Reporting serious wrongdoing
Macquarie University (the University) is committed to the highest standards in governance, ethical behaviour and accountable conduct, and does not tolerate serious wrongdoing in the performance of its functions.
The University is committed to creating a culture where Staff members and Affiliates are encouraged to, and feel safe to speak up, when they become aware of serious wrongdoing.
The University takes reports of serious wrongdoing seriously and will act promptly and fairly to investigate reported wrongdoing, in accordance with our Public Interest Disclosure Policy.
What is serious wrongdoing?
The following categories of serious wrongdoing will be dealt with by the University as a public interest disclosure under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 (PID Act):
- Corrupt Conduct;
- Serious Maladministration;
- a Government Information Contravention (breach of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA));
- a Privacy Contravention; and
- a Serious and Substantial Waste of Public Money.
Who can make a report?
Under the PID Act, a public interest disclosure can be made by a public official, as defined by the Act which includes Staff members and Affiliates of the University. It does not include students or members of the public.
Staff members and Affiliates should report any serious wrongdoing or other misconduct alleged or suspected to have been committed within the University.
How can I make a report to the University?
Staff members and Affiliates are encouraged to make a report of serious wrongdoing to their manager/supervisor, a Disclosure Officer, or the Disclosure Coordinator.
The report can be made in writing or verbally.
There are some situations in which a Staff member or Affiliate may not want to identify themselves when they make a report. Although anonymous reports will be considered, it is preferable if the Staff member or Affiliate discloses their identity. This allows the University to take reasonable steps to provide the individual with the necessary support and protection from any potential reprisals, as well as report on the assessment of the public interest disclosure and, if applicable, the outcome of an investigation.
The University’s Public Interest Disclosure Policy provides further details.
What will happen with my report?
The Disclosure Coordinator will determine whether the report is a public interest disclosure under the PID Act. Any reports not made directly to the Disclosure Coordinator will be referred to the Disclosure Coordinator for a preliminary assessment.
Where the University determines that the report is a public interest disclosure, the University will investigate the matter to make findings about whether serious wrongdoing disclosed in a public interest disclosure report occurred.
Confidentiality and protections
The University will take all reasonable steps to keep the identity of the Staff member or Affiliate who made a report, and the fact that they have reported serious wrongdoing, confidential. Where practical and reasonable, the University will not disclose this information to any person except for those responsible for managing the report.
Under the PID Act there are penalties for Detrimental Action to protect individuals who have made a public interest disclosure. A person found to have committed a reprisal offence may face criminal penalties in accordance with the PID Act.
The University will take all reasonable and necessary steps to provide protection to Staff members or Affiliates who make a public interest disclosure from suffering any Detrimental Action in reprisal for the making of the reports.
More details are available in the University’s Public Interest Disclosure Policy.
The University’s Controlled Entities
The University has entered into arrangements with its controlled entities under s81(2) of the PID Act. Under these arrangements, the University will exercise the controlled entities’ public interest disclosure functions on their behalf. These functions include:
- the function of receiving voluntary public interest disclosures;
- the function of dealing with voluntary public interest disclosures by investigating relevant serious wrongdoing; and
- the provision of training.
The arrangements cover the following Controlled Entities:
- Access Macquarie Limited;
- Macquarie University Hong Kong Foundation Limited;
- Macquarie University Services Limited;
- MQ Health Pty Limited; and
- U@MQ Ltd