Seminar: Potential introduction of corporate whistleblowing bounties

Potential introduction of corporate whistleblowing bounties: What are the implications?

23 June 2017

Kelly O'Dwyer

Opening address by The Hon Kelly O’Dwyer, MP, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services

Whistleblowing regulation in Australia is currently under intense scrutiny. Late 2016 saw the launch of a Federal Parliamentary Joint Committee Inquiry into Whistleblower Protections, as well as a Treasury Review of Tax and Corporate Whistleblower Protections in Australia. One of the most contentious potential developments under review is the introduction of financial compensation or rewards for whistleblowers. Consideration of this reform has been stimulated by the apparent dramatic success of the United States SEC’s whistleblowing bounties system introduced in 2010 under the Dodd-Frank whistleblower reforms. Payments under this scheme so far total in the order of US$150M. More recently, the Ontario Securities Commission also introduced a paid whistleblower program, offering further evidence of regulatory interest in the capacity of whistleblowing rewards to increase the volume and quality of disclosures.

This half-day seminar offers an unparalleled opportunity to hear the views of senior regulators, eminent practitioners, local and international academics and enforcement authorities on the implications of corporate whistleblowing bounty reforms in Australia.

Speakers:

  • Assoc Prof Dr Janet Austin (University of New Brunswick, Canada)
  • Heidi Franken (Chief of the Office of the Whistleblower, Ontario Securities Commission)
  • John Price (Commissioner, ASIC)
  • Greg Golding (Partner, KWM)
  • Sarah McNaughton SC (Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions)
  • Norman O’Bryan AM SC (Barrister)

Attendance is free but registration is required.

Date: Friday 23 June 2017

Venue: Theatre G08, Ground floor, Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham Street, Carlton.

Enquiries: vivienne.brand@flinders.edu.au

9:30 am

Opening address by The Hon Kelly O’Dwyer, MP

10:00 – 11:15 am

Whistleblowing bounties: Regulatory issues and perspectives

11:15 – 11:30 am

Morning tea

11:30 – 1 pm

The impact of whistleblowing bounties on prosecutions

See full details in Seminar Program

Click here to register

This event is co-hosted by Melbourne Law School, the Centre for Corporate Law and Securities Regulation and Flinders Law School.