We encourage people to reporting wrongdoing and we protect those who do.

A public interest disclosure (PID) is a report of a suspected wrongdoing or danger. People who make a PID are protected from reprisals for reporting the wrongdoing.

For the report to be considered a PID and to attract the protections under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2010 (PID Act), the PID must be an appropriate disclosure about public interest information made to a proper authority.

What is an appropriate disclosure?

If you have an honest and reasonable belief that your information shows wrongdoing or danger, your report is likely to be an appropriate disclosure.

What is public interest information?

Whether the information reported is public interest information will depend on whether you are a public officer, like a councillor, or a member of the public.

Members of the public can make a PID about:

• a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety or a to person with a disability
• a contravention of environmental law which is a substantial and specific danger to the environment
• a reprisal.

Is Logan City Council the proper authority for my PID?

To identify whether Logan City Council is the proper authority to make your report to, you need to consider who and what the report is about. Logan City Council is authorised to receive a PID where:

• the disclosure is about the conduct of Council or its employees
• Council is responsible for investigating particular issues e.g. an environmental issue which is a substantial and specific danger.

What is a reprisal?

Reprisal occurs if a person causes or attempts to cause harm to you because they believe you:

• have made, or intend to make, a PID
• have taken part in, or intend to take part in, procedures under the PID Act.

How do I make a PID?

A PID can be made orally or in writing. A PID can be reported to any proper authority, for example:

• the Mayor, CEO or PID coordinator of Logan City Council
• Crime and Corruption Commission
• Queensland Ombudsman's Office.

To make your PID in writing to Logan City Council:

• address your PID to the PID coordinator
• clearly mark the sealed envelope as Public Interest Disclosure - Private and Confidential.

To speak to someone about a PID call us on 07 3412 3412 and ask for the Integrity and Information Program Leader, who is Council's PID coordinator.

The PID coordinator will assess your disclosure. If it does not fit the criteria for a PID your disclosure will be dealt with under the appropriate complaints management process.

What if I want to make an anonymous PID?

You can make an anonymous PID. Remaining anonymous means you do not identify yourself at any stage to anyone.

Anonymous PIDs are often more difficult to investigate. We strongly encourage people making PIDs to identify themselves if possible.

If you do identify yourself to the person who receives your PID, we will make every effort to keep your identity confidential.

Remember that we will not be able to inform you of any action we take if you remain anonymous.

What are my responsibilities if I make a PID?

When making a PID, you have a responsibility to:

• provide honest and accurate information, deliberately providing false or misleading information is an offence
• provide all information currently in your possession, you must not seek to investigate the matter yourself
• make the disclosure to someone you reasonably believe is the proper authority to receive the disclosure.

Where do I get more information?

If you would like further information about PIDs, please:

• call the Integrity and Information Program Leader within Council's Governance Branch on 07 3412 3412
• send an email marked attention to the PID coordinator at council@logan.qld.gov.au

For more information, please download our Public interest disclosure policy (PDF 281 KB) and our Public interest disclosure procedure (PDF 1,088 KB) for PIDs.

The Queensland Ombudsman's website provides fact sheets and information guidelines about PIDs and your rights and obligations under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2010.