The Treasury Law Amendment (Enhancing Whistleblower Protections) Bill 2017(Cth) (Whistleblower Law) has been passed and will be effective from 1 July 2019.
The Whistleblower Law establishes a framework for the protection of whistleblowers within companies.
Who does it apply to?
The Whistleblower Law applies to all public and large proprietary companies.
A large proprietary company is, in general terms, a company that alone or as part of a corporate group, meets any two of the following three criteria: revenues over $25 million; assets over $12.5 million; or more than 50 employees.
Complying with the Whistleblower Law
To comply with the Whistleblower Law, companies must have compliant whistleblower policies and procedures in place by 1 January 2020.
Whistleblower policies and procedures must address, amongst other things: (i) how the confidentiality of whistleblowing claims will be protected; (ii) how the company will investigate claims; and (iii) how the company will support whistleblowers following the making of a claim.
Consequences of failing to comply
The Whistleblower Law includes significant civil and criminal penalties for breaches. For example, individuals can be fined up to $1 million and companies can be fined up to $210 million.
GRT Lawyers is assisting clients with Whistleblower Law compliance. Please contact us on (07) 3309 7000 to discuss.
![](https://grtlawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/International_Projects_Division_blog-300x171.png)
GRT Alert: A Milestone in GRT’s Global Expansion
We are delighted to announce the launch of GRT Lawyer’s International Projects Division. This GRT corporate development not only aligns seamlessly with GRT’s Corporate Business Plan, but also signifies another monumental stride forward for our organization, both nationally and internationally. The Head of GRT Lawyer’s International Projects Division is Amarzaya Gantumur. With a remarkable legal background spanning