Richard Boyle, known for exposing aggressive tax collection tactics, has had several criminal charges against him dropped, although advocates are urging for all prosecutions to be terminated. The Commonwealth prosecutor dismissed five charges, which included three counts of attempting to disclose protected information and two counts related to the communication of tax file numbers. However, three other charges regarding the disclosure of protected information remain active.
Tosca Lloyd from the Whistleblower Justice Fund emphasised the need for the termination of all charges, stating that while the dismissal of five counts is positive, it highlights the overall ridiculousness of the situation. “Whistleblowers should be protected, not prosecuted,” he asserted, arguing that such prosecutions undermine the essence of democracy in Australia.
At one point, Boyle faced 24 charges, including allegations of recording conversations and handling sensitive information illegally. The potential consequences were severe, with the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. Discussions between Boyle’s legal team and prosecutors began in December, as his lawyers sought a plea agreement to avert imprisonment. However, Boyle later decided to withdraw from these negotiations, citing ethical concerns amidst the ongoing prosecution. He claimed he could not continue discussions while charges were still being pursued, especially considering recent evidence presented in court.
Some of the charges that Boyle referred to in his social media announcement were among those dropped recently. Ongoing discussions are set to proceed ahead of a court hearing scheduled for May 2024, as encouraged by the presiding judge to promote dialogue between involved parties. A trial is slated for November 2025.