Public Interest Disclosures

Complaints made by public officials

The Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 (PID Act) provides certain protections for public officials who report serious wrongdoing in the public sector. For example, it is a criminal offence for someone to harass, injure or discriminate against a person for making a public interest disclosure. Serious wrongdoing includes:

• corrupt conduct
• serious maladministration
• a government information contravention
• a local government pecuniary interest contravention
• a privacy contravention
• serious and substantial waste of public money.

Under the PID Act the Inspector of the ICAC is an integrity agency.

The Inspector's Policy and Procedure to assess and manage any disclosures made under the PID Act to the Inspector can be found in her Public Interest Disclosure Policy (PDF) 384 KB .

A public official can make a public interest disclosure to the Inspector or the NSW Ombudsman about the Inspector or the Inspector’s staff if the person making it honestly believes, on reasonable grounds that the information shows or tends to show serious wrongdoing.

Please check the NSW Ombudsman’s website for its contact details and information about making a public interest disclosure to it.