Investigation reports
Read about issues we've investigated, and our recommendations. These reports can help other public organisations improve their performance.
Investigation report Investigation into decision-making under the Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions
Date posted:At its core, this investigation is about the importance of good administrative decision making. Failing to exercise discretion fairly, not giving reasons for decisions, failing to offer a right of review.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into allegations of collusion with property developers at Kingston City Council
Date posted:This investigation has its origins in public concerns about the development of land within their community.
Tags:Investigation report The Ombudsman for Human Rights: A Casebook
Date posted:This casebook presents a snapshot of the thousands of matters involving people’s human rights that we see each year. They illustrate the rights of children and families, kinship carers, injured workers, activists and prisoners, of everyday Victorians.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into good practice when conducting prison disciplinary hearings
Date posted:Investigation into good practice when conducting prison disciplinary hearings
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into Melton City Council’s engagement of IT company, MK Datanet Pty Ltd
Date posted:A well-paid council IT contract worker directed $1.6 million of ratepayers’ money into one of his own companies with a Victorian Ombudsman investigation finding lax oversight allowed him to manipulate processes.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into how local councils respond to ratepayers in financial hardship
Date posted:With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening to increase financial hardship in the community, we examined how struggling homeowners would be treated if they fell into debt, and whether council practices were fair and reasonable.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions’ administration of the Business Support Fund
Date posted:A Victorian Ombudsman investigation has found that almost 12,000 businesses may be asked to reapply for grants after their applications to the Business Support Fund were denied for minor errors.
Tags:Investigation report Outsourcing of parking fine internal reviews – a follow-up report
Date posted:More than 17,400 parking fines could be overturned after a follow-up Victorian Ombudsman report identified a further five councils, a university and an agency outsourced internal reviews of parking infringements.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation of protected disclosure complaints regarding the former Principal of a Victorian public school
Date posted:A Victorian Ombudsman investigation has found that a school principal used his school’s bank account as a personal line of credit obtaining almost $23,000, undetected by the Department of Education and Training.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into the detention and treatment of public housing residents arising from a COVID-19 'hard lockdown' in July 2020
Date posted:An Ombudsman investigation has found the timing of the hard lockdown of North Melbourne and Flemington public housing towers in response to COVID-19 was not based on direct health advice and violated Victorian human rights laws.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into complaints about assaults of five children living in Child Protection residential care units
Date posted:We investigated complaints about alleged assaults of five children living in residential care. They were aged 11-15 at the time of the incidents. We found that the Child Protection residential care system is in need of major reform.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into corporate credit card misuse at Warrnambool City Council
Date posted:A former Warrnambool Council Manager misused his Council credit card to claim at least $8,000 worth of goods and services which were excessive or for his personal benefit. We also found evidence of lax practices by staff and poor judgement by some in senior management.
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Looking for reports published prior to 2014?
Find a list of all reports published prior to 2014.