Whistleblowing

Whistleblowers play an important role in identifying and calling out misconduct and harm to consumers and the community. We value the people who report potential misconduct or breaches of the law. We appreciate that these whistleblowers can find themselves in difficult and stressful circumstances and take their concerns seriously.

To encourage whistleblowers to come forward with their concerns and protect them when they do, the Corporations Act 2001 gives certain people legal rights and protections as whistleblowers.

An eligible whistleblower is an individual who is a current or former employee (including officer, contractor or consultant) of:

• A BMW Group company, including BMW Australia Ltd, BMW Sydney Pty Ltd, BMW Melbourne Pty Ltd or BMW Australia Finance Ltd (BMW Group)
• dealerships that trade in BMW Group products
• A supplier to the BMW Group, or
• a spouse (including relative or dependant) of any of the above persons.

A whistleblower is entitled to protection if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that a “reportable matter” exists, namely:

• Misconduct (e.g. fraud, negligence, default, breach of trust and breach of duty);
• An improper state of affairs or circumstances indicative of a systemic issue that the relevant regulator should know about to properly perform its functions. It may also relate to business behaviour and practices that may cause consumer harm; or
• Conduct which is: 
• a danger to the public or the financial system
• a breach of the law that is punishable by imprisonment 12 months or more
• prescribed by regulation in relation to whistleblower protection, or
• a breach of certain legislation.

However, please note that this does not apply to personal grievances unless it also meets the above requirements.

A whistleblower can make a disclosure directly to the BMW Group in the following ways:

1. anonymously via the BMW Group SpeakUp Line, an external channel for whistleblowers globally to confidentially communicate matters to BMW Group compliance representatives who are deemed to be "eligible recipients” for the purposes of Australian laws.  The SpeakUp Line can be accessed here via the Access Code 74966.
2. By contacting the BMW Group whistleblowing champions directly at:

• Compliance_NSC@bmw.com.au for BMW Australia Ltd, BMW Melbourne Pty Ltd and BMW Sydney Pty Limited; or
• compliance@bmwfinance.com.au for BMW Australia Finance Limited.

Whistleblowers may also communicate or disclose a reportable matter to a government agency, law enforcement body or a regulator in accordance with Australian laws.

Once a disclosure has been received, BMW Group Compliance representatives will investigate the matter. To the extent permitted, and if the whistleblower can be contacted, the whistleblower will be informed regarding the progress of the investigation.

BMW will not disclose your information without your consent unless it is required by law (including to report to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), or the Australian Federal Police (AFP)), or to seek legal advice on the matter.