Protect or Condemn?

Whistle-blowing is defined when “a member of an organisation discloses ‘illegal, immoral or illegitimate practices (including omissions) under the control of their employers, to persons or organisations who may be able to effect action”. (In Richardson textbook)

I don’t know about you but I instantly jump to ideas of Julian Assange holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy. Has he tarnished the reputation of the whistle-blower? Should we be protecting those who spill the dirty laundry of their organisation?

Assange has made a name for himself, through his leaking of high profile and secretive documents of the US government. Now, is he a hero, or is he a criminal? We all know the high-profiles in the US aren’t a fan, but hasn’t Assange done the public a favour?

Many companies are now encouraging whistle blowing. And really, shouldn’t we all? There may be better ways to go about putting secretive information online for the world to see, but if it is in the best interest of the public to know (to be a whistle-blower the information you are leaking is defined as being this), these people should be able to tell their information.

 Whistleblowers Australia has been established to support and help protect those who have secretive information to share. Organisations like this would be beneficial for cases such as Gillian Sneddon's, in which she lost her job and was subsequently unemployed for several years after whistle-blowing about Milton Orkopoulous’s illegal behaviours. She reported legitimate misdemeanours and was punished for doing so.

 

Although I think we need to remember that  there is a big difference between whistle-blowing and leaking information (where it is deemed the information was not in the best interest of the public), there needs to be more laws to protect people who are doing the right thing by uncovering the wrong doings of companies, organisations or people.