OMBUDSMAN ACT 1973 - SECT 15E Ombudsman may refuse to investigate certain public interest complaints

OMBUDSMAN ACT 1973 - SECT 15E

S. 15E(1) amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79

(Sch. 1 Pt C item 10(a)).

    (1)     The Ombudsman may refuse to conduct an investigation on a public interest complaint if the Ombudsman considers—

S. 15E(1)(a) amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79 (Sch.  1 Pt C item 10(b)).

        (a)     the subject-matter of the public interest complaint is trivial; or

S. 15E(1)(b) amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79 (Sch.  1 Pt C item 10(b)).

        (b)     the public interest complaint is frivolous or vexatious; or

S. 15E(1)(c) amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79 (Sch.  1 Pt C item 10(b)).

        (c)     the public interest complaint lacks substance or credibility; or

S. 15E(1)(ca) inserted by No. 30/2016 s. 61, amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79 (Sch.  1 Pt C item 10(b)).

        (ca)     the conduct which is the subject of the public interest complaint does not amount to improper conduct; or

S. 15E(1)(cb) inserted by No. 30/2016 s. 61, amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79 (Sch.  1 Pt C item 10(c)).

        (cb)     the conduct which is the subject of the public interest complaint does not amount to detrimental action against a person in contravention of section 45 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 ; or

S. 15E(1)(d) amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79 (Sch.  1 Pt C item 10(d)).

        (d)     the subject-matter of the public interest complaint has already been investigated or otherwise dealt with by—

              (i)     an integrity body within the meaning of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011 ; or

              (ii)     any other person or body (whether or not still in existence) with the power to require the production of documents or the answering of questions.

S. 15E(2) amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79 (Sch.  1 Pt C item 10(e)).

    (2)     The Ombudsman may refuse to conduct an investigation on a public interest complaint if the person who made the public interest complaint—

S. 15E(2)(a) amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79 (Sch.  1 Pt C item 10(f)).

        (a)     made the disclosure that was determined to be a public interest complaint more than 12 months after becoming aware of the disclosed matter; and

        (b)     fails to give a satisfactory explanation for the delay in making the disclosure.

S. 15F (Heading) amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79(Sch.  1 Pt C item 11).

S. 15F inserted by No. 85/2012 s. 148, amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79(Sch.  1 Pt C item 12).