When employers contravene the Fair Work Act 2009 (FWA) and the Health and Safety Act 2011 (HSA) they have broken workplace laws.  

 

When a public sector organization breaks workplace laws, they pass on the liabilities to the Australian taxpayer. This is wasteful spending. If there is wasteful spending it is more than likely that your employer needs to be held accountable under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

 

Given the lack of transparency and accountability in the public sector in relation to contraventions of workplace laws, it is up to workers to report unfair work practices which have led to wasteful spending. Not reporting unfair work practices (contraventions) and wasteful spending leads to government policies being undermined. 

 

Employers who contravene workplace laws usually attempt to silence workers through settlements with deeds of release.

 

Deeds of release are legal documents which are intended to amicably end the employer-employee relationship for a set amount of money and ensure that both parties do not disparage one another. Employers however, tout the deed of release as the means to silence workers and place a lid on any reporting of wrong doing.  

 

It is understandable that workers who are no longer working and lack legal resources, often simply walk away with their settlements and deeds of release. Most are traumatized already from their workplace experience. It is easy to simply move on.  However, when there is wastage of taxpayer funds due to contraventions of workplace laws, it is in the public interest to report these contraventions.   Employers should be held accountable when they operate above the law and against public policy. Whistle blower protections are available through Ombudsman offices, Integrity Commissions, the Director of Public Prosecutions and other bodies where corruption and the misuse of taxpayer funds can be reported. Example - the Public Interest Disclosure Act administered by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.  

 

Click here for details of organizations where you can report disclosable conduct and wasteful government spending. 

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Unless you report wasteful spending in the public sector nothing will change and staff in toxic workplaces are likely to continue to be bullied and subjected to unfair work practices and unfair dismissals! 

 

Click here to know more about toxic workplaces

 

Click here to know more about workplace bullying

 

Click here to read about Advocacy

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