Public Interest Disclosure

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (PID Act) was implemented to promote integrity and accountability of the Commonwealth public sector by creating a framework for the reporting and effective investigation of suspected wrongdoing.

The public interest disclosure scheme supplements existing avenues for complaints and investigations and provides support and protection to persons who make disclosures under the Act.

Conduct which may be the subject of a PID includes, but is not limited to:

• A contravention of the law
• Corruption
• Perverting the course of justice
• Maladministration
• An abuse of public trust
• Falsifying scientific research
• Wastage of public money, or
• Conduct that is a danger to health, safety or the environment.

Who can make a PID?

A current or former public official can make a disclosure. This includes:

• Public servants (ongoing, non-ongoing and casual)
• Parliamentary service employees
• Service providers under a Commonwealth contract
• Statutory office holders
• Staff of Commonwealth companies
• Temporary employees engaged through a recruitment agency

More information about the public interest disclosure scheme is available from the Commonwealth Ombudsman website.

Making a Public Interest Disclosure

A number of Gallery staff are appointed as Authorised Officers under the PID Act.

To email your public interest disclosure or request assistance in making a disclosure, contact the Gallery’s PID Officer by emailing PID@nga.gov.au

Alternatively, you can send your public interest disclosure to:

Public Interest Disclosures Contact Officer
National Gallery of Australia
GPO Box 1150
CANBERRA  ACT  2601

Your identity and contact details, as well as the content of your public interest disclosure, will be protected in accordance with the PID Act.

If you wish to remain anonymous and do not wish to have your identity or contact details provided to the Investigation Delegate, this should be clearly stated in your correspondence. 

If you wish to remain anonymous, if it is necessary to appoint an Investigation Delegate to make further enquiries about your disclosure and your name and contact details will not be disclosed in this process. It should be noted that in many cases, contacting a discloser to obtain further details or clarification can assist the Authorised Officer or Investigation Delegate.

Further Information

For further information about the Public Interest Disclosure Scheme contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman:

Public Interest Disclosure Scheme, Commonwealth Ombudsman website

Phone: 1300 362 072
Email: PID@ombudsman.gov.au