Operational Structure

The Role of the Ombudsman

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations – more commonly known as the Ombudsman – is an independent officer of the Western Australian Parliament. The Ombudsman is responsible to the Parliament rather than to the government of the day or a particular Minister. This allows the Ombudsman to be completely independent in undertaking the Ombudsman’s functions.

Functions of the Ombudsman

The Office has four principal functions derived from its governing legislation, the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971, and other legislation, codes or service delivery arrangements.

Principal Functions

Investigating and resolving complaints

Receiving, investigating and resolving complaints about State Government agencies, local governments and universities.

Reviewing certain deaths

Reviewing certain child deaths and family and domestic violence fatalities.

Undertaking own motion investigations and promoting improvements to public administration

Improving public administration for the benefit of all Western Australians through own motion investigations and education and liaison programs with public authorities.

Other functions

Undertaking a range of additional functions, including statutory inspection and monitoring functions.

 

Other functions of the Ombudsman

Complaints and appeals
by overseas students

Under the relevant national code, the Ombudsman can receive complaints or appeals by overseas students.

Public Interest Disclosures

The Ombudsman can receive disclosures of public interest information relating to matters of administration, and public officers.

Complaints from residents of the Indian Ocean Territories

Under a service delivery arrangement between the Ombudsman and the Australian Government, the Ombudsman can investigate complaints from residents of the Indian Ocean Territories (Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands) about public authorities in the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

Complaints from persons detained under terrorism legislation

Persons detained under relevant terrorism legislation can make a complaint to the Ombudsman.

Inspection of Telecommunications Interception records

The Ombudsman inspects the records of the Western Australia Police and the Corruption and Crime Commission to ascertain the extent of compliance with relevant telecommunications interception legislation.

Monitoring functions under the Criminal Organisations Control Act 2012

Under the Criminal Organisations Control Act 2012, the Ombudsman monitors and reports on the exercise of powers conferred on the Commissioner of Police and police officers under the legislation for a five year period.

Monitoring the Infringement Notices provisions of The Criminal Code

The Ombudsman monitors the Infringement Notices provisions of The Criminal Code and reports on the first 12 months of operation.

Energy and Water Ombudsman

The Energy and Water Ombudsman Western Australia resolves complaints about electricity, gas and water services providers. The Ombudsman undertakes the role of the Energy and Water Ombudsman. The costs of the Energy and Water Ombudsman are met by industry members.

A full list of legislation governing these functions can be found in the Appendices Section in Appendix 2.

Our Vision, Mission and Values

Our Vision, Mission and Values

Our Strategic Focus

Our Strategic Focus

Executive Management

Executive management of the Office is undertaken by the Executive Management Group comprised of the Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, and Principal Assistant Ombudsman Investigations and Legal Services, and the Office’s Corporate Executive which includes each member of the Executive Management Group and the leaders of the Complaint Resolution and Administrative Improvement teams.
The role of executive management is to:

  • Provide leadership to staff and model the Office’s values;
  • Set and monitor the strategic direction of the Office and monitor and discuss emerging issues of relevance to the work of the Ombudsman;
  • Monitor performance, set priorities and targets for future performance; and
  • Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and corporate policies.

For more information, see the Disclosures and Legal Compliance section

Our Corporate Executive

Our Corporate Executive

Our Corporate Executive

Team Responsibilities

  • The Complaint Resolution Team includes the Intake Team and the Early Resolution Team and has responsibility for handling enquiries, receiving and assessing complaints, and undertaking the early resolution of complaints, where appropriate, through informal investigations.
  • The Administrative Improvement Team undertakes own motion investigations and other strategies aimed at improving public administration.
  • The Monitoring Team monitors and reports on the operation of powers conferred on the Western Australia Police under legislation and undertakes inspections of telecommunications interception records.
  • The Reviews Team reviews certain child deaths and family and domestic violence fatalities, identifies patterns and trends arising from these reviews and makes recommendations to relevant public authorities to prevent or reduce these deaths.
  • The Investigations Team handles the investigation of complaints and the Legal Services Team provides legal services across the Office.
  • The Energy and Water Team has responsibility for handling enquiries and receiving, investigating and resolving complaints about electricity, gas and water services providers.
  • The Executive Services, Corporate Services and Information Technology Services Teams support the Office in strengthening its strategic focus, corporate communications, governance and business services.

 

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