PIDs to Ministers, Members of Parliament and journalists

The Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 (PID Act) recognises that it is in the public interest for public officials to be able to report serious wrongdoing to Members of Parliament (MPs) or journalists where other reporting channels have failed to effectively deal with issues in a timely manner.

However, there are additional criteria necessary for a report to an MP (other than a Minister) or journalist to be a public interest disclosure (PID).

If a public official makes a disclosure to an MP or journalist that both:

• has the usual features of a voluntary PID, and
• meets the additional criteria under the PID Act for a PID to be able to be made to an MP or a journalist they will receive the protections of a voluntary PID maker.

This section explains the process of making a voluntary PID to an MP or journalist, what agencies should do if they become aware that a person has made a disclosure to an MP or journalist and how agencies should deal with these disclosures.