The Ombudsman Victoria
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THE OMBUDSMAN VICTORIA www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au THE OMBUDSMAN VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL REPORT 30 JUNE 2003 EDITION 30 JUNE 2003 EDITION 30 30 THE OMBUDSMAN VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT Ordered to be Printed Victorian Government Printer No. 42 Session 2003 30 JUNE 2003 EDITION30 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OMBUDSMAN For the year ending 30 June 2003 And incorporating reporting requirements of the Financial Management Act 1994 To The Honourable the President of the Legislative Council and The Honourable the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly I have the honour to present the Annual Report on the exercise of the functions of the office of Ombudsman during the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003. The Report is made pursuant to Section 25 of the Ombudsman Act 1973, Section 102 of the Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001, Section 86I(1) of the Police Regulation Act 1958 and as required under the Financial Management Act 1994. R G Seamer Acting Ombudsman THE OMBUDSMAN VICTORIA ii TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD ...........................................................................................................................................................................1 WHY THE OMBUDSMAN REMAINS ESSENTIAL TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION – BY THE PREMIER OF VICTORIA .....................................................................................................................................2 30 YEARS OF THE OMBUDSMAN VICTORIA .....................................................................................................................3 CREATION OF THE OMBUDSMAN ....................................................................................................................................3 THE OFFICE .......................................................................................................................................................................3 PARLIAMENTARY AND INDUSTRY OMBUDSMAN ............................................................................................................4 INTERNAL COMPLAINT HANDLING SCHEMES ................................................................................................................4 THE OMBUDSMAN ............................................................................................................................................................5 John Vincent Dillon .......................................................................................................................................................5 Charles Norman Geschke .............................................................................................................................................6 Dr Barry Perry...............................................................................................................................................................7 KEY DATES ........................................................................................................................................................................8 Jurisdiction and appointments ......................................................................................................................................8 Significant reports over the past 10 years .....................................................................................................................9 MEASURING SUCCESS – BY NORM GESCHKE, OMBUDSMAN 1980-1994 .................................................................10 THE YEAR IN REVIEW.........................................................................................................................................................13 WHISTLEBLOWERS PROTECTION ACT ..........................................................................................................................13 POLICE COMPLAINTS .....................................................................................................................................................13 GENERAL JURISDICTION COMPLAINTS.........................................................................................................................14 PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS ...............................................................................................................................14 ABORIGINAL INVESTIGATION OFFICER ..........................................................................................................................14 COMMUNITY ACCESS AND YOUTH LIAISON..................................................................................................................15 Victorian Ombudsman Youth Outreach Program at Frontyard Youth Services...................................................................16 Regular visits to Juvenile Justice Centres..........................................................................................................................16 Outreach work with the Aboriginal community of Shepparton...........................................................................................16 Legal Youth Forum – Rights and Responsibilities ..............................................................................................................16 Participation in working groups and committees...............................................................................................................16 Workshop presentations and networking ..........................................................................................................................17 WHISTLEBLOWERS COMPLAINTS ...................................................................................................................................18 THE CONTINUING IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS ...........................................................................................................18 NEW PROTOCOLS...........................................................................................................................................................18 State Co-ordination and Management Council ...........................................................................................................18 Office of Local Government.........................................................................................................................................18 2003 ANNUAL REPORT iii EXPERIENCES TO DATE ..................................................................................................................................................18 RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO PUBLIC BODIES’ INTERNAL PROCEDURES....................................................................19 RECEIPT AND INVESTIGATION OF DISCLOSURES.........................................................................................................19 AIMS FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS..................................................................................................................................20 CASE STUDIES ................................................................................................................................................................20 STATISTICS ......................................................................................................................................................................21 TOTAL DISCLOSURES .....................................................................................................................................................21 GENERAL JURISDICTION COMPLAINTS..........................................................................................................................22 OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................................................................22 COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH ...........................................................................................................................23 Protective Services Complaints...................................................................................................................................24 The Ombudsman’s priorities .......................................................................................................................................25 JUVENILE JUSTICE..........................................................................................................................................................27 Allegations of undue force...........................................................................................................................................28 Drugs in Juvenile Justice Centres ...............................................................................................................................28 HOUSING .........................................................................................................................................................................29 EDUCATION .....................................................................................................................................................................30 TRANSPORT ....................................................................................................................................................................33 Public Transport ..........................................................................................................................................................33 VicRoads.....................................................................................................................................................................33