The Whistleblower Project launches
NEWS | Democratic Freedoms
The Human Rights Law Centre has launched the Whistleblower Project, a new initiative to support people who speak out in the public interest.
Whistleblowers play a critical role in our democracy. From war crimes in Afghanistan to misconduct at our banks, to damaged ecosystems and mistreatment of refugees, so much has been revealed thanks to the courage of whistleblowers.
When a person witnesses wrongdoing and has the courage to speak up, they should be recognised as a human rights defender, not punished. But right now, ineffective protections, legal uncertainty and insufficient practical support are discouraging people from blowing the whistle.
80 per cent of people who blow the whistle experience some form of reprisal. Consequences range from losing their job to being threatened with jail time. Two whistleblowers are currently on trial.
The Human Rights Law Centre is proud to announce the launch of the Whistleblower Project.
Our new initiative will provide expert legal support so whistleblowers can safely reveal wrongdoing under the protection of law and ensure the wrongdoing they disclose is dealt with promptly and fairly.
Our team will also continue to advocate for law reform and institutional change to strengthen whistleblower protections in Australia.
The Project would not be possible without the support of our pro bono law firm and counsel partners, donors and supporters – we are deeply grateful to be working with all of you to help defend whistleblowers and stand up for accountability in Australia.