Public interest disclosure reporting
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (PID Act) promotes integrity and accountability in the Australian public sector by encouraging the disclosure of information about suspected wrongdoing, protecting people who make disclosures and requiring agencies to act.
The Commonwealth Grants Commission (CGC) encourages the reporting of wrongdoing under the PID Act and will act on disclosures where appropriate and protect disclosers from all reprisal action or threats of reprisals because of making a disclosure.
Who can make a PID
The following people can make a public interest disclosure:
- a person who is a current or former 'public official' can make a PID, including:
- all current and former Australian Public Service employees, members of the Defence Force, Australian Federal Police appointees, Parliamentary Service employees, directors or staff members of a Commonwealth company, statutory office holders or other persons who exercise powers under a Commonwealth law
- contracted service providers and their employees.
Managing disclosures
The PID Act focuses on the reporting and investigating of wrongdoing within government. It covers internal, external and emergency disclosures and disclosures to legal practitioners.
Pursuant to subsection 59(1) of the PID Act, to assist in managing any occurrences in the CGC that fall within the definition of public interest disclosures, the Secretary established the Procedures for Public Interest Disclosures.
These procedures relate only to internal disclosures, that is, disclosures to authorised internal recipients of disclosures or supervisors or managers of disclosers.
Avenues to disclose
To gain the protections available under the PID Act disclosures must be made to an appropriate person.
The CGC's authorised officers under the PID Act are:
- Assistant Secretary, Branch A
- Director Business Enabling Services
You can email disclosures and enquiries to the CGC's authorised officers at services@cgc.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can send your public interest disclosure to:
Director Business Enabling Services
Commonwealth Grants Commission
GPO Box 1899
CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601
Other Commonwealth entities
If you have information about suspected wrongdoing in a Commonwealth entity other than the CGC, you should contact an authorised officer in that agency.
Additional information
The Commonwealth Ombudsman is responsible for administering the PID scheme across all Commonwealth agencies.
The PID Act focuses on the reporting and investigating of wrongdoing within government but allows for reporting outside government in specified limited circumstances.
Additional information is available at: