WhistleBlower Prosecution Seen as Backward Safety Step

Allan Kessing, a Former Customs officer has been facing two years gaol for leaking two highly classified reports which contained allegations of drug trafficking, criminal activity and lax anti-terrorism security by staff at Australia's airports. 59 year old Kessing was found guilty in March for leaking the reports to The Australian newspaper in May 2005. The crown prosecutor has recommended a jail sentence to deter other potential whistleblowers in the public service. A week after the damning leaks, the federal government announced a major inquiry which led to a $200 million upgrade in airport security. The inquiry was carried out by British aviation security expert Sir John Wheeler. In the NSW District Court today (22 Jun) a magistrate characterized Kessing's actions as misconduct and "an aberration" and issued a nine-month suspended jail term for leaking specific confidential reports on Sydney airport security. Judge Bennett referring to the whistle-blowing having been an act of a Commonwealth Officer, suggested that he needed "to deter others acting in the same way". Since Kessing's actions, REPCON, a voluntary confidential reporting scheme to promote aviation safety, became law. Under the scheme, anyone with an aviation safety concern can report it confidentially to the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB). The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) said Kessing's prosecution must not discourage others in the aviation industry from whistle-blowing to the media on safety issues. Related Link