Whistleblower Bill by end of the year

The long-awaited Whistleblower Bill should be presented in Parliament by the end of this year, The Times has learnt.

The process of discussion about the proposed law, which aims to protect individuals who reveal misconduct or wrongdoings within an organ-isation, is almost complete, sources said.

Under the Act, a civil servant who, for example, reveals malpractice in a government department would be protected by law.

The Whistleblower Act and Freedom of Information Act were two of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's electoral promises to make the civil service more accountable and transparent.

A government spokesman said the whistleblower law would strengthen people's role in society's fight against wrongdoing in a democratic country and was intended to protect those who came forward with information on possible crimes. The Act should give more confidence to people to report illegal activities.

The Freedom of Information Act, together with the Whistleblower Act, the Special Investigator to work with the Commission Against Corruption, and strengthening the Ombudsman's role, were instruments which would make for "a quantum leap in good governance", Dr Gonzi had said last year. However, the Freedom of Information Act, which was presented to Parliament last year, has still to be enacted.

Both laws have long been called for by a number of organisations, including the Journalists Committee, Institute of Maltese Journalists, political parties and voluntary organisations.

In May 2007, Frank Portelli, CEO of St Philips Hospital, had denounced what he said were corrupt practices in the building of the Mater Dei hospital and wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister urging him to present a Whistleblower Act.