For most would-be whistleblowers, the cost of courage is way too high. A whistleblower protection authority would ease their path.

On this episode, Paul Barclay talks with Kieran Pender, associate legal director at the Human Rights Law Centre. Kieran says that current laws leave whistleblowers unsupported, vulnerable to retribution and liable for prosecution. Australia needs to lower the cost of courage in the public interest.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 29 January 2025, and things may have changed since the recording.

Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Kieran Pender, Associate Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Center // @KieranHRLC

Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // @PaulBarclay

Show notes

Whistleblowing While You Work: Using Rewards for Whistleblowing to Uncover White-collar Crime by Jack Thrower,the Australia Institute (October 2024)

Whistleblowing in Australia: Prosecutions, Law Reform and the Whistleblower Project by Kieran Pender,the Australia Institute (August 2023)

Polling – Whistleblowing & secrecy, the Australia Institute (May 2023)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

For most would-be whistleblowers, the cost of courage is way too high. A whistleblower protection authority would ease their path.
On this episode, Paul Barclay talks with Kieran Pender, associate legal director at the Human Rights Law Centre. Kieran says that current laws leave whistleblowers unsupported, vulnerable to retribution and liable for prosecution. Australia needs to lower the cost of courage in the public interest.
This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 29 January 2025, and things may have changed since the recording.
Order&nbsp;<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/whats-the-big-idea">What&rsquo;s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia</a>&nbsp;now, via the Australia Institute website.
Guest: Kieran Pender, Associate Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Center // <a href="https://x.com/KieranHRLC">@KieranHRLC</a>
Host: Paul Barclay, Walkley Award winning journalist and broadcaster // <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulBarclay">@PaulBarclay</a>
Show notes
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/whistleblowing-while-you-work/">Whistleblowing While You Work: Using Rewards for Whistleblowing to Uncover White-collar Crime</a>&nbsp;by Jack Thrower, the Australia Institute (October 2024)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/event/whistleblowing-in-australia-prosecutions-law-reform-and-the-whistleblower-project/">Whistleblowing in Australia: Prosecutions, Law Reform and the Whistleblower Project</a>&nbsp;by Kieran Pender, the Australia Institute (August 2023)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/polling-whistleblowing-secrecy/">Polling &ndash; Whistleblowing &amp; secrecy</a>, the Australia Institute (May 2023)
Theme music:&nbsp;Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces — only a shortage of bravery to implement them. Host Paul Barclay asks contributors to Australia Institute Press' first book about their big picture thinking on how we can change Australia for the better.

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces &mdash; only a shortage of bravery to implement them. Host Paul Barclay asks contributors to Australia Institute Press' first book about their big picture thinking on how we can change Australia for the better.

How do you turn big, bold ideas into positive change?  In What's the Big Idea?, this new 12-episode series from the Australia Institute, acclaimed journalist Paul Barclay speaks to leading thinkers about how we can make change for the better.

What's the Big Idea?

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces — only a shortage of bravery to implement them. Host Paul Barclay asks contributors to Australia Institute Press' first book about their big picture thinking on how we can change Australia for the better. 

There is no shortage of solutions for the biggest problems Australia faces &mdash; only a shortage of bravery to implement them. Host Paul Barclay asks contributors to Australia Institute Press' first book about their big picture thinking on how we can change Australia for the better.&nbsp;

For most would-be whistleblowers, the cost of courage is way too high. A whistleblower protection authority would ease their path.

Advertisement