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PROTECTED DISCLOSURE ACT 2012 (NO. 85 OF 2012) - SECT 160 Procedure on completion of investigation

PROTECTED DISCLOSURE ACT 2012 (NO. 85 OF 2012) - SECT 160

Procedure on completion of investigation

    (1)     In section 23(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 , for "Division 2" substitute "Division 1A or 2".

    (2)     After section 23(2) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 insert

    "(2A)     On completion of an investigation on a relevant protected disclosure complaint (other than a relevant protected disclosure complaint about a member of Parliament) the Ombudsman—

        (a)     must report the findings of the investigation—

              (i)     to the principal officer (if any) of the appropriate authority or protected disclosure entity; or

              (ii)     if there is no principal officer, to the responsible Minister for the authority or protected disclosure entity; or

              (iii)     if the protected disclosure complaint is about a Councillor, to the Mayor of the appropriate Council; and

        (b)     may make recommendations as to the action to be taken as a result of the investigation.".

    (3)     In section 23(3) of the Ombudsman Act 1973

        (a)     after "subsection (2)" insert "or (2A)";

        (b)     in paragraph (a)(i), after "authority" insert "or protected disclosure entity".

    (4)     In section 23(4) of the Ombudsman Act 1973

        (a)     after "subsection (2)" insert "or (2A)";

        (b)     after "an authority" insert "or a protected disclosure entity, or the Mayor of the appropriate Council";

        (c)     after "responsible Minister" (where second occurring) insert "or Mayor".

    (5)     In section 23(5) of the Ombudsman Act 1973

        (a)     after "subsection (2)" insert "or (2A)";

        (b)     after "responsible Minister" insert

"or Mayor";

        (c)     in paragraph (b), for "the Council—" substitute "the Council; and";

        (d)     after paragraph (b) insert

    "(c)     where the report relates to a relevant protected disclosure complaint about a Councillor or a member of staff of a Council, to the Mayor of the

Council—".

    (6)     After section 23(6) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 insert

    "(6A)     The Ombudsman must not include in a recommendation under subsection (2) or (2A) any information that—

        (a)     is likely to lead to the identification of a person who has made an assessable disclosure; and

        (b)     is not information to which section 53(2)(a), (c) or (d) of the Protected Disclosure Act 2012 applies.".