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Whistleblowers

September

Rajiv Jain, chairman and chief investment officer of GQG Partners, which has been fined by the SEC over its non-disclosure agreements.

Rajiv Jain’s GQG cops $725,000 fine for muzzling would-be whistleblowers

US regulator hauls up the fund management giant for violating whistleblower protections by making staff sign overly restrictive non-disclosure agreements.

  • Joshua Peach

July

Data from Transurban shows the green pacemaker lights are helping reduce time spent in the tunnel by 50 seconds per trip.

Transurban’s Queensland office shake-up leads to departures

The branch, which manages six toll roads, is losing more senior staff following a restructure and investigation into whistleblower complaints.

  • Jenny Wiggins
Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh.

Labor plays down call to break up ASIC, talks up whistleblower rewards

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission was on Wednesday accused of being a “toothless tiger” in the final report of a 20-month Senate inquiry.

  • Ronald Mizen

June

AACo says CEO Dave Harris gave a presentation highlighting an “inclusive” workplace.

AACo admits to sacking whistleblower who sent ‘unsafe’ warning

The beef giant has meanwhile denied running a “No PC” policy that a former manager had alleged raised safety concerns for young staff.

  • Liam Walsh
Canva has cultivated an image as a fun employer but has sharp restrictions in its contracts backed by the threat of shares being withdrawn.

Say something bad about Canva? It can claw back staff shares

Documents seen by the Australian Financial Review show how Canva shares give the start-up leverage over former staff in a widely used industry practice.

  • Nick Bonyhady
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May

Anthony Watson.

Lendlease tax whistleblower’s 12-year fight for vindication

Lendlease’s tax dispute could cost it at least $112m, but whistleblower Anthony Watson has lost his job, battled depression and is about to sell his family home.

  • John Kehoe
A former Brisbane-based Transurban employee has alleged in court that he was dismissed after blowing the whistle on coercion, manipulation of company records and raising safety issues on toll roads.

Transurban network operator claims he was fired for whistle-blowing

The former employee has alleged in court that he was dismissed after blowing the whistle on coercion, manipulation of company records and raising safety issues on toll roads.

  • Jenny Wiggins
The judge accepted David McBride was of good character following numerous character references and a report by a clinical psychologist outlining his morality and sense of justice.

War crimes whistleblower jailed for nearly six years

David McBride, who leaked documents that revealed allegations Australian soldiers committed war crimes, will spend at least two years and three months behind bars.

  • Michael Pelly

February

Member for Indi Dr Helen Haines during a press conference on the report, ‘Protecting Australia’s Whistleblowers: The Federal Roadmap’ in 2022.

Crossbench backs financial rewards for whistleblowers

Advocates say whistleblowers need stronger protections and better incentives to come forward, and big US-style rewards may be the key.

  • Ronald Mizen

December 2023

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen gives evidence to a parliamentary inquiry in social media.

How to steal 25,000 secrets from Facebook

The inside story of how a Wall Street Journal reporter secured one of the biggest leaks of corporate documents in history.

  • Jeff Horwitz
There is something about owning a big cattle station, or producing lots of steaks, that appeals to billionaires.

AACo made manager a whistleblower, then retrenched him a month later

Beef giant AACo maintains the job loss was simply due to a restructure. But a dispute has emerged about the timing.

  • Liam Walsh

November 2022

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will soon introduce a whistleblower protection bill.

Whistleblower laws to be introduced within next fortnight

New laws to protect whistleblowers will play a crucial role in the National Anti-Corruption Commission but are unlikely to come into force until next year.

  • Michael Pelly
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is being urged to change the costs neutrality model in the government’s sexual harassments legislation changes.

Labor urged to scrap cost neutrality in sex harassment legislation

In a letter addressed to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, unions, law firms and academics warn a cost-neutrality provision would make it harder for claimants to access justice.

  • Max Mason and Hannah Wootton
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus

Dreyfus faces international pressure over whistleblowers

International advocacy groups have called on Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to end the prosecutions of whistleblowers Richard Boyle and David McBride

  • Tom McIlroy

October 2022

ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle, whose trial starts on Tuesday.

Tax Office whistleblower prosecution reaches court

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is being urged to end the prosecution of ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle.

  • Updated
  • Tom McIlroy
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July 2022

ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle is facing 24 charges.

End prosecution of ATO whistleblower, Dreyfus urged

Legal groups and former senator Rex Patrick have renewed calls for Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to stop the prosecution of ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle

  • Tom McIlroy
Charges against Bernard Collaery have been dropped.

Dreyfus orders Bernard Collaery case dropped

He was scheduled to face trial later this year over the leaking of classified information about Australia’s efforts to spy on the government of East Timor.

  • Tom McIlroy and Michael Pelly

June 2022

Mineral Resources CEO Chris Ellison is a respondent to the case.

‘Whistleblower’ sues MinRes CEO Chris Ellison

A former senior manager is suing over claims of improper conduct, including alleged instructions to destroy evidence in a legal case.

  • David Marin-Guzman

March 2022

ANZ is being sued by a former employee.

Ex-ANZ exec says he was sacked for reporting alleged sexual harassment

A former ANZ employee is claiming he was victimised after blowing the whistle on an alleged incident at a conference in 2013.

  • Max Mason and Jonathan Shapiro
Whistleblowers are protected under the Corporations Act, but regardless of how their complaint plays out, they often pay a high price -  professionally and emotionally.

Why whistleblowers rarely win

Bad conduct in the workplace does not necessarily have negative consequences for the perpetrator. It’s usually the whistleblower who suffers, and more often than not it’s a woman.

  • Tony Boyd

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/whistleblowers-jdh