Risking it all ... Why whistleblowers still aren’t safe | Media Watch

Key Concepts:

• Whistleblower protection, public interest disclosure, Richard Bole case, Australian Taxation Office (ATO) tactics, media responsibility, youth suicide reporting, Gem Life advertising on Nine News.

Richard Bole Whistleblower Case

• Background: Richard Bole, an ATO employee, exposed the ATO's aggressive debt recovery tactics in 2018, including seizing funds and destroying businesses.
• Consequences for Bole: His home was raided by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and he was charged with 66 offenses, facing up to a decade in prison. He ultimately pleaded guilty to four charges.
• Whistleblower Protection Law Flaws: The existing whistleblower protection law (given royal assent in 2013) was deemed inadequate as it didn't protect Bole's evidence gathering. The court decided that the law did not allow for the gathering of evidence to support allegations of wrongdoing.
• Arguments for Reform: Andrew Wilkey suggests a whistleblower protection authority could have helped Bole navigate the situation.
• Government Response: The government promises improvements to whistleblower law but has taken no significant action since a consultation paper was released almost 2 years ago.
• Bureaucratic Resistance: Robert Gotibbson argues that bureaucrats resist whistleblowers and saw Bole's case as a warning to others.
• Media's Role: Gotibbson felt the media was weak in stopping the "dreadful thing" happening to Bole.
• Right to Know Coalition: The Right to Know Coalition, which previously protested AFP raids on journalists, has grown "moribund and fallen silent" on Bole's case.
• Luke Meline's Statement: Luke Meline, executive editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age, stated that without urgent government intervention, the next Richard Bole will rightly think twice.
• Court's Judgement: The South Australian District Court accepted Bole's actions were motivated by moral outrage at what he saw were the ATO's unethical practices. But the law does not acquit on the basis of good intentions.
• Conclusion: The case highlights the need for stronger whistleblower protection laws and a shift in attitude within the public service.

Youth Suicide Reporting

• Courier Mail's Actions: The Courier Mail identified a student who died by suicide, along with her family members and school, shortly after the school informed parents. They also published photos from the family's social media accounts.
• Backlash: The Courier Mail's actions prompted an angry backlash from the school's parents, who criticized the lack of empathy and invasiveness.
• Courier Mail's Response: The Courier Mail removed the initial article but then published an exclusive on page one, using the girl's death to push for a ban on social media for under 16s.
• Family's Perspective: The family stated that the girl was not being bullied on social media and that the Courier Mail's actions were upsetting and disrespectful.
• School's Perspective: The school principal stated that schools need to communicate with their communities personally and privately without having our grief used gratuitously as clickbait.
• Press Council Guidelines: The Australian Press Council guidelines require consent from relatives or a clear public interest justification for identifying those who have died by suicide.
• Conclusion: The Courier Mail's reporting was criticized for violating ethical guidelines and causing further distress to the grieving family.

Gem Life Advertising on Nine News

• Nine News Segment: Nine News Gold Coast aired a segment showcasing the luxurious new country club at the Gem Life over-50s community.
• Gem Life's Response: Gem Life was deeply unhappy with Nine's forensic reporting.
• Coincidence: The segment aired on the same night as a Nine Gold Coast News advertisement by Gem Life.
• Sydney Morning Herald Article: Three days later, the Sydney Morning Herald published a "we rider advvertorial" for Gem Life.
• Denials: Nine denied any commercial influence, stating that the coverage arose from genuine editorial interest. Gem Life also stated that it had nothing to do with Nine Gold Coast's sharp editorial choices.
• Financial Benefits: The publicity coincided with a jump in earnings and a bounce in the company's share price.
• Conclusion: The segment was criticized as a blatant advertisement disguised as news, raising questions about the integrity of Nine News.

Main Takeaways:

The video highlights the challenges faced by whistleblowers in Australia, the ethical considerations in reporting on youth suicide, and the potential for conflicts of interest in media coverage of advertisers. It calls for stronger whistleblower protection laws, more responsible journalism, and greater transparency in media advertising.