Government Launches New Indigenous Whistleblower Program Where You Report Concerns Directly to the Person You’re Reporting

CANBERRA – The Australian Government has announced a new whistleblower protection program for Indigenous Affairs workers that allows them to report concerns about mismanagement directly to the person responsible for the mismanagement.

Minister for Indigenous Australians confirmed the program would “give grassroots workers a clear and safe pathway to raise issues” before adding that the pathway leads to a closed-door meeting with the exact person they raised the issue about.

“We heard community feedback that people didn’t feel safe speaking up” the Minister said. “So we designed a system where they can speak up once and then never be heard from again. It’s very efficient.”

Under the new framework a worker who suspects nepotism in a hiring process can submit a formal complaint to the complaints officer who was hired through the nepotistic process being complained about.

If the complaint is escalated it goes to a review panel made up of three board members. Two of whom are related to the person under review and one who owes them a favour from a conference in Cairns in 2019.

“The independence of the panel is guaranteed” a spokesperson said. “They independently decided to dismiss every complaint before reading it.”

One Aboriginal community worker who wished to remain anonymous said she tried the new system last month. “I reported a conflict of interest. The next day I was moved to a different department. Then I was moved to a different building. Then I was moved to a different postcode. Very thorough process.”

The Government has confirmed the program cost $2.3 million to develop and was designed by a consultancy firm owned by a former board member’s nephew.