Key facts
- Services Australia whistleblower Jeannie-Marie Blake is suing the Australian government.
- Blake alleges she was threatened with job loss before and after testifying to the robodebt royal commission.
- She claims a department head warned her testimony could cost her job if not truthful.
- Blake alleges increased work scrutiny and loss of shift flexibility after her evidence.
- The government denies the threats and argues her evidence is not protected by whistleblower laws.
A key whistleblower in the Australian robodebt scheme, Jeannie-Marie Blake, is suing the government, alleging she was threatened with job loss before and after providing testimony to a royal commission. Blake, a compliance officer at Services Australia, claims her department made repeated threats against her, including being told to resign if she did not want to administer the scheme.
In court documents, Blake alleges that in early 2023, she informed her department of her intention to give voluntary evidence to the royal commission. She claims the head of compliance responded by warning her to "cross your T’s and dot your I’s because this could cost you your job if you’re not telling the truth," and advised her to seek legal counsel as only subpoenaed individuals were testifying.
Blake's evidence in February 2023 was described as crucial, as she was the only current Services Australia employee to testify voluntarily. She detailed how senior officials were repeatedly warned about the scheme's dangers. Following her testimony, Blake alleges her work underwent significantly higher scrutiny, which she perceived as punitive. She also claims she was suddenly denied flexibility in her shift start times.
The government, in its defence, denies Blake was threatened and disputes that her evidence is protected under whistleblower laws. It states the call prior to her testimony encouraged her to seek legal advice and thanked her for informing superiors. The department also claims post-testimony calls were standard for all employees who gave evidence, noting that some might face code of conduct considerations.
The Human Rights Law Centre, representing Blake, argues that the government's stance exposes a significant gap in whistleblower protection laws, emphasizing the need for public servants to testify without fear of retaliation.