The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (Cth) (PID Act) establishes a whistleblower protection scheme for federal public sector employees, contractors and employees of contractors who report wrongdoing within the Commonwealth public sector.
The National Portrait Gallery (Gallery) is committed to the highest standards of ethical and accountable conduct, and to a culture that encourages reporting of wrongdoing.
Who can make a disclosure?
A person must be a current or former ‘public official’ to make a disclosure. This includes:
- an employee of the Gallery
- the Gallery Director
- a member of the Board of the Gallery
- a provider of goods and services and any employees of such a provider who provides, or has provided, goods or services to the Gallery under a contract
- a person holding one of these positions for a different Australian Government agency, company or department.
An Authorised Officer at the Gallery can determine that an individual who was not a public official when they obtained relevant information is a public official for the purposes of dealing with a disclosure. Examples could include former volunteers and scholars.
What can you make a disclosure about?
A disclosure of suspected wrongdoing can include conduct which occurred at any time.
Types of wrongdoing include:
- Conduct that contravenes a law
- Conduct that is corrupt
- Conduct that perverts the course of justice
- Conduct that is an abuse of public trust
- Conduct that results in wastage of public money or property
- Conduct that unreasonably endangers health and safety or endangers the environment
- Misconduct relating to scientific research, analysis and advice
- Maladministration.
How can you make a disclosure?
You can make a disclosure about suspected wrongdoing at the Gallery by phone or email by contacting:
Trent Birkett
Chief Operating Officer
Email: PID@npg.gov.au
The Gallery will take active steps to support and to protect people who make disclosures under the PID Act. The identity of a person who makes a disclosure will be kept confidential as far as practicable. People who make disclosures also have immunity from civil, criminal and administrative liability (including disciplinary action) for making the disclosure.
Further information
For further information about the Public Interest Disclosure Scheme contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman:
Public Interest Disclosure Scheme, Commonwealth Ombudsman website
Phone: 1300 362 072
Email: PID@ombudsman.gov.au
