Integrity

Integrity underpins the National EPA’s work as an independent, credible and trusted regulator. It supports public confidence in our decisions, actions and administration.

National EPA employees are required to uphold the:

• APS Values
• APS Employment Principles
• APS Code of Conduct
• Protective Security Policy Framework
• policies and procedures applying to their work.

How we support integrity

The National EPA promotes an organisational culture that supports ethical decision-making, accountability and speaking up.

We support integrity through:

• the APS Values, APS Employment Principles and APS Code of Conduct
• governance, risk and assurance arrangements
• fraud and corruption control arrangements
• conflict of interest disclosure and management
• public interest disclosure arrangements
• security policies and practices
• integrity education and awareness
• procedures for determining breaches of the APS Code of Conduct and imposing sanctions.

Procedures for determining breaches of the APS Code of Conduct

The National EPA has procedures for determining whether an APS employee, or a former APS employee in certain circumstances, has breached the APS Code of Conduct. The procedures also address the determination of any sanction to be imposed on an APS employee where a breach is found.

The procedures are established by the National EPA CEO under subsection 15(3) of the Public Service Act 1999 and are publicly available in accordance with subsection 15(7) of that Act. Section 15 of the Act provides the statutory basis for agency Code of Conduct breach procedures.

Make an integrity report

What you can report

You can make a report about suspected:

• misconduct or breaches of the APS Code of Conduct
• fraud or corruption
• undeclared or poorly managed conflicts of interest
• misuse of public resources, information or authority
• bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation
• inappropriate workplace behaviour
• other conduct that may adversely affect the integrity or reputation of the National EPA.

You do not need to prove that wrongdoing has occurred before making a report. Provide the information you have and explain why the conduct concerns you.

How to make a report

You can report an integrity concern by:

• emailing integrity@nationalepa.gov.au

What information to include

Provide as much information as you can, including:

• what happened
• who was involved
• when and where it happened
• why the conduct concerns you
• the names of any witnesses
• whether you have reported the matter elsewhere
• any risk to your safety or another person’s safety
• whether you are concerned about possible reprisal
• supporting correspondence, records, notes or other documents
• a secure way for us to contact you, if you are willing to be contacted.

Ensure you only access, copy or remove information that you are authorised to access to support your report.

What happens to a report

The National EPA receives and assesses reports relating to the agency, its employees and others performing work on its behalf.

We will consider the information provided and determine the most appropriate pathway. Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• seeking more information
• providing advice
• referring the matter for management action
• considering whether a formal misconduct process is appropriate
• referring the matter to an Authorised Officer for consideration under the PID Act
• referring suspected fraud, criminal conduct or corruption to an appropriate body
• referring the matter to another agency or organisation
• taking no further action where there is insufficient information or the National EPA does not have authority to deal with the matter.

Triage and assessment do not determine whether an allegation is substantiated or whether wrongdoing has occurred.

Confidentiality and information handling

We handle reports sensitively and limit access to information to people who need it to assess, manage or respond to the matter. However, we cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality.

Information may be used or disclosed where reasonably necessary to:

• assess or address the concern
• provide procedural fairness
• obtain legal or specialist advice
• manage a health or safety risk
• comply with a legal obligation
• refer the matter to another appropriate body.

Where practicable, we will discuss this with you before identifying you or sharing information that may identify you.

Information provided through the reporting process will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy, records management and secrecy requirements. See the National EPA privacy page for more information.

Anonymous reports

You may identify yourself, use a pseudonym or remain anonymous.

Anonymous reports will be considered on the information available. However, if we cannot contact you or obtain further information, this may limit our ability to assess or act on the report.

If you do not wish to provide your identity, consider providing a secure pseudonymous email address or another way for us to communicate with you. The Commonwealth Ombudsman also recommends that anonymous disclosers consider providing a pseudonymous contact method so questions can be asked and information provided during the process.

