An inquiry and report into the Whistleblower Protection Authority Bill 2025 (No. 2). The Bill would establish an independent statutory authority, the Whistleblower Protection Authority (WPA), and provide for the appointment of the Whistleblower Protection Commissioner.

The report comprises two chapters:

• Chapter 1 – provides information on the inquiry and outlines key provisions of the Bill
• Chapter 2 – discusses some of the key issues raised in relation to the Bill before setting out the committee’s findings and recommendations.

Key findings

• Evidence from whistleblowers – with lived experience of the current public interest disclosure system – found that, for most, their experience was not a positive one, with many left feeling traumatised, isolated and fearful.
• Evidence was received about a number of limitations with the Bill. These included the duplication with existing regulatory and oversight bodies, concerns about perceived or actual conflicts of interest, a lack of protections for whistleblowers from liability, and the appropriateness of the body being based on the structure of the National Anti-Corruption Commission with far-reaching investigatory powers.
• The committee concluded that it would be prudent to allow the Australian Government to complete the stage 2 reforms currently underway in relation to the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013.

Recommendations

1. That the government consider the evidence received during the inquiry as part of the second stage of reforms to the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013, the statutory review of the Corporations Act 2001, and the Taxation Administration Act 1953 frameworks.
2. The committee recommends that the Senate does not pass the Bill.