2017-08-08 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   8 AUGUST 2017




                                                    Page 14 of 146

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                          8 AUGUST 2017

         2. Asked to clarify any matters;
         3. Asked to provide any additional material they might have; and
         4.  Made aware that people might attempt to guess their identity.
     All interviews should be conducted in private, and care should be taken not to divulge any unauthorised
     information about the PID during the investigation process. Investigation techniques that are least likely
     to result in the discloser being identified include:
         1.  Conducting an internal audit of an area, program or activity that covers, but is not focused solely
             on, the issues disclosed;
         2. Alluding to a range of possible triggers for an audit or investigation, without confirming any
             particular one or acknowledging that a PID has been made; and
         3.  Ensuring that the discloser is also called for an interview if all other in the workplace are being
             interviewed.

     REFERRING A PID
     The organisation may_ (where appropriate) refer a PID to another public sector entity if the disclosure
     relates to conduct of the referral entity or an officer of the referral entity. A referral may also occur if the
     referral entity has the power to investigate or remedy the conduct of the entity that is subject to the
     disclosure.

     The table below provides guidance as to the powers of external referral entities to investigate various
     PIDs.

     Type of disclosure                                  Appropriate Referral Agency
     Corrupt conduct                                     Crime and Corruption Commission
     Maladministration                                   Queensland Ombudsman
     Substantial misuse of public funds                  Queensland Audit Office
     Substantial danger to public health and safety | Health Quality and Complaints Commission
     Substantial danger to health and safety of a        Disability and Community Care Services
     person with a disability                            Adult Guardian
     Substantial danger to the environment               Department of Environment & Resource
                                                         Management
                                                         Crime and Corruption Commission

     NO ACTION REQUIRED
     The organisation may determine not to take any action in relation to a PID if any of the following occurs:
         1.  The substance of the disclosure has already been investigated of dealt with;
         2.  Itis reasonable that the disclosure should be dealt with by an alternative process;
         3.  Itis impractical to investigate the disclosure due to the age of the information contained in the
             disclosure;
         4.  Itis reasonable to believe that disclosure is too trivial to warrant investigation and that dealing
             with the disclosure would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of Council from
             their use in the performance of its functions; or
         5. Another entity, that has jurisdiction to investigate the disclosure, has notified Council that the
             investigation of the disclosure is not warranted.
     Any decision to take no action in relation to a PID after an initial assessment must be considered
     carefully. The details of the PID and the reasons for not taking any action must be recorded. The
     discloser must also be notified in writing of the reasons for the decision not to take action.
     A decision to take no action in relation a PID after an initial assessment does not mean that the
     discloser does not need support and protection from reprisal.

                                                                                               Page 7 of 16
     Public Interest Disclosure ManagementProgram-and-Procedure

                                                                                            Page 14 of 146