Boyle, a former Adelaide-based public servant, blew the whistle on aggressive debt-recovery practices at the ATO in 2018 and is now facing 24 charges relating to the release of that information.

The alleged offences, which are being pursued by federal prosecutors, relate to unlawfully gathering documents and recording conversations.

Boyle had claimed immunity from prosecution under the whistleblower provisions of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013, but this claim was rejected in March…