On this page

  • Making a public interest disclosure

  • Who can make a public interest disclosure

  • How to make a public interest disclosure

  • What happens after you make a report

The Department of Justice and Community Safety encourages employees and the public to report known or suspected incidents of corrupt or improper conduct.

You can find further information about making a public interest disclosure (PID) by reading the information below or by visiting the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) website (External link) to find out more about:

  • the disclosure process 
  • legal protections you may be afforded under the PID process 
  • who to contact for further advice before making a disclosure.

Making a public interest disclosure

This guideline outlines the process for making a PID at the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

PID’s can also be made directly to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) (External link). IBAC assesses all complaints they receive as a potential protected disclosure.

Who can make a public interest disclosure

Anyone can make a disclosure about improper conduct or detrimental action relating to the department.

A disclosure can be made by an individual or by a group of individuals.

How to make a public interest disclosure

Contact the department’s Public Interest Disclosure Coordinator (PIDC).

Do not conduct any investigation on your own – doing so may compromise any future investigation or place you at risk of harm.

Always speak to a PIDC before taking any other action. If you would like to know more about PIDs before speaking to a PIDC, please read the information on the IBAC website (External link).

What happens after you make a report

  1. The PIDC will assess whether your complaint is a PID. The PIDC will also conduct a welfare risk assessment to ensure appropriate action can be taken to protect you.
  2. The PIDC will notify you within 28 days of their assessment and whether they have determined your report to be a PID or not.
  3. The PIDC will refer your disclosure to IBAC if it is determined to be a PID. If the matter is not assessed as a PID, the PIDC will explore next steps and options with you.
  4. If the disclosure is referred to IBAC, IBAC will then make its own assessment as to whether it is a PID.
  5. IBAC will advise you of its determination and the action proposed to be taken unless it considers that notification would have certain adverse consequences. IBAC may contact you directly or via the PIDC who will notify you of IBAC’s assessment outcome if known.
  6. The PIDC will continue to liaise with you on any further actions that may be taken and regarding your welfare needs.

For more information, please contact a Public Interest Disclosure Coordinator via publicinterestdisclosures@justice.vic.gov.au (External link) or access online reporting (External link).