Public interest disclosures (PID)

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 provides a process for current and former public officials to report suspected wrongdoing in the Commonwealth public sector. It also provides protections and immunities where the requirements of the PID Act are met.

A disclosure must satisfy the requirements of the PID Act and be made to a person authorised to receive it for the statutory protections and immunities to apply. Not every workplace concern or integrity report will be a PID. 

Who can make a PID

A current or former public official may be eligible to make a PID. This can include:

• current and former APS employees
• statutory office holders
• service providers under a Commonwealth contract
• officers and employees of contracted service providers
• temporary workers engaged through a recruitment agency
• individuals taken to be public officials by an Authorised Officer.

What can be disclosed

Disclosable conduct can include:

• contravention of a law
• corruption
• perverting the course of justice
• maladministration
• abuse of public trust
• abuse of a public official’s position
• wastage of public money or property
• falsification of scientific research
• conduct that unreasonably endangers health, safety or the environment
• conduct that, if proved, could result in disciplinary action against a public official.

Personal work-related conduct will not ordinarily constitute disclosable conduct unless it involves reprisal or is otherwise sufficiently significant to meet the requirements of the PID Act. 

How to make a PID

To submit a PID or for more information:

• email PID@NationalEPA.gov.au

You can also make a PID directly to the Commonwealth Ombudsman

• call 1300 362 072
• email PID@ombudsman.gov.au

If you intend to make a PID, clearly state that you want the information assessed under the PID Act.

A report to the general integrity inbox is not automatically a PID. Where a report appears to raise potential PID issues, it may be referred to an Authorised Officer for assessment.

Anonymous PIDs

A PID can be made anonymously. However, not providing a means of contact may make it difficult to:

• clarify the information provided
• assess or investigate the disclosure
• assess and manage reprisal risk
• provide you with notices or updates.

You may use a pseudonym and provide a secure contact method if you do not wish to disclose your identity.

Protections for disclosers

Where a disclosure meets the requirements of the PID Act, protections can include:

• protection from reprisal and threatened reprisal
• immunity from certain civil, criminal and administrative liability for making the disclosure
• protections relating to the discloser’s identity, subject to statutory exceptions.

The protections do not prevent a person from being accountable for their own wrongdoing and do not apply to information the person knows to be false or misleading. 

Commonwealth Ombudsman

It is generally best to make a disclosure to the Australian Government agency to which you belong or last belonged.

In some circumstances, the Commonwealth Ombudsman may receive a disclosure, including where the relevant agency cannot appropriately handle the matter or cannot manage a conflict of interest, confidentiality issue or reprisal risk. Review the Ombudsman’s information for disclosers before using this pathway. 

• Commonwealth Ombudsman PID information: Public interest disclosure (whistleblowing) | Commonwealth Ombudsman
• Email: PID@ombudsman.gov.au
• Telephone: 1300 362 072

National Anti-Corruption Commission

The National Anti-Corruption Commission is an independent Commonwealth agency that detects, investigates and reports on serious or systemic corruption in the Commonwealth public sector.

The NACC can receive referrals concerning suspected corrupt conduct involving Commonwealth public officials, including agency employees, statutory office holders and certain contracted service providers.

Anyone may make a referral or provide information directly to the NACC. You do not need to report the matter to the National EPA first. The NACC assesses whether a referral raises a corruption issue and may investigate serious or systemic corrupt conduct. 

You may make an anonymous referral to the NACC. However, if you do not provide a contact method, the NACC may be unable to ask for further information, discuss the report with you or provide certain protections against reprisal.

The National EPA CEO and officers performing specified functions under the PID Act also have mandatory obligations to refer suspected serious or systemic corrupt conduct to the NACC where the statutory requirements are met.

• Make a referral to the NACC: https://report.nacc.gov.au/
• Find out more about the NACC: National Anti-Corruption Commission

Contact us

General integrity reports

• Email: integrity@nationalepa.gov.au