More protection for whistle blowers welcomed

16 FEBRUARY 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union welcomes the new Government’s moves to strengthen laws protecting whistle blowers, and looks forward to working collaboratively with MPs to deliver effective legislative safeguards for whistleblowers.

Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “As a lawyer I acted for a public sector whistleblower who had uncovered illegality and fraud within the education sector that was being hushed up by officials. Despite being totally vindicated – proved right – the agency was successful in ultimately forcing the whistleblower out. The existing protections weren’t nearly enough to protect the whistleblower from senior officials seeking retribution. While the Ombudsman intervened it was too little too late.”

“The new Government should be commended for any move that makes individuals within the state sector more likely to spotlight government misconduct, illegality and waste.”

The Taxpayers’ Union operates an online ‘tip line’ for whistleblowers to report government waste.
ENDS

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