The Australian Taxation Office whistleblower Richard Boyle will not spend time in prison, after he took a plea deal.

The South Australian District Court Judge Liesl Kudelka did not record a criminal conviction against Boyle on August 28. Boyle pled guilty to four minor charges. He was facing 24 minor criminal offences in mid 2020, or the threat of life imprisonment due to 66 charges bought in 2019.

Boyle ran a public interest disclosure defence in October 2022, arguing that he had been protected under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (Cth). Justice David Lovell in 2024 found in Boyle’s favour, saying the whistleblower was protected in going to the media, but not in the preparatory acts he took to build his case.

Boyle was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond.

His trial ends the three high-profile whistleblower prosecutions that were launched under then Coalition Attorney General Christian Porter.

After more than seven years of being dragged through legal processes, which included the threat of a prison term, Boyle is now a free man. However the whistleblower protections that failed him are still in place. The years of psychological torture Boyle was made to endure will deter others from whistle blowing on corrupt government........

© Green Left Weekly