No reward for whistleblowers

A system like that in the US, where corporate employees or professional services whistlebowers might share in the bounty of a well-placed 'dob-in' is probably some way off for Australia, if the views expressed at yesterday's Thomson Reuters Third Party Risk InfoDay panel sessions are any guide.
 
While emphasising the role that whistleblowers might play in maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the AML system, the panel would not be drawn on whether such individuals should be rewarded for coming forward.
 
"That's a policy issue, and it has been proposed - to have a look at whistleblowers and see if there are ways of incentivising people to make those disclosures - but that is not currently part of the Australian regime," said Aislinn Walwyn, the ATO's assistant commissioner, private groups and high wealth individuals.
 
Bradley Brown, Austrac's acting national manager, strategic intelligence and policy, was inclined to agree, with one notable exception: "One example where this does happen is Crimestoppers, where financial rewards are sometimes paid to people if there is an arrest and a successful prosecution," he said.