ASIC finds companies are falling short on misconduct crackdown

Australian businesses are failing to take action against abuse, with a third lacking a dedicated whistleblower web page and a fifth lacking a dedicated helpline, the corporate regulator has revealed.

The figures come from a survey commissioned by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which surveyed 134 companies that reported receiving 8095 disclosures between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025.

Whistleblowers have played a crucial role in detecting and exposing wrongdoing, including the scandals that led to the banking royal commission, but they continue to face risks. Former debt collection officer Richard Boyle avoided a prison sentence this year after being tried for exposing unethical debt collection practices.

In February, an independent-led bill to increase protection for whistleblowers, including a new Whistleblower Protection Authority, was introduced to parliament but was defeated in the Senate for further government consultation.

The latest survey by ASIC found that 69 per cent of disclosures were made via a dedicated whistleblower reporting webpage or helpline, and half were made anonymously.

The corporate regulator said good practices, investigation timeframes and the outcomes of whistleblowing programs varied between businesses in Australia, but those with stronger practices generally had higher disclosure rates.

While almost a quarter of companies surveyed reported receiving no disclosures, the average disclosure rate (number of disclosures per 100 employees) was 0.22, which ASIC said “appeared to be at the lower end”.

However, the report said this could be due to a lack of trust in internal processes and a weaker sense of security leading to concerns being raised, a positive workplace environment where issues are resolved early outside formal reporting channels, or the size, structure or nature of a company’s operations.