What do you do when something happens that you know to be wrong, unethical or inappropriate?
A person behaves unethically; actions are taken that you know are inappropriate or fraudulent; a decision is made that is not based on the facts; an adverse outcome could have been avoided or perhaps was the result of negligence.
For the individual to act in these situations is often a difficult decision to make, particularly when the other person or persons are more senior than you and in a position of power and authority.
As a society, we are often unsupportive of people who speak out and expose situations that they consider wrong, unethical or inappropriate – those who decide to ‘blow the whistle’.
Yet most so-called ‘whistleblowers’ are ordinary people, just like you, who find themselves in a situation where they have to make a decision – to speak out or to remain silent.
“The world is a dangerous place not because of the evil that some do, but because others do nothing.”
18th century British Parliamentarian – Edmund Burke
Every situation is different and requires careful assessment before action is taken. Individuals wanting to disclose instances of significant maladministration, mismanagement, fraudulence, criminal behaviour or risks to public safety need to feel that in doing so their disclosure will be properly investigated and that, as a result of their disclosure they will not be personally targeted.
Despite Tasmania having Public Interest Disclosure laws protecting persons who come forward to have serious claims of unlawful, unethical or inappropriate activities investigated, we still have workplaces in the public service where job insecurity and the fear of personal harassment and intimidation prevents all but the very courageous from taking that action.
If ordinary public servants could trust the nature and extent of the whistleblower protection that is available and the means whereby they could make a formal communication to an independent body about such claims, maybe our society would significantly reduce the constant stream of serious failures in public administration that governments are forced to react to.
There is a hidden dictum that’s still pervasive in Australia; it suggests to ‘dob in on your mates’ is un-Australian. Ask yourself whether the individuals who you believe have been a party to unlawful, unethical or inappropriate activities are ‘your mates’.
Serious abuses of mental health patients
The revelation of serious abuses of mental health patients in several government-operated facilities in Tasmania is the most recent instance.
Even with the passage of Public Interest Disclosure laws in this state we saw that the individuals who spoke up still were hounded out of their jobs.
Even the politicians who acted as the public advocates for the whistleblower claims by raising them in Parliament where subjected to abusive taunts. Only last week we saw the Opposition Spokesperson for Health break down publicly when the true extent of patient abuses where finally tabled by the Health Minister.
What was happening here?
By hurting others, we only hurt ourselves – Our Common Unity is diminishing.
What is the psychological message that ordinary public servants receive when they see their Minister and Government belittle and ridicule other elected politicians who raise public interest concerns in our Parliament?
Maybe it tells the ordinary person in Government workplaces, that Governments do not treat such concerns seriously and even our elected politicians will use ridicule, abuse and bullying in an attempt to silence such revelations.
Little wonder ordinary people have little trust in these Public Interest Disclosure laws.
What hope have ordinary people got!
We must move away from this pernicious culture of put-down and bullying – it is simply unhealthy, hurtful and destructive to the very fabric that is our Common Unity – our Community.
David Obendorf is a veterinarian.
Ms pickins
April 17, 2005 at 07:03
Well said David Obendorf.
Corporate interest and power have corrupted the politics of Australian identity. I worry that no matter how many people such as yourself speak out, how far down things may have to go before the people say enough is enough. That’s not to say that we should stop speaking out.
But if we can’t demand proper behaviour in even our own State politicians, what hope keeping control on any higher level?
Only when the people band together, will we see better changes for Australia. I hope we will not allow this fear of retribution pervade our society until we have no strength or opportunity left with which to correct it. We must ensure the safety of our communities and environment for the wellbeing of our future generations.
Our grandchildren and their children will not thank us for our silence.
quien es
October 22, 2005 at 07:53
When faced with incompetance and mediocrity of our ‘leaders’: politicians and their lickspittle senior toadies one has a duty to speak out: especially in health and human services
Witness the incompetance of Judy Jackson from health to current portfolio. Inadequate funding for the Child Protection area with introduction of the new legislation to cope with an expected (based on what has happened in other jurisdictions in Australia and overseas) increase in referrals, and no arrangements for the funding of separate legal representation of children i.e no liaison with Legal Aid about them funding that vital area of the Act. Pathetic. Now she insists that that area is well funded when she ran it into the ground on her watch.
Poor old Llewelyn has to mop up after her.
If it wasn’t for whistleblowers the system would have fallen over by now – and it still might.