The Ombudsman operates under the Ombudsman Act 1978 and is responsible for enquiry and investigation into complaints regarding the administrative actions of Tasmanian government agencies, local councils and a range of other public authorities. The Ombudsman seeks to resolve individual grievances and address systemic issues arising from administrative matters