Whistleblower Policy
Date Approved: 25 March 2020
- Purpose and Scope
Inner East Community Finance Limited (IECF) is committed to promoting a culture of integrity, corporate compliance and ethical behaviour, where our decisions, actions and conduct reflect and reinforce our values. This policy deals with whistleblower protection and certain issues relating to misconduct, malpractice, internal controls and conflicts of interest to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations applicable to IECF and its officers and staff. It outlines appropriate procedures and processes.
This Whistleblower Policy (Policy) applies to all Staff and Officers of the Company. All are required to report whistleblower concerns and comply with this policy.
- Definitions
- Eligible Recipient: An individual who can receive a protected disclosure.
- Whistleblower: An individual to whom the whistleblower protections apply. Refer ASIC Regulatory Guide 270 – RG 270.43 and s1317AAA of the Corporations Act.
- Reportable Conduct: Reportable Conduct includes an activity, conduct or state of affairs that is illegal, unethical or improper. For example:
- Allegation of criminal activity (theft or fraud);
- Unethical behaviour;
- Failure to comply with a legal obligation;
- Significant breaches in Code of Conduct or policy adopted by IECF;
- Breaking any law administered by APRA; ASIC or the Commonwealth;
- Activities that represent a danger to the public or the financial system.
- Officers: has the same meaning as Section 9 of the Corporations Act. For the avoidance of doubt, an Officer of IECF shall include all Directors, Committee Members, the Company Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Executive Officer, Senior Manager, each Manager and the Executive Officer.
- Staff: includes all employees (permanent, temporary, contractors, consultants and casuals) of IECF.
- Risk Considerations
Risk: Privacy Issues
Compliance Risk: Breach of Confidentiality obligations
- Objectives
The objectives of this policy are to:
- ensure staff and officers are protected when meeting obligations to disclose any malpractice, misconduct or conflicts of interest of which they become aware (Reportable Conduct);
- provide protection under the Corporations Act for staff and officers who report allegations of such malpractice, misconduct or conflicts of interest; and
- ensure that all allegations are thoroughly investigated with suitable action taken, where necessary.
This policy is designed to ensure that honesty and integrity are maintained. A whistleblower is protected against adverse employment actions (dismissal, demotion, suspension, harassment, or other forms of discrimination) for raising allegations of malpractice, misconduct or conflicts of interest. Subject to this policy, a whistleblower is protected even if the allegations prove to be incorrect or unsubstantiated.
Employees who participate or assist in an investigation will also be protected. Every effort shall be made to protect the anonymity of the whistleblower, however there may be situations where anonymity cannot be guaranteed. In such situations, the whistleblower shall be fully briefed.
This policy is not designed to deal with general employment grievances and complaints. All staff and officers should be aware that if an employee makes a false report deliberately, maliciously, or for personal gain, that employee may face disciplinary action.
Below are some examples of reportable malpractice, misconduct or conflicts of interest:
- dishonesty;
- fraud;
- corruption;
- illegal activities (including theft, drug sale/use, violence, threatened violence, or criminal damage against Company assets/property);
- discrimination, vilification, sexual harassment, harassment, bullying and victimisation;
- acts or omissions in breach of Commonwealth or state legislation or local authority bylaws;
- unethical behaviour
- other serious improper conduct (including gross mismanagement, serious and substantial waste of Company resources, or repeated breaches of administrative procedures);
- unsafe work practices;
- any other conduct which may cause financial or non-financial loss to the Company or be otherwise detrimental to the interests or reputation of the Company, or any of its staff and officers; an
- the deliberate concealment of information tending to show any of the matters listed above.
- Policy Statement
This policy protects the whistleblower against any reprisals, provided that the whistleblower identifies himself/herself, and the claim is:
- submitted in good faith and without any malice or intentionally false allegations;
- based on the whistleblower’s reasonable belief that the malpractice or misconduct, or issue related to the malpractice or misconduct constitutes, or may constitute, a material violation; and
- does not result in a personal gain or advantage for the whistleblower.
No alleged malpractice or misconduct that meets the above-mentioned conditions will give rise to any reprisals or threat of reprisals against the whistleblower, unless the whistleblower is a participant in the prohibited activities about which the complaint is made. In those circumstances, the decision to file the complaint is only likely to affect the extent of the disciplinary measures (if any) that may eventually be taken against the whistleblower.
