Office of the Public Sector Standards Commissioner

Public Interest Disclosures

Information about making a disclosure

Where can I make a disclosure?

You must make your disclosure to a proper authority to be protected under the PID Act.

If it is about the public authority where you work:
Your agency should have internal procedures on how to make a public interest disclosure. These will tell you who your PID officer is. If you cannot find a copy of the internal procedures or you are reluctant to ask for it, you can call the OPSSC Assist Line on 1800 676 607.

If it is about another public authority or you are a member of the public:

You can make a disclosure:

Who are the proper authorities?

The following table lists the proper authorities for you to make your disclosure to and the contact details for that authority. You may also wish to contact the OPSSC Assist Line on 1800 676 607.

When the disclosure relates to:

The proper authority is:

Matters about the public authority or its officers or contractors

PID officer of the public authority

Offences under State law

A police officer (external website) or the Corruption & Crime Commission (external website)

Substantial unauthorised or irregular use of, or substantial mismanagement of, public resources

PID officer of the public authority concerned or the Auditor General (external website)

Matters of administration affecting someone in their personal capacity falling within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman

PID officer of the public authority concerned or the WA Ombudsman (external website)

A police officer

Commissioner of Police (external website) or the Corruption & Crime Commission (external website).

A member of the Legislative Assembly

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (external website)

A member of the Legislative Council

President of the Legislative Council (external website)

A judicial officer

Chief Justice (external website)
A public officer (who is not a member of parliament, a judicial officer or an officer referred to in Schedule 1 of the Parliamentary Commissioner's Act 1971) PID officer of the public authority concerned, WA Ombudsman (external website) or Commissioner for Public Sector Standards (see below for more information)

Commissioner for Public Sector Standards: Compliance Inquiry (Public Interest Disclosure)

A public officer (who is not a member of parliament, a judicial officer or an officer referred to in Schedule 1 of the Parliamentary Commissioner's Act 1971) can make a disclosure to the Commissioner for Public Sector Standards.

Matters that may be assessed and investigated as a disclosure by OPSSC relate to the Commissioner’s role under Section 21 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (external website). The PID Act does not provide the Commissioner with the power and function to investigate issues beyond jurisdiction.

If OPSSC does not assess your matter as a PID we may still be able to investigate it as a Compliance Inquiry (General). If it is investigated as a CIG, the protections of the PID Act will not apply.

For more information about making a complaint to OPSSC, please contact OPSSC’s Principal PID Officer, Martin Clifford, Director of Public Sector Compliance Monitoring: 9260 6600

You can also call OPSSC on the assist line: 1800 676 607.

You should address a complaint to the Principal PID Officer and mark it Private and Confidential – Public Interest Disclosure Officer, OPSSC, 12th Floor, 44 St Georges Terrace PERTH WA 6000.

You can make a PID on the lodgement form, which is in resources.

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Page last updated: October 23 2009