers by:

Phone: (08) 8551 0500 - Request to be transferred to a Responsible Officer)

In writing: Address as:
Private and Confidential - Public Interest Disclosure
City of Victor Harbor
Att: Responsible Officer
PO Box 11
Victor Harbor SA 5211
Email: publicinterestdisclosure@victor.sa.gov.au