2015-03-03 Planning & Organisation Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     3 MARCH 2015


12     PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURE POLICY
Author            Governance Advisor, Paul Bright
                  Executive Office

Index             ECM/Corporate Governance

Attachments       1.    Public Interest Disclosure Council Policy


RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Governance Advisor to the Planning & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 3 March 2015 and:
A.     Adopt the Noosa Council Policy “Public Interest Disclosure” (Attachment 1); and
B.     Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to develop an organisational level Public Interest
       Disclosure Procedure.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Nil.

REPORT
1. Background

The purpose of this report is to inform Council of the organisation’s obligations relating to the
Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 (PID Act).

The PID Act replaced the former Whistle Blowers Protection Act 1994. Commonly, making a
public interest disclosure (PID), or providing information about wrongdoing within the public
sector is known as ‘blowing the whistle’. By ensuring compliance with the relevant provisions
of the PID Act, the organisation will strive to meet the objects of the Act by ensuring:

     The promotion of public interest by facilitating PIDs of wrongdoing within the
       organisation;
     PIDs are properly assessed and, where appropriate, properly investigated and dealt
       with;
     Appropriate consideration is given to the interests of persons who are the subject of a
       PID; and
     Procedures are in place to afford protection from reprisals to persons making a PID.

In relation to PIDs, the Office of the Queensland Ombudsman:

     Acts as the oversight agency by reviewing the way a public sector organisation such
       as Noosa Council deals with PIDs;
     Undertakes an educational and advisory role for public sector entities; and
     Is the proper authority for a PID about maladministration in public sector.


Council’s Public Interest Disclosure Policy and associated Public Interest Disclosure
Management Program and Procedure (Management Program and Procedure) will form part
of the organisation’s integrated governance framework, which includes our Administrative


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