AustraliaI reported fraud at my company and now I'm being threatened with termination. What protections do I have?
You may be protected under Australia’s whistleblower laws, which prohibit dismissal or victimisation for making a protected disclosure about misconduct at work.
What the Law Says
Australia’s whistleblower protection framework is primarily set out in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), strengthened by the Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Whistleblower Protections) Act 2019. These laws protect eligible whistleblowers from dismissal, injury, or other detriment for making a ‘protected disclosure’ about suspected misconduct or improper state of affairs in a company.
To qualify for protection, your disclosure must meet several criteria: it must be made to an eligible recipient (e.g., ASIC, APRA, your company’s auditor or senior manager), concern misconduct or an improper state of affairs relating to the company, and be made in good faith. You do not need to prove the allegation is true — only that you had reasonable grounds to suspect it.
If you are dismissed or threatened with dismissal because you made a protected disclosure, that action is unlawful. The law treats such dismissal as ‘victimisation’, which attracts civil penalties and possible reinstatement or compensation.
Employers who breach these protections face serious consequences: individuals can be fined up to $1.1 million, and companies up to $11 million. You also have up to five years from the date of the adverse action to bring a civil claim.
Statutory TextA person must not cause detriment to another person because the other person has made, or proposes to make, a protected disclosure.
— Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s. 1317AB — Protection from victimisation
Statutory TextAn officer or employee of a corporation must not dismiss, injure or otherwise penalise a person, or threaten to do so, because the person has made, or proposes to make, a protected disclosure.
— Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s. 1317AC — Prohibition on dismissal etc.
What to Do
Document everything: save emails, messages, notes of conversations, and dates related to your disclosure and any threats.
Report the threat to ASIC or APRA immediately — they can investigate and intervene.
Seek urgent legal advice: contact the Fair Work Ombudsman or a workplace lawyer experienced in whistleblower matters.
Lodge a general protections claim with the Fair Work Commission within 21 days of dismissal (if it occurs).
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.