From the leafy, affluent suburb of Wentworth—where 53 percent of the population have a university degree and the median family income is $3,991 a week—to Cowper—where only 16 percent have a tertiary qualification and a family earns a median of just $1,524—voters are considering the issue of whistleblowing.
Researchers uComms, commissioned by the Whistleblower Justice Fund, polled several electorates asking between 725 and 800 people their opinions, giving the results a 3.35 percent margin of error.
In Cowper, a marginal seat on the NSW coast, held by the Nationals with a 2.4 percent margin and facing a strong challenge from independent Caz Heise, the electorate makes its money from tourism and retirement services in Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, but with significant rural activity in the rest of the electorate.
There, 7 in 10 people said they’re more likely to support a candidate who backs stronger whistleblower protections, something Heise has committed to doing.
In Wannon, held by Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan with a 3.8 percent margin, but and also facing a strong campaign from former radio host Alex Dyson, the story is the same.
It too has a large farming population, whose main concerns are crumbling roads, the soaring cost of living, and some of the lowest rainfall on record, but 7 out of 10 people did say transparency and whistleblower protections was a factor they would consider.
A similar proportion said whistleblowers made Australia a better place, compared to 7.5 percent who disagreed.
One Whistleblower in Jail, Another on Trial
In the very different electorate of Wentworth, the issue is perhaps even more on people’s minds because one of Australia’s most prominent whistleblowers, Wentworth local David McBride, who is sitting in jail, unable to vote, while Richard Boyle is still being prosecuted for exposing aggressive tax collection practices at the ATO.There, 8 out of 10 voters think whistleblowers make Australia a better place, while 9 in 10 said they supported stronger legal protections and just four percent opposed them.
There was also overwhelming support for an authority to help people come forward, and respondents said greater protections increased their trust in government.
Almost two-thirds said they were much more likely to vote for a candidate who supported whistleblower protections, compared to 4 percent who said they'd be less inclined.
The seat is held by independent Allegra Spender on 6.8 percent.
“People who tell the truth should be protected, not punished but right now there are massive gaps in our laws,” she told AAP.
“I strongly support creating a whistleblower protection authority ... this is the kind of reform that anyone wanting to represent Wentworth should support.”
More than 40 percent of Liberal supporters in the seat said they'd be more likely to cast their ballot if the candidate backed protections, though the party’s candidate, Ro Knox, has been quiet on the issue.
Tosca Lloyd, a campaigner for the Whistleblower Justice Fund, said it was clear voters wanted tougher safeguards.
“Australia’s whistleblower laws are broken, and voters know it,” she said. “Both the Coalition and Labor have delayed action once in power, perpetuating a culture of secrecy and spending millions of dollars prosecuting whistleblowers.
“[Voters in polled seats] join a growing chorus of people across the country and across the political spectrum who think our government should be protecting those who expose corruption, not silencing them.”
