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Lynn Simpson returns to Canberra bracing for reminders of the ordeal that changed her life after she became a whistleblower. The insignia of the Australian government on the doors of its agencies is a cue for some memories she would rather not dwell on, reminding her of the fallout that saw the former Department of Agriculture public servant leave the national capital last year. Dr Simpson became an accidental whistleblower, and grew isolated in her own workplace, after someone at the department in 2013 uploaded to its website a report she wrote - not meant to be public - documenting the appalling conditions for Australian animals on live export ships. "I lost my entire social network and had to build an entire new one," she said. People Dr Simpson had barely spent time with lent her support, while others she had considered friends left her alone. The live export veterinarian's finances eroded as she lost work and took on the government in a lawsuit. She hasn't had a day's paid employment in her field since the report's publication. The episode also brought a physical cost. "When you lose your health, you lose what you need to fight what's the fight of your life." A new Australian Institute of Criminology report shows Dr Simpson's experience mirrors that of other whistleblowers, finding almost all encountered acts of "reprisal and retaliation". They reportedly suffered blame and retaliation by management, feelings of fear, bullying and harassment, and emotional and psychological impacts, including stress, exhaustion, mental and physical health related issues. The report also found whistleblowers experienced substantial financial costs, including for legal advice and litigation, and loss of income when employment was terminated, contracts were not renewed, promotions not obtained, and career development impaired. "For many whistleblowers, the outcomes of disclosing illegal behaviour and misconduct weresubstantial," the report said. "These included both the outcomes associated with observing and reporting misconductas well as the retaliation experienced. "In many cases, the acts of retaliation experienced exacerbated the overall impact on whistleblowers." Dr Simpson had taken a six-month contract as a technical advisor with the Department of Agriculture's Animal Welfare Branch in 2012, as it reviewed the Australian Standards for Exporting Livestock, when she delivered her explosive findings. They revealed the horrific conditions for animals in transit, trampled in overcrowded pens, covered in their own faeces, unable to stand, dying of heat exhaustion and suffocation, and drinking from water troughs filled with excrement. Her report appeared on the Agriculture department's website in February 2013, and stayed for six months. Dr Simpson was told in June she could no longer work in its live exports or animal welfare divisions, because of an industry "witch hunt" against her following the report. She started "miscellaneous leave" the next month and later resigned. Returning to Canberra today risks triggering the symptoms of the post-traumatic stress her experience as a whistleblower gave her. About half of whistleblowers interviewed would not report the misconduct again if given the opportunity to go back in time, the Australian Institute of Criminology report said. It made a number of suggestions on ways to improve procedures, minimise victimisation, and provide better support to whistleblowers. This included financial compensation to whistleblowers, prosecuting people who retaliate against them, ensuring that investigations are carried out independently, and providing independent counsellors or psychologists to guide whistleblowers through the reporting process and to assist them in cases of reprisal or victimisation. Dr Simpson said a lawsuit filed against the federal government for breach of contract and negligence settled out of court last year. She had to sell her home to fund the legal action. She had needed free legal advice and support, and wishes there had been financial aid during her ordeal. Any reforms protecting whistleblowers better should offer aid or legal support to anyone able to prove they'd been wronged, she said. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources said it did not comment on individual employment matters, but that it supported integrity and accountability across the public sector through public interest disclosure legislation. "All staff may also report alleged wrongdoing to the department's Integrity Unit or Fraud and Corruption Team, and these matters are taken very seriously." Lifeline: 13 11 14

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