Whistleblower Policy

About this policy

This policy outlines how West HQ Limited (West HQ) will deal with whistleblowing disclosures made in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act) and the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Tax Act). This policy applies to eligible ‘whistleblowers’ who disclose information to an eligible recipient which is protected under the legislation.

West HQ takes its compliance obligations seriously, and it wants to hear from you if you know something that would be a ‘whistleblowing disclosure’ under this legislation.

This policy is made available to West HQ’s officers and employees via its Intranet. West HQ can change this policy from time to time. It is not intended to be contractual in nature, but you may need to comply with this policy as an employee or contractor of West HQ. It may be appropriate for West HQ to depart from this policy where warranted in serious circumstances (such as, if there is a risk to a person’s life or safety).

This policy first deals with whistleblowing disclosures to which the Corporations Act applies. You should refer to paragraph 7 for guidance about disclosures under the Tax Act.

Who can make a whistleblowing disclosure?

You are eligible to make a whistleblowing disclosure to which the Corporations Act applies if you are, or have been:

(a) an officer or employee of West HQ;

(b) a supplier of goods or services to West HQ (including on an unpaid basis), or an employee of such a supplier; or

3. What is a ‘whistleblowing disclosure’?

3.1 Whistleblowing disclosures – Corporations Act

A ‘whistleblowing disclosure’ under the Corporations Act can be made by a whistleblower who has reasonable grounds to suspect that the information concerns misconduct or an improper state of affairs in relation to West HQ.

This includes (but is not limited to) where the whistleblower has reasonable grounds to suspect the information indicates that West HQ, or any of its officers or employees, has engaged in conduct that:

(a) constitutes an offence under, or contravention of any of the following legislation (or any instrument under them):

Corporations Act 2001	Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001
Banking Act 1959	Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001
Insurance Act 1995	National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009
Superannuation Industry (Supervision Act) 1993	Life Insurance Act 1995

(b) constitutes an offence against any other Commonwealth law punishable by 12+ months’ prison; or

3.2 Personal work-related grievances

A ‘personal work-related grievance’ is not a whistleblowing disclosure unless it has significant implications for West HQ that do not relate to you, and:

(a) concerns conduct (or alleged conduct) referred to in paragraphs 3.1(a) to (c); or

(b) concerns victimisation or threatened victimisation to you, as outlined in paragraph 6.3.

A ‘personal work-related grievance’ is a complaint or dispute to do with your employment (or previous employment) with West HQ, which has implications for you personally. For example, an interpersonal conflict between you and another employee or if you are dissatisfied about a decision relating to your employment (such as about transfer or promotion, the terms of your employment, discipline or termination).

3.3 When to use this policy
If you have a work-related grievance which is also a whistleblowing disclosure, you can refer to this policy.

If you have a personal work-related grievance only, then you should refer to West HQ’s Grievance Handling Policy which is available on the Intranet.

4. Making a disclosure – Corporations Act

4.1 Making a whistleblowing disclosure to West HQ

You can make a whistleblowing disclosure to which the Corporations Act applies by contacting the following people (Contact Officers):

(a) an officer or senior manager at West HQ;

Name & Position	Contact Address	Telephone	Email
Richard Errington CEO	33 Railway Street Rooty Hill 2766	9677 4901	[email protected]
Amanda Stephens GM Legal & HR	33 Railway Street Rooty Hill 2766	9677 4939	[email protected]
Lenore Kennedy WHS Manager	33 Railway Street Rooty Hill 2766	9677 4995	[email protected]

(b) West HQ’s auditor (or a member of the audit team).

You should ensure that any email or correspondence that you send to a Contact Officer is marked ‘Strictly Confidential’.

You should not make a whistleblowing disclosure to a Contact Officer who has been involved in the conduct or allegations you are reporting. In that case, contact a different Contact Officer.

4.2 External disclosures

If you do not want to contact West HQ, you can contact the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) or the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to make a whistleblowing disclosure, and you should refer to their policy about how the disclosure will be managed.

Public interest and emergency disclosures (for example to a member of parliament or journalist) will only be protected if made in specific circumstances set out in the legislation.

A whistleblower may disclose the information to a legal practitioner for the purpose of obtaining legal advice/representation in relation to the operation of the legislation.

4.3 Information to include in a whistleblowing disclosure

You can make a whistleblowing disclosure to West HQ anonymously or through a pseudonym. If you do choose to remain anonymous, this can make it more difficult to make an assessment of and investigate the disclosure. If you choose to identify yourself, the Contact Officer is generally required to keep your identity confidential (see paragraph 6.1).

If you make a whistleblowing disclosure, you should provide reasonable details to assist the Contact Officer to determine the best course of action, such as:

(a) when and where the relevant events occurred (e.g. dates and times);

(b) details of anyone involved; and

5. Assessment and Investigation

5.1 Assessment of the disclosure

The Chief Executive Officer will conduct a preliminary assessment, to determine whether your disclosure requires further investigation. If you have identified yourself to the Contact Officer and given the Contact Officer permission to disclose your identity to the Chief Executive Officer, then the Chief Executive Officer may contact you to obtain further information. If your whistleblowing disclosure concerns the Chief Executive Officer, the Board Chairperson will carry out this assessment.

5.2 Investigation

An investigation will only take place if there is objective evidence to support the allegations, or, a reasonable suspicion that such evidence may be obtained through further investigation. The investigator appointed by West HQ will determine whether the information in the disclosure is proven on the balance of probabilities (i.e. it is more likely than not that the alleged conduct has occurred). A formal investigation might involve third parties such as lawyers, accountants, consultants or specialist forensic investigators. Relevant evidence will be collected, which may include interviewing witnesses.

If the whistleblowing disclosures are proven, the investigator will report the outcome of the investigation to the appropriate decision-maker for further action. Where appropriate, the whistleblower will be advised of the outcome.

If the whistleblowing disclosures are not proven, but there is evidence of other inappropriate conduct, the matter might be referred to the HR Department. For example, if there is evidence of a breach of an employment policy.

If the whistleblowing disclosures are not proven, and there is no evidence of other inappropriate conduct, no further action will be taken and the whistleblower should be advised accordingly, provided that the whistleblowing disclosure was not made anonymously.

6. Protections

6.1 Protection of identity and confidentiality

If you have chosen to reveal your identity when making a whistleblowing disclosure, we may ask for your consent to disclose your identity and/or information that might lead to your identification. For example, if this would assist with an investigation.

If you choose not to give consent, then the person who knows your identity is only permitted to disclose your identity:

(a) to ASIC, APRA (or to the Commissioner of Taxation (Commissioner) in relation to a tax matter referred to in paragraph 7) or the Australian Federal Police;

(b) to a legal practitioner to obtain advice; or

If reasonably necessary, information that does not reveal your identity may be disclosed to investigate your disclosure. West HQ will take all reasonable steps to reduce the risk that you will be identified as a result.

6.2 Protection of files and records

West HQ’s records created from an investigation should be retained under strict security in the course of the investigation, and following the investigation, by the HR Team.

6.3 No victimisation

‘Victimisation’ is what happens if a person is subjected to detriment as a result of:

(a) making a whistleblowing disclosure; or

(b) someone else’s belief/suspicion that the person has made or will make a whistleblowing disclosure.

For example, it can include harassment or intimidation, termination of employment, injury in employment, physical violence, psychological harm, and/or damage to reputation or property.

Victimisation is strictly prohibited by West HQ. You should immediately inform the Contact Officer if you are subjected to victimisation, or any threat of victimisation, so action can be taken.

6.4 Protecting employees

Employees mentioned in a whistleblowing disclosure, or to whom a disclosure relates, also need to be treated fairly. No decisions should be made about any allegation against them without proper investigation. Also, their involvement will be kept reasonably confidential.

6.5 Protections under the Legislation

A whistleblower has additional protections under the legislation:

(a) The whistleblower is not subject to any civil, criminal or administrative liability (including disciplinary action) for making a whistleblowing disclosure.

(b) No contractual or other remedies can be enforced, and no contractual or other rights can be exercised against a whistleblower on the basis of the whistleblowing disclosure.

(c) If the disclosure is made to ASIC, APRA (or to the Commissioner in relation to a tax matter referred to in paragraph 7) or is a public interest/emergency disclosure, then the information is not admissible in criminal proceedings or for the imposition of a penalty against a whistleblower.

d) A whistleblower may be entitled to compensation for victimisation. Other remedies may be available depending on the type of detriment suffered, for example, a Court may grant an injunction to stop victimisation, require an apology to be given, or to re-instate a whistleblower who has been victimised by termination of employment.

Note: Some of the protections referred to this policy might not be available to you, to the extent you are found to have been involved in wrongdoing (such as, knowingly giving false information).

6.6 Involvement in wrongdoing

West HQ may take disciplinary action against anyone found to have:

(a) victimised or threatened a whistleblower;

(b) disclosed information in breach of whistleblower protections; or

Note: If a whistleblower has properly made a disclosure in accordance with the legislation, they are entitled to the protections under the legislation and this policy, even if the allegations are ultimately found not to be proven.

7. Tax Act

A whistleblowing disclosure can be made by certain eligible whistleblowers to certain eligible recipients under the Tax Act where:

(a) the whistleblower discloses information which they have reasonable grounds to suspect indicates misconduct or an improper state of affairs in relation to West HQ’s tax affairs; and

(b) the whistleblower considers the information may assist the recipient to perform functions/duties in relation to West HQ’s tax affairs.

If you are eligible to make a protected disclosure under the Corporations Act as outlined in paragraph 3.1, then you are also eligible to make a protected disclosure under the Tax Act.

You can make a protected disclosure under the Tax Act to anyone at West HQ listed in paragraph 4.10, to West HQ’s auditor or an audit team member, to West HQ’s registered tax or BAS agent (if any), or to West HQ’s Chief Financial Officer who has functions/duties that relate to the tax affairs of West HQ.

A whistleblowing disclosure duly made under the Tax Act to West HQ will generally be assessed and investigated in accordance with this policy, and whistleblowers will be afforded the protections set out in this policy, subject to any variations to this policy required to comply with the Tax Act.

A whistleblower can also make such a disclosure to the Commissioner, in which case you should refer to their policy about how disclosures will be handled.

Whistleblower Policy

Subscribe