I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the importance of comprehensive whistle-blower protection legislation at all levels of government and across both the public and private sectors, and

(ii) the recent announcement by the New South Wales Labor Party that it will extend state whistle blower protection laws to the private sector to encourage disclosure of corporate corruption and illegal activity; and

(b) calls on the Federal Parliament to pledge support, and move to implement, extension of federal whistle blower protection legislation to private sector employees.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave is granted for one minute.

Labor introduced federal whistleblower protection legislation and Labor believe that parliamentarians should always be looking for ways to improve transparency and accountability in both the public and the private sectors. However, Labor do not support a pledge to support and move to implement whistleblower protection legislation to the private sector, as this motion calls on the federal government to do. Labor believe that if such reforms are to proceed, it should be following consultations with stakeholders to develop an effective and appropriate framework, and that any draft legislation produced should then be subject to wide public consultation.

Question negatived.