91¶ÌÊÓƵ

For more help and advice, speak to your internal PID Officer.

Public interest information

Is information about a public authority, a public officer, or a public sector contractor. It tends to show that, in relation to their performance of a public function (either before or after the commencement of this Act), they have been, or propose to be, involved in:

• improper conduct

• an act or omission that constitutes an offence under a written law

• a substantial unauthorised or irregular use of, or substantial mismanagement of, public resources

• an action or omission that involves a substantial and specific risk of –

  • injury to public health

  • prejudice to public safety, or

  • harm to the environment

• a matter of administration that can be investigated under section 14 of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971.

Public authority

Is:

• a department of the Public Service established under section 35 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (PSM Act)

• an organisation specified in column 2 of Schedule 2 to the PSM Act

• a non-SES organisation within the meaning of the term in section 3(1) of the PSM Act

• a local government or a regional local government

• a body that is established or continued for a public purpose under a written law

• a body that is established by the Governor or a Minister

• any other body or the holder of an office referred to in subsection (2) that is declared by the regulations to be a public authority.

Public officer

Is:

• a Minister of the Crown

• a Parliamentary Secretary appointed under section 44A of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899

• a member of either House of Parliament

• a judicial officer

• a police officer

• a person authorised under a written law to execute or serve any process of a court or tribunal for remuneration

• a public service officer within the meaning of the PSM Act

• a member, officer, or employee of a public authority

• the holder of:

  • an office that is established for a public purpose under a written law, or

  • an office that is established by the Governor or a Minister

• an officer of the Commonwealth who exercises or discharges on behalf of this State a function under a written law

• any other person holding office under the State of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.

Public sector contractor

Is:

• a person who, other than as an employee, contracts with a public authority or the State of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ to supply goods or services to or on behalf of the authority or the State or as directed in accordance with the contract

• a person who, other than as an employee, contracts with a public authority or the State of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ to perform a public function

• a subcontractor or employee of a person referred to either of the above points and each person who contracts with another person for the execution of the whole or part of the requirements of a contract referred to in those paragraphs.

Proper authority

A public interest disclosure has to be made to a proper authority. A proper authority is the PID Officer within a public authority where the wrongdoing has occurred. A proper authority may also be a particular authority specifically named in s.5(3) of the PID Act to receive disclosures about particular types of information.