The creation of the Whistleblower Protection Authority marks a turning point for integrity and transparency in Australia. Organizations that act proactively not reactively will lead in fostering ethical cultures, mitigating risk, and protecting those who do the right thing.

Enacted on 1 July 2022, the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022 significantly strengthened New Zealand’s framework for reporting serious wrongdoing.

U.S. Multi-Agency Whistleblower Architecture

The United States operates a robust, multi‑agency system designed to protect and incentivize whistleblowers across both the public and private sectors. Each agency plays a distinct role—and together they form a layered framework supporting accountability and integrity.

The UK’s current whistleblowing framework the “prescribed persons” model under PIDA offers legal protection and multiple external reporting routes, albeit with limitations in follow-through and employer responsiveness. The proposed Office of the Whistleblower Bill marks an ambitious step toward a centralized, enforceable, and supportive system. Still, it may fall short in incentivizing disclosures and defining operational effectiveness.

The Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner (OPDC) provides a vital external pathway under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended in 2022, enabling workers to report workplace wrongdoing when internal routes or direct reporting to a prescribed body isn’t suitable or clear.

Germany’s Hinweisgeberschutzgesetz (HinSchG) the Whistleblower Protection Act, effective from 2 July 2023 transposes the EU Whistleblowing Directive into national law, featuring robust whistleblower safeguards and reporting pathways