The Public Interest Disclosure Act only gives rights to workers and makes no mention of any connection with existing defamation provisions. However, whistleblowers and the media may have cause to fear the use alleged wrongdoers could make of the Defamation Act 2013. Having considered the human rights context, this article examines in detail whether or not current legislation strikes a reasonable balance between the rights of whistleblowers, alleged wrongdoers and the media. The author concludes that it is in society’s interest that the balance should be tilted in favour of those who make and disseminate honest allegations even if they turn out to be unfounded. Since the media play an important role in pressing for investigations of concerns that are raised and publicising the fact that wrongdoing has occurred, they too should be protected unless malice can be established.

中文翻译：

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举报与诽谤法：法律是否在举报人、媒体和被指控的违法者的权利之间取得了公平的平衡？

《公共利益披露法》仅赋予工人权利，并未提及与现有诽谤条款的任何联系。然而，举报人和媒体可能有理由担心被指控的不法行为者可能会利用《2013 年诽谤法》。本文考虑了人权背景，详细研究了现行立法是否在举报人的权利之间取得了合理的平衡，被指控的违法者和媒体。作者得出的结论是，为了社会利益，平衡应该向那些提出和传播诚实指控的人倾斜，即使这些指控被证明是没有根据的。由于媒体在敦促对所提出的关切进行调查和宣传已发生不法行为的事实方面发挥着重要作用，