all paper and electronic documents and files, and other materials relating to disclosures are secure and only accessible by authorised officers, investigators and other officers involved in managing internal disclosures communications are not sent to an email address to which other staff have access or documents sent to a printer in an open area of the office. Conducting an interview The principal officer must ensure that, if a person is interviewed as part of the investigation of a disclosure, the interviewee is informed of the following: the identity and function of each individual conducting the interview the process of conducting an investigation the authority of the principal officer under the Act to conduct the investigation the protections provided under the Act. The principal officer must ensure that: or visual recording of the interview is not made without the interviewee’s knowledge when an interview ends, the interviewee is given an opportunity to make a final statement or comment, or express a position any statement comment or position by the interviewee is included in the record of the interview. Criminal matters In the course of a disclosure investigation, if the investigator suspects on reasonable grounds that some or all of the information disclosed, or obtained in the course of the investigation is evidence of an offence against a law of the Commonwealth, a or a Territory, the investigator may choose to disclose the information and any evidence to a member of an Australian police force for investigation. However, in cases where the potential offense is serious (that is, punishable by imprisonment for two years or more), the investigator must notify the relevant police force. Keeping records Details about how and when a Public Interest Disclosure was made must be recorded and kept in a secure place. If the disclosure is given verbally, the discloser will be requested to sign a written statement of their disclosure. Subsequent conversations where the disclosure is discussed should also be documented. Each disclosure should be given a unique reference number. Details of risk assessment of reprisal, allocation, the investigation, notifications to the discloser and others should also be kept. The records should be factual and free from unnecessary statements such as personal opinions. After an Investigation Report of investigation After an investigation, the CEO must ensure that a report is prepared and that appropriate action is taken by the Commission. The investigator must prepare a report that details the following: whether there have been one or more instances of disclosable conduct any regulations, rules, administrative requirements or similar matters to which the disclosable conduct relates
all paper and electronic documents and files, and other materials relating to disclosures are secure and only accessible by authorised officers, investigators and other officers involved in managing internal disclosures communications are not sent to an email address to which other staff have access or documents sent to a printer in an open area of the office. Conducting an interview The principal officer must ensure that, if a person is interviewed as part of the investigation of a disclosure, the interviewee is informed of the following: the identity and function of each individual conducting the interview the process of conducting an investigation the authority of the principal officer under the Act to conduct the investigation the protections provided under the Act. The principal officer must ensure that: or visual recording of the interview is not made without the interviewee’s knowledge when an interview ends, the interviewee is given an opportunity to make a final statement or comment, or express a position any statement comment or position by the interviewee is included in the record of the interview. Criminal matters In the course of a disclosure investigation, if the investigator suspects on reasonable grounds that some or all of the information disclosed, or obtained in the course of the investigation is evidence of an offence against a law of the Commonwealth, a or a Territory, the investigator may choose to disclose the information and any evidence to a member of an Australian police force for investigation. However, in cases where the potential offense is serious (that is, punishable by imprisonment for two years or more), the investigator must notify the relevant police force. Keeping records Details about how and when a Public Interest Disclosure was made must be recorded and kept in a secure place. If the disclosure is given verbally, the discloser will be requested to sign a written statement of their disclosure. Subsequent conversations where the disclosure is discussed should also be documented. Each disclosure should be given a unique reference number. Details of risk assessment of reprisal, allocation, the investigation, notifications to the discloser and others should also be kept. The records should be factual and free from unnecessary statements such as personal opinions. After an Investigation Report of investigation After an investigation, the CEO must ensure that a report is prepared and that appropriate action is taken by the Commission. The investigator must prepare a report that details the following: whether there have been one or more instances of disclosable conduct any regulations, rules, administrative requirements or similar matters to which the disclosable conduct relates
Commission-Public-Interest-Disclosure-Policy-and-Procedures.docx