This afternoon, Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea led debate for the NSW Liberals & Nationals in NSW Parliament on an important bill to provide greater protection for whistleblowers.
"The public at large is entitled to demand effective accountability of its elected government and public service and it is important that public officials who make disclosures concerning corrupt conduct, maladministration or waste of money in the public sector are given adequate protection," Mr O'Dea said.
"In the past, highly principled and courageous public employees have placed their own financial security and careers on the line for the greater public good.
"In many cases this has resulted in great personal cost.
"The Protected Disclosures Amendment (Public Interest Disclosure) Bill 2010 is designed to ensure greater protection for whistleblowers and greater accountability by the government," Mr O'Dea said.
"Reform is long overdue, highlighted in part by the failure of current legislation to result in any successful prosecution for reprisal action against a whistleblower over the past 16 years.
"The NSW Liberals & Nationals have been at the forefront of efforts to update whistleblower protection, with Liberal's Leader, Barry O'Farrell introducing a Private Members Bill in 2008, aimed at implementing the ICAC Committee's 17 recommendations from their 2006 report," Mr O'Dea said.
"The new Bill is in response to the Committee's 2009 report. I sat on the Committee, whose members unanimously agreed to its recommendations.
"On behalf of the NSW Liberals and Nationals, I successfully moved amendments in the Legislative Assembly to further improve the legislation belatedly introduced by the Government," Mr O'Dea said.
"We need a change in Government culture and ideally a change in Government. In the meantime, this legislation is a step in the right direction," Mr O'Dea concluded.
