The Federal Government has detailed the next step in its plan for stronger whistleblower protections.

The Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, Kelly O'Dwyer, has released the terms of reference for a new Expert Advisory Panel on whistleblower protections.

They state that the panel will provide advice on meaningful protection for people who report corporate fraud or serious misconduct, tax evasion or avoidance in the corporate, not for profit and public sectors.

The Panel will review and comment upon draft legislation to be introduced this calendar year.

The new laws will, according to the government, establish whistleblower protections for people who disclose information about tax avoidance and other breaches of tax laws.

The reform should also strengthen existing corporate whistleblower protections under statutes administered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA).

The Panel (chaired by Treasury), will bring together senior government agency representatives, academics and practitioners with expertise in tax law, corporations law, governance and whistleblower protections generally.

Names announced so far include program leader in public integrity and anti-corruption at the Centre for Governance & Public Policy, Griffith University, Professor A J Brown.

It will also seek advice from Dr David Chaikin, an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney Business School, who was a practising lawyer specialising in multi‑jurisdictional investigations, transnational commercial and criminal litigation, and offshore corporate and banking law. 

Michael Croker - the Head of Tax at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) – and Deloitte Australia partner John Nguyen, will join the panel too.