Documents mailed by a security guard acting as a whistleblower within the Department of Parliamentary Services were intercepted and read before reaching the MP they had been sent to, the Federal Court has heard.The whistleblower contacted an MP with allegations against DPS staff, but it was intercepted, the court heardBut the judge criticised whistleblower laws as"impenetrable"
He told the court there were also allegations relating to answers given in Senate estimates proceedings about a security incident. Whistleblower laws also require an internal investigation following a disclosure from a whistleblower be completed within 90 days of a disclosure. In the wake of his disclosure, the officer was suspended from duty and was found to have breached the parliamentary services code of conduct.The court heard the guard's case alleged the envelope's interception, his suspension, and the investigation had been a reprisal for his disclosure, and in breach of whistleblower laws.
Why aren't we focussing on the real problem of these times. A government which refuses to be transparent, believes in total secrecy? A government that lies, refuses to answer any questions. A PM who tells his caucus that the media is the enemy. auspol
There'd need to be a review, more clarity, a streamlining of laws in this area to ensure full protection for whistle blowers & sources. Greens AuConservatives RealBobKatter MakeMayoMatter JacquiLambie CliveFPalmer PaulineHansonOz smh
🤣🤣🤣 Yeah. It's like government saying Your metadata is safe with us.
Don't do anything obviously risky from a legal POV before talking to a lawyer. It isn't complicated folks, just like buying a house or any other important decision in life. Only fools try to play the super hero, so when they crash and burn they have only themselves to blame. 🦉
'...the envelope had already been opened — it was not known by whom'. Yes, and fairies live at the bottom of the garden!
Perhaps even drafted impenetrably so as to be impenetrable