Public Interest Disclosure Scheme

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 commenced on 15 January 2014 and 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 take action.

What is disclosable conduct?

Disclosable conduct is conduct by an agency, public official or a contracted Commonwealth service provider that:

• Contravenes a law
• Is corrupt
• Perverts the course of justice
• Results in wastage of public funds or property
• Is an abuse of public trust
• Unreasonably endangers health and safety or the environment
• Is misconduct relating to scientific research, analysis or advice
• Is maladministration, including conduct that is unjust, oppressive or negligent.
• Where it is conduct by a public official—is conduct that could, if proved, give reasonable grounds for disciplinary action.

Who can make a disclosure?

A current or former ‘public official’ can disclose information that they believe on reasonable grounds tend to show disclosable conduct.  This broad term includes Australian Government public servants and parliamentary service employees, members of the Defence force, staff and directors of Commonwealth companies, statutory office holders and staff of Commonwealth contracted service providers.

Authorised Officers

A disclosure can be made to an Authorised Officer of DVA if it tends to show one or more instances of disclosable conduct or if you reasonably believe your disclosure does this.

For the purposes of the Act the following people have been appointed as DVA Authorised Officers:

• Janice Silby
• Peter King

The Authorised Officers can give you information about what the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 requires in order for a disclosure to be a public interest disclosure.

How to make a public interest disclosure?

A disclosure can be made in person, by telephone, or in writing, including by email.  DVA has established the following email address should you wish to make a confidential disclosure by email: PID [at] dva.gov.au (PID[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au)

Related DVA documents

DVA Public Interest Disclosure Procedures - Please note, the 24 July 2018 version of the Procedures has been replaced by the 24 August 2023 version

• Public interest disclosure procedures (PDF 2.79 MB)