When A Source Speaks Up: Working Safely with Whistleblowers

Whistleblowers can expose wrongdoing that would otherwise remain hidden. But for journalists, working with whistleblower sources also brings significant legal, ethical and practical responsibilities.

This 90-minute webinar is designed to give journalists practical guidance on navigating those responsibilities – from first contact with a source through to publication. You’ll learn how Australia’s whistleblower protections work, where their limits lie, how to identify and manage risk, and what journalists can do to better protect both their sources and themselves.

Bringing together specialist whistleblower lawyers Kieran Pender and Madeleine Howle from the Human Rights Law Centre with Christopher Knaus, chief investigations correspondent at Guardian Australia, the session will combine legal expertise with the realities of investigative reporting. The focus will be on the situations journalists actually encounter: handling sensitive information, protecting confidential sources, making difficult judgement calls and understanding what may be at stake for a whistleblower who decides to speak.

What you’ll gain:

• A practical understanding of Australia’s whistleblower protection framework – and its limitations

• Guidance on confidentiality, source protection and managing sensitive information

• A clearer understanding of the legal and practical risks that can arise when working with whistleblowers

• Insight into how experienced journalists and lawyers approach difficult decisions

• An understanding of the pressures whistleblowers can face and how journalists can work with sources responsibly

• The opportunity to ask questions and test your own scenarios with the panel

Event details:

• Date: Wednesday, 14 October 2026

• Time: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (AEDT)

• Format: Live online webinar via Zoom (discussion + Q&A)

• Presenters: Kieran Pender, Madeleine Howle and Christopher Knaus

• Tickets: Free for MEAA members or $25 (incl. GST) for non-members

About the speakers

Kieran Pender

Kieran Pender is an Associate Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, where he led the establishment of the Whistleblower Project, Australia’s only specialist legal service for whistleblowers.

Kieran is an internationally recognised authority on whistleblower protections. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the ANU Law School and an award-winning writer, contributing primarily to The Guardian. Kieran has previously worked on whistleblower protections at the International Bar Association in London and the CEELI Institute in Prague.

Madeleine Howle

Madeleine Howle is a lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre’s Whistleblower Project. Since joining in 2024, Madeleine has advised dozens of whistleblowers and worked on litigation in the Federal Court and Fair Work Commission.

She has also campaigned for stronger whistleblower protections and been published in The Saturday Paper, The Mandarin and The Point. Madeleine has previously worked at the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Law and Social Justice and volunteered with Greenpeace Australia Pacific and the Environmental Defenders Office.

Christopher Knaus

Christopher Knaus is chief investigations correspondent for Guardian Australia. He has worked with Guardian News & Media since 2016, following six years as a reporter at The Canberra Times, where he covered crime, courts and politics.

As an investigative journalist, Chris brings the newsroom perspective to the session, including the practical considerations involved in developing relationships with confidential sources, assessing sensitive information and reporting stories where significant legal and personal risks may be involved.

About the organisations

Human Rights Law Centre

The Human Rights Law Centre uses strategic legal action, policy solutions and advocacy to support people and communities to eliminate inequality and injustice and build a fairer, more compassionate Australia.

Whistleblower protections are an essential part of the wider human rights framework in Australia. Whistleblowers play an important role in upholding a transparent, accountable democracy and ensuring governments and corporations respect and uphold human rights.

In 2023, the Human Rights Law Centre launched the Whistleblower Project, Australia’s first dedicated legal service to protect and empower whistleblowers who want to speak up about wrongdoing. Since launching, the Project has triaged 750 whistleblower inquiries, provided legal advice to almost 250 whistleblowers, represented more than 60 clients and been involved in significant whistleblowing litigation in the High Court, Federal Court and South Australian Court of Appeal.

Guardian Australia

Guardian Australia is the Australian edition of the Guardian, launched in 2013 as part of the Guardian’s global news organisation. Its journalism encompasses breaking news, politics, investigations, the environment, social affairs, culture and more, with a strong tradition of public-interest reporting and holding power to account.

The Guardian’s independent ownership structure is designed to safeguard its editorial freedom from political or commercial interference, supporting journalism that is rigorous, independent and accountable to its readers.