The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (PID) commenced on 15 January 2014. The Act provides an avenue for public officials to make a disclosure that they reasonably believe meets the definition of disclosable conduct. The Act also aims to promote the integrity and accountability of the Commonwealth public sector by:
- encouraging the disclosure of information by public officials about suspected wrongdoing in the public sector;
- ensuring that public officials who make disclosures are supported and protected from adverse consequences; and
- ensuring that disclosures are properly investigated.
What is disclosable conduct?
This means conduct by an agency, public official or a contracted Commonwealth service provider that:- contravenes a law
- is corrupt
- perverts the course of justice
- results in wastage of public funds or property
- is an abuse of public trust
- unreasonably endangers health and safety or endangers the environment
- is misconduct relating to scientific research, analysis or advice
- is maladministration, including conduct that is unjust, oppressive or negligent
Who can make a disclosure?
A current or former ‘public official’ can disclose information that they believe on reasonable grounds tends to show disclosable conduct. This broad term includes Australian Government public servants and parliamentary service employees, members of the Defence force, staff and directors of Commonwealth companies, statutory office holders and staff of Commonwealth contracted service providers.Protections for the person who makes the disclosure
The identity of a person who makes a disclosure will be kept confidential as far as practicable. It is an offence to provide identifying information about a person who makes a disclosure without their consent unless authorised by the PID Act.Authorised Officers
Under the PID Act, each agency must appoint authorised officers to handle public interest disclosures. Disclosures can also be made to a supervisor/manager, who must pass it to an authorised officer. For the purposes of this Act the following staff have been appointed as authorised officers:Authorised Officers - Department of Health
Name |
Title |
Division |
Phone No. |
|---|---|---|---|
Nathan Hyson |
Director |
Medical Benefits |
(02) 6289 9452 |
Michael Ryan |
Director |
Medical Benefits |
(02) 6289 9037 |
Mel Dwyer |
Assistant Director |
Health Provider Compliance |
(07) 3360 2947 |
Adam Hay |
Assistant Director |
Health Provider Compliance |
(08) 8237 8058 |
Sandy Youren |
Medical Officer |
Health Provider Compliance |
(03) 9637 4133 |
Hongxia Jin |
Director |
Medical Devices Product Quality |
(02) 6221 6782 |
Avi Rebera |
Assistant Secretary |
Regulatory Practice & Support |
(02) 6232 8108 |
Eric McIntosh |
Director |
Regulatory Practice & Support |
(02) 6232 8737 |
Tania Rishniw |
Assistant Secretary |
Health State Network |
(03) 9665 8706 |
Peter McCauley |
Assistant Director |
Health State Network |
(02) 9263 3845 |
Denise McDonald |
Assistant Director |
Health State Network |
(07) 3360 2838 |
Trudy Staynor |
Assistant Director |
Health State Network |
(08) 9346 5345 |
Liz Edwards |
Assistant Director |
Health State Network |
(08) 8919 3408 |
Avril Firth |
Assistant Director |
Health State Network |
(03) 6221 1548 |
Luke Wurst |
Assistant Director |
Information Technology |
(02) 6289 8493 |
Ingrid Leonard |
Director |
Aged Care Access & Quality |
(02) 6289 2996 |
Roshini Jayewardene |
Director |
Nicnas |
(02) 8577 8860 |
David Elliot |
Legal |
Legal |
(02) 6289 5127 |
Masha Somi |
Assistant Secretary |
Office of Health Protection |
(02) 6289 7705 |
Craig Boyd |
Chief Financial Officer |
Portfolio Investment |
(02) 6289 7944 |
Michael Dornbusch |
Assistant Secretary |
Office of Gene Tech Regulator |
(02) 6271 4255 |