The BDO Whistleblower hotline is facilitated by Stopline, a third-party anonymous mechanism which is made available for you to make protected disclosures. An eligible person can make a protected disclosure to an eligible recipient (and/or Stopline) if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that the information concerns:

• BDO or a BDO staff member contravening the law
• BDO or a BDO staff member engaging in conduct that represents danger to the public or the financial system
• misconduct in relation to BDO or BDO staff member; or
• an improper state of affairs or circumstances in relation to BDO or a BDO staff member, (referred to as ‘reportable conduct’).

See the BDO Australia Whistleblowing Policy for more.

An eligible person can report any of the reportable conduct listed in item (or the BDO Australia Whistleblowing Policy). The following would be considered an eligible person under the BDO policy:

• All BDO staff members (including partners, officers, temporary or full-time employees, secondees) and their dependents and relatives (including dependents of a staff member’s spouse)
• Any former BDO staff member and their dependents and relatives (including dependents of a former staff member’s spouse)
• An individual or BDO staff member who provides services or goods to BDO, their employees and their relatives or dependents (including dependants of such individual’s spouse). For example, this may include BDO’s contractors, suppliers, consultants, and business partners
• An employee of an entity, where that employee makes a disclosure to BDO as the appointed auditor of that entity, or a member of the audit engagement team.

BDO is committed to ensuring we maintain our status as an ethical business. As such, we believe that it is important that all eligible persons have appropriate reporting avenues available to them, to help us maintain that ethical standard. BDO is adopting best practice in this aspect of corporate governance and will be compliant with international and Australian corporate governance standards.

BDO has engaged Stopline as an independent consultant to manage the receipt, recording and reporting of information that concerns BDO or a BDO staff member contravening the law, engaging in conduct that represents a danger to the public or the financial system, misconduct or an improper state of affairs (for more on ‘misconduct’ and ‘an improper state of affairs’ see the BDO Australia Whistleblowing Policy).

Stopline has people experienced in handling sensitive information from eligible persons. Details of how you can make contact are listed below.

Stopline is an independent, confidential and impartial conduit for reportable conduct (see the BDO Australia Whistleblowing Policy). Stopline has staff experienced in handling sensitive information from eligible persons. Details of how you can make contact are listed herein.

Stopline has been operating for over a decade and assists listed and private companies; local, state and Commonwealth public sector bodies and not-for-profit organisations. Further details are available at www.stopline.com.au

No. Your call to Stopline can, if you wish, be anonymous and the staff of Stopline will not ask for any personal details. You may volunteer the information anonymously to Stopline if you desire or you can be overt. If you do not wish to remain anonymous, this information may be provided to the BDO Investigator. If you choose to remain anonymous Stopline will issue a confidential reference and password should you wish to view the status of your disclosure at some later date.

BDO is committed to the protection of eligible persons against action taken in reprisal for making a protected disclosure. As such, it is crucial that a high level of confidentiality is maintained. BDO has appointed Stopline, a confidential and anonymous conduit for disclosures, to ensure BDO’s Whistleblower procedures are satisfied.

Additionally, victimisation of an individual who has made a protected disclosure will not be tolerated and instances of victimisation will be dealt with under the national Bullying, Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Victimisation Policy.

BDO understands that staff members might be concerned about the repercussions of making an allegation under this policy. However, BDO will provide support to individuals who raise genuine concerns, even if the concerns turn out to be unproven.

Disclosures made under this policy might cause significant distress and disruption to all concerned. Anyone who finds themselves the subject of an allegation can obtain advice and assistance from the People and Culture team.

Stopline enables eligible persons to make a disclosure via telephone, email, internet, mail or QR Code to an independent organisation with trained staff who will receive your concerns confidentially (and anonymously if you wish). This confidential information will be provided to the BDO Investigator. The procedures set out in the BDO Australia Whistleblowing Policy are then followed in investigating and finalising the disclosure.

You should contact Stopline when you have knowledge of any fraudulent, corrupt, unlawful or unethical conduct committed by BDO or a BDO staff member. For an expanded list of what can be reported, see the BDO Australia Whistleblowing Policy.

You can telephone the Stopline on 1300 30 45 50 (in Australia) or +61 3 9811 3275 (overseas – reverse charges) during business hours (0800 – 2000 Mon – Fri AEST) to speak with a trained Stopline interviewer. Any messages left will be responded to within one working day. You can also send your disclosure via the internet (this website), email, QR Code or mail.

Full details are available on BDO Australia Whistleblower Policy.