7.1 Who do I submit a public interest disclosure about Integrity Oversight Victoria to?
Integrity and Oversight Committee
Parliament of Victoria
Integrity and Oversight Committee Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia
+61 3 8682 2815
President of the Legislative Council
President of the Legislative Council President’s Office
Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia
+61 3 9651 8675
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Speaker’s Office
Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia
+61 3 9651 8580 or +61 3 9651 8575
7.2 Public interest disclosures about us go to the Integrity and Oversight Committee
The Integrity and Oversight Committee can receive Integrity Oversight Victoria-related public interest disclosures either directly or via another agency if it is a misdirected disclosure. The Integrity and Oversight Committee will then assess, handle and manage any subsequent investigation.
The Integrity and Oversight Committee can only classify a public interest disclosure as a public interest complaint if it shows or tends to show improper conduct or detrimental action related to making a public interest disclosure or the discloser reasonably believes it does.
If the Integrity and Oversight Committee says it’s a public interest complaint, it will write to you about what it plans to do next. If it doesn’t consider it to be a public interest complaint, then it will write confirming there won’t be an investigation and that your identity is no longer required to be kept confidential.
If the Integrity and Oversight Committee doesn’t consider it a public interest complaint, the Committee may let you know that the disclosure may be handled by another body as a complaint and that you can make a complaint to that body.
7.3 We can’t accept public interest disclosures about us or our officers
Unless it was sent by mistake by someone honestly thinking it was the right place to send it. These are called misdirected disclosures.
If you try to make an oral disclosure to us about us or one of our officers, you will be advised to take it directly to the Integrity and Oversight Committee.
If it’s a written disclosure, we have to determine if it’s a misdirected disclosure. If it is, we will need to let the Integrity and Oversight Committee know within 28 days. This is handled by our PID Coordinator.
If it’s not a misdirected disclosure, we will consider whether to treat it as a complaint under the IOV Act or the Public Administration Act 2004.
7.4 We will write to you explaining how the misdirected disclosure will be handled
This will include:
- that we’ve received it
- that we must notify the Integrity and Oversight Committee
- if not required to notify Integrity and Oversight Committee, whether we will deal with it as a complaint.
7.5 How we protect you from reprisals
We will not tolerate reprisals for public interest disclosures about Integrity Oversight Victoria or an Integrity Oversight Victoria officer.
We’ll try to minimise the risks of reprisals for a misdirected disclosure, or information given to our officers relating to a public interest disclosures about us by:
- keeping the information secure and confidential
- identifying, assessing, controlling and monitoring risks of reprisals
- making sure Integrity Oversight Victoria officers understand their legal obligations and offences related to reprisals.
A PID Coordinator will act on reports of reprisals. This includes:
- recording the alleged details
- explaining to you your rights, including your right to:
- make a public interest disclosure about the reprisal to the Integrity and Oversight Committee or to a Presiding Officer
- request a transfer to another job
- report any reprisals likely to be a criminal offence to Victoria Police.
7.6 How we support your and others welfare
Our PID Coordinators provide basic welfare support to Integrity Oversight Victoria officers disclosing or cooperating with a disclosure, subject to the confidentiality requirements in the PID Act. This includes:
- assessing, monitoring and managing reprisal risks
- advising you about the PID Act and handling of disclosures
- assisting you to seek support services, e.g. a registered medical practitioner, an employee assistance program, a trade union or a Victorian WorkCover Authority
- helping you get a transfer or alternative work arrangements, if you think reprisals have or will happen
if there is a real risk of reprisals, we’ll appoint a welfare manager to you and to anyone else involved.
7.7 How we support the person who the public interest disclosure is made about
We will provide welfare support to any Integrity Oversight Victoria officer that’s the subject of a public interest disclosure. This support will be shaped by the specific circumstances and confidentiality requirements under the PID Act.
If a disclosure is dismissed or not substantiated, we’ll ensure the subject of the public interest disclosure doesn’t suffer any consequences and take all reasonable steps to ensure the allegations, investigation outcome, and their identity stay confidential.
Updated