OMBUDSMAN ACT 1973

Table of Provisions

• 1 Short title and commencement  
• 2 Definitions  
• 2A Objectives  

PART II--THE OMBUDSMAN

• 3 Appointment of Ombudsman  
• 4 Suspension of Ombudsman  
• 5 Salary, allowances and leave of absence  
• 6 Acting Ombudsman  
• 7 Staff  
• 8 Application of Public Administration Act 2004  
• 9 Superannuation  
• 10 Oath or affirmation  
• 11 Delegation  
• 12 Restriction on other employment  

PART III--FUNCTIONS AND JURISDICTION OF THE OMBUDSMAN

• 13 Principal functions of the Ombudsman  
• 13AA Other functions of the Ombudsman  
• 13AB Ombudsman not to prejudice legal proceedings or investigations  
• 13AC Court Services Victoria  

PART IIIA--ENQUIRIES

• 13A Conducting of enquiries  
• 13B Communication of information to complainant  

PART IIIAB--REVIEW OF COMPLAINT PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES

• 13C Application of Part  
• 13D Review of complaint practices and procedures of an authority  

PART IIIAC--ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS

• 13E Definition  
• 13F Application of Part  
• 13G Alternative dispute resolution of complaints  
• 13H Outcome of alternative dispute resolution  

PART IV--INVESTIGATIONS

Division 1--Complaints generally

• 14 Making a complaint  
• 15 How the Ombudsman is to deal with certain complaints  
• 15A Ombudsman may refuse to deal with certain complaints  
• 15B Investigation of complaints  

Division 1A--Public interest complaints

• 15C Ombudsman must investigate public interest complaints  
• 15D Ombudsman must refuse to investigate certain public interest complaints  
• 15E Ombudsman may refuse to investigate certain public interest complaints  
• 15F Person who made public interest complaint to be informed of refusal to investigate  

Division 2--Parliamentary complaints

• 16 Investigations referred by Parliament  

Division 2A--Own motion investigations

• 16A Ombudsman may conduct own motion investigation  

Division 2B--Referred complaints and matters

• 16B What are referred complaints and referred matters?  
• 16C Dealing with referred complaints  
• 16D Dealing with referred matters  

Division 2C--Mandatory notifications by the Ombudsman

• 16E Notification to IBAC  
• 16F Notification to Victorian Inspectorate  
• 16G Notification to Information Commissioner  

Division 2D--Referrals by the Ombudsman

• 16H Application of Division  
• 16I Ombudsman may refer complaints  
• 16IA Ombudsman may refer a complaint to an authority  
• 16J Notice of referral  
• 16K Consultation prior to referral  

Division 3--Conduct of investigations

• 17 Procedure relating to investigations  
• 18 Witness summons  
• 18A Service of witness summons  
• 18B Variation or revocation of witness summons  
• 18C Supreme Court may order service by other means  
• 18D Ombudsman to report to Victorian Inspectorate on issue of witness summons  
• 18E Witness summons directed to person under 16 years  
• 18F Power to take evidence on oath or affirmation  
• 18G Offence to fail to comply with a witness summons  
• 18H Offence to fail to take oath, make affirmation or answer question  
• 18I Failure to comply with witness summons  
• 18J Ombudsman may take statutory declaration  
• 18K Privileges in relation to witness summons and investigations  
• 18L Offence for employers to take detrimental action against employees  
• 18M Legal advice and representation  
• 18N Advance notice for voluntary appearances  
• 18O Voluntary appearance of person under age of 16 years but of or over 10 years  
• 18P Further provisions relating to appearances  
• 18Q Audio or video recording of compulsory appearances  
• 18R Protection of legal practitioners and witnesses at compulsory appearances  
• 18S Service of documents  
• 19 Deliberations of Ministers and Parliamentary committees not to be disclosed  
• 19A Cabinet information not to be disclosed—relevant public interest complaints  
• 19B Deliberations of Parliamentary Committees not to be disclosed—relevant public interest complaints  
• 19C Conclusive certificates  
• 19D Disclosure of information subject to legal professional privilege or client legal privilege—relevant public interest complaints  
• 20 Disclosing or taking advantage of information—transitional provision  
• 20A Communication of information to Commonwealth and State Ombudsmen  
• 21 Entry of premises  
• 22 Obstruction  
• 22A Act applies equally to attendance in person or by audio or audio visual link  

Division 4--Action on completion of investigations

• 23 Procedure on completion of investigation  
• 23A Report on investigation—relevant public interest complaints about members of Parliament  
• 24 Complainant or person who made relevant public interest complaint to be informed of result of investigation  

PART IVA--BUDGET, ANNUAL PLAN AND PERFORMANCE AUDIT

• 24A Budget  
• 24B Annual plan  
• 24C Transmission of annual plan to Parliament  
• 24D Independent performance audit  
• 24E Report of independent performance auditor  

PART V--ANNUAL AND OTHER REPORTS

• 25 Annual and other reports to Parliament  
• 25AA Transmission of sections 23(6) and 25 reports to Parliament  
• 25AAB Advance copy of report to Minister and Secretary to the Department of Premier and Cabinet  
• 25AB Transmission of section 16 reports  
• 25A Content of reports  
• 25B Persons who receive proposed or draft reports or information in them  

PART VA--CONFIDENTIALITY

Division 1--Confidentiality requirements for Ombudsman officers

• 26A Unauthorised disclosure  
• 26B Taking advantage of information  

Division 2--Confidentiality notices

• 26C Confidentiality notice  
• 26D Extension of confidentiality notice  
• 26E Ombudsman to provide Victorian Inspectorate with copies  
• 26F Disclosure subject to confidentiality notice  

PART VAB--INFORMATION SHARING

• 26FB Disclosure of information by the Ombudsman  
• 26FC Disclosure of information for specified purposes  

PART VB--OVERSIGHT OF THE OMBUDSMAN

• 26G Oversight by Victorian Inspectorate  
• 26H Oversight by Integrity and Oversight Committee  
• 26I Powers and procedures of Integrity and Oversight Committee  

PART VI--MISCELLANEOUS

• 27 Application to Supreme Court  
• 28 Letters by persons in custody etc. to be forwarded immediately to the Ombudsman  
• 29 Protection of the Ombudsman and officers of the Ombudsman  
• 29A Exemption from Freedom of Information Act 1982  
• 29B Evidence  
• 30 Penalties  
• 30A Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
• 31 Regulations  
• 32 Administration of Act  

PART VII--SAVING AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

• 33 Validity of certain actions taken by Ombudsman  
• 34 Transitional provision—complaints under the Freedom of Information Act 1982  
• 35 Transitional provisions—Integrity and Accountability Legislation Amendment Act 2012  
• 36 Transitional provisions—Integrity and Accountability Legislation Amendment (Public Interest Disclosures, Oversight and Independence) Act 2019  
• SCHEDULE 1
• SCHEDULE 2
• SCHEDULE 3
ENDNOTES