7 December 2018 | MEDIA RELEASE
SAFE blows the whistle on failings of Protected Disclosures Act
SAFE has demanded urgent strengthening of the Protected Disclosures Act in its submission to the State Services
Commission, to protect whistleblowers who report animal neglect, cruelty and law-breaking. This follows the animal
cruelty charges laid earlier this week against the Northland dairy farmer who was exposed by a whistleblower.
A review of the Protected Disclosures Act undertaken by the State Services Commission was opened for public consultation
in October and the deadline for public submissions is today. As part of the review, the Government has proposed a series
of options to improve the Act.
SAFE Head of Campaigns Marianne Macdonald is welcoming the review of the Act but urges that the proposed changes don’t
go far enough to protect workers reporting animal abuse.
“The current system for reporting animal cruelty is broken. Workers risk their livelihood and safety by blowing the
whistle on animal cruelty or neglect, and as a result, animals continue to suffer,” says Ms Macdonald.
“Rural communities often operate in a culture of silence and even fear. Whistleblowers have received death threats from
farmers as a result of contacting MPI to report animal neglect and abuse.”
“SAFE receives a substantial number of reports of animal abuse every year but we are frequently unable to provide the
evidence MPI says it needs to act, as we have to protect the confidentiality of the informant when requested.
SAFE has proposed a series of changes to the Protected Disclosures Act, including guaranteeing confidentiality for
whistleblowers, and penalties for those who fail to keep confidentiality or mistreat whistleblowers.
“It is crucial that the Act is strengthened to encourage and protect Kiwis who come forward with legitimate reports of
animal cruelty, neglect and lawbreaking. These brave people who stand up for what’s right deserve better, and the
animals who are suffering deserve justice.”