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 Casey Council's Special Charge Scheme for Market Lane
Date posted:Ratepayers were hit with extra interest charges after Casey Council increased the charges in a meeting that was closed to the public. The Ombudsman said the council's actions were wrong, unjust and unfair. She called on the council to refund ratepayers the extra charges.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into the misuse of council resources
Date posted:This investigation found examples of Council staff using public resources for their own benefit. A council officer used a council fuel card to fill up his vehicle for two years. A contractor paved a council employee's mother's driveway. Councils must do more to prevent poor culture and behaviour.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into public transport fare evasion enforcement
Date posted:Finances were being prioritised ahead of fairness, the Ombudsman found. People without a valid ticket could either pay a $75 on-the-spot penalty or receive a $223 fine. This was unfair on people who could not afford to pay $75 on-the-spot. Meanwhile, the $75 penalty could not be challenged in court.
Tags:Investigation report Reporting and investigation of allegations of abuse in the disability sector. Phase 2 - incident reporting
Date posted:The Ombudsman found the system of incident reporting "failed at every level". She said the tick-box approach did not give victims a voice. It failed to consistently escalate issues to other people and agencies, including police. And it limited managers' capacity to ensure clients' wellbeing.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation of a protected disclosure complaint regarding allegations of improper conduct by councillors associated with political donations
Date posted:This investigation looked into allegations that Casey Councillors accepted donations from property developers in return for favourable planning decisions. The Ombudsman was not able to substantiate the allegations. Nevertheless, she called for reform of rules governing political donations.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners in Victoria
Date posted:An increase in prisoner numbers was reducing access to rehabilitation programs, the Ombudsman found. Building more prisons was not making Victoria safer. The Ombudsman said Victoria needs a whole-of-government approach to focus on the causes of crime rather than its consequences.
Tags:Investigation report Conflict of Interest by an Executive Officer in the Department of Education and Training
Date posted:A department executive was found to have negotiated and accepted a high level job and shareholdings in a company. At the same time, he was responsible for making funding decisions and investigating a Registered Training Organisation with a close connection to the company.
Tags:Investigation report Reporting and investigation of allegations of abuse in the disability sector. Phase 1 - the effectiveness of statutory oversight
Date posted:Many people with disability do not report abuse, for fear they will either not be believed, that nothing will happen or that they will suffer repercussions, the Ombudsman found. She called for a single independent oversight body for the disability sector.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into allegations of improper conduct by officers of VicRoads
Date posted:Some VicRoads officers broke the regulations they were responsible for upholding and enforcing, the Ombudsman found. They put the public at risk by routinely breaking the speed limit in official enforcement vehicles without using warning lights and sirens.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into Department of Health oversight of Mentone Gardens, a Supported Residential Service
Date posted:The department failed in overseeing an aged care facility which had gone into liquidation, the Ombudsman found. It had been home to 39 residents. The Ombudsman called on the government to make ex gratia payments to former residents, who had lost bonds and deposits. The government paid $4.3 million.
Tags:Investigation report Councils and complaints - A report on current practices and issues
Date posted:This report sets out what Victorians should expect if they make a complaint to their council. The Ombudsman said all too often, complaints were seen as a nuisance or provoked a defensive or unhelpful response. She recommended all councils have an internal review function to deal with complaints.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into an incident of alleged excessive force used by authorised officers
Date posted:An arrest at Flinders Street Station in 2013 involved authorised officers using excessive force on a teenage girl, the Ombudsman found. She said authorised officers need to ensure people pay their fares but that does not excuse the disproportionate use of force.
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Find a list of all reports published prior to 2014.