This effectively means that the Company and its directors, officers and staff will not:
- penalise, dismiss, demote, suspend, threaten or harass a whistleblower, or
- transfer the whistleblower to an undesirable job or location, or
- discriminate in any manner against the whistleblower, to take reprisals or retaliate as a result of the whistleblower having reported an act that is illegal or unethical, or deemed illegal or unethical, unless the whistleblower is a participant in the illegal or unethical act(s).
IECF considers any reprisals against a whistleblower to be a serious breach of this policy and one likely to result in disciplinary measures, including dismissal. This protection applies to anyone providing information related to an investigation pursuant to this policy.
IECF recognises that maintaining appropriate confidentiality is crucial in ensuring a potential whistleblower comes forward and discloses their knowledge or suspicions about malpractice or misconduct in an open and timely manner and without fear of reprisals being made against them.
IECF will take all reasonable steps to protect the identity of the whistleblower and will adhere to any statutory requirements in respect of the confidentiality of disclosures made. In appropriate cases, disclosure of the identity of the whistleblower or the allegation made by them may be unavoidable, such as if court proceedings result from a disclosure pursuant to this policy.
- Procedures
Reporting procedures
Any person who has reasonable grounds to suspect that malpractice or misconduct has occurred is encouraged to report that suspicion to an Eligible Recipient such as the Senior Manager, or if this is considered inappropriate, with the CEO by phone, by email or in writing. Any items of concern may also be raised with the Chairman, the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee or the auditor of IECF as Eligible Recipients.
All claims of malpractice or misconduct should provide specific, adequate and pertinent information with respect to, among other things, dates, places, persons/witnesses, amounts, and other relevant information, in order to allow for a reasonable investigation to be conducted. If the whistleblower discloses his/her name, the person receiving the claim will acknowledge having received the complaint and may initiate a follow-up meeting. However, if the claim is submitted on an anonymous basis there will be no follow-up meeting regarding the claim of malpractice or misconduct and the Company will be unable to communicate with the whistleblower if more information is required or if the matter is to be referred to external parties for further investigation.
Please remember that all claims of malpractice or misconduct received are treated on a confidential basis and whistleblowers are encouraged to disclose their identity to obtain the protection afforded to them at law.
Procedures following disclosure
Once a report of a suspected malpractice or misconduct has been received from a whistleblower who has provided reasonable grounds for their belief that malpractice or misconduct has occurred, an investigation of those allegations shall commence.
All material violations and any actions that may be required as a result of the investigations will be reported to the Board.
Investigations
Investigations will be conducted promptly and fairly with due regard for the nature of the allegation and the rights of the persons involved in the investigation. Evidence, including any materials, documents or records shall be held securely by the investigator. The person receiving the disclosure must report it as soon as possible to the Chairman and the CEO. They shall then determine if the allegation is, in fact, pertinent to any of the issues mentioned in this policy. They will also determine if the nature of the concern is such that the appropriate Bendigo Bank authorities need to be contacted and whether the BEN whistleblower policy might also apply.
The CEO in consultation with the Chairman will determine the appropriate method for the investigation and the appropriate persons to conduct it. In appropriate cases, the CEO may ask for the assistance of Bendigo Bank or an external accounting or legal specialist, as the CEO deems necessary.
During the investigation, the investigator will have access to all of the relevant materials, documents, and records. The directors, officers, and staff of the Company must cooperate fully with the investigator. During the investigation, the CEO must use all reasonable means to protect the confidentiality of the information regarding the whistleblower.
Reporting
At the conclusion of the investigation, the investigator will prepare a report of the findings for the Board. Where the final report indicates that the malpractice or misconduct has occurred, the final report will include recommendations for steps to be taken to prevent the malpractice or misconduct from occurring in the future, as well as any action that should be taken to remedy any harm or loss arising from the malpractice or misconduct, including disciplinary proceedings against the person responsible for the conduct, and the referral of the matter to appropriate authorities, as is deemed necessary by the Board.
Communications to the whistleblower
IECF shall ensure that, provided the claim was not submitted anonymously, the whistleblower is kept informed of the outcomes of the investigation of the relevant allegations, subject to the considerations of privacy of those against whom allegations are made.
- Version Control
The Audit and Governance Committee will conduct a review of this Whistleblower Policy biennially (every two years) or earlier if the need arises.
| Version Number | Review Date | Frequency of Review | Responsible | Change | Board Approval |
| 1 | March 2020 | Adoption | Audit and Governance | Adopt Policy | 25 March 2020 |
References
ASIC, Regulatory Guide 270: Whistleblower policies. November 2019
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Whistleblower policy. 2019 –
https://www.bendigoadelaide.com.au/corporate_governance/pdf/whistleblower-policy.pdf