Public Interest Disclosures

The Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 enables people to make disclosures about improper conduct within the public sector without fear of reprisal. This includes ensuring that the person making the disclosure and content of the disclosure are kept confidential.

We do not tolerate improper conduct. Nor do we tolerate reprisals being taken against those who come forward to disclose improper conduct. Disclosures about East Gippsland Water or its employees must be made to the Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

What is it?

Public interest disclosure law enables people to make disclosures about improper conduct

within the public sector without fear of reprisal. This includes ensuring that the person making the disclosure and content of the disclosure are, where possible, kept confidential.

What does it cover?

The Protected Disclosures Act 2012 covers:

• Making disclosures of improper conduct by East Gippsland Water and our staff
• Detrimental action taken by East Gippsland Water or our staff in reprisal for a public interest disclosure ebing made.

Defintions of improper conduct are below:

Public Officer or Entity

• The dishonest performance of a public officer or public official of their duties
• Knowlingly or reckless breaching public trust by a public officer or public official
• Misuse of information obtained by a public officer or public official given to them in that capacity.
• A conspiracy to commit or attempt to commit the above conduct.

Conduct that implies:

• A substantial mismanagement of public resources
• A substantial risk to public health or safety
• A substantial risk to the environment

Any person

• Conduct adversely affecting the honest performance of a public officer or public official of their functions

Detrimental action:

• is action against a person in reprisal for a public interest disclosure. This could include action causing injury, loss or damage; intimidation or harassment; discrimination, disadvantage or adverse treatment in relation to a person's work, career, job, trade or business, including taking disciplinary action.

How to make a public interest disclosure

You can make a public interest disclosure about East Gippsland Water or its board directors, officers or employees by contacting the Independent Broad-Based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), on the contact details below.

Please note that East Gippsland Water is not able to receive public interest disclosures.

If the disclosure is under the threshold of the offences described in the above definitions, it should be dealt with under the existing East Gippsland Water complaint or disciplinary processes.

Make your disclosure to

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC)
Address: Level 1, North Tower, 459 Collins Street, Melbourne
Postal Address: IBAC GPO Box 24234, Melbourne, Victoria 3001
Telephone: 1300 735 135
For more information visit the ibac website.

More information

Contact East Gippsland Water’s Public Interest Disclosure Officer:
Phone: 1800 671 841
Email: publicinterestdisclosure@egwater.vic.gov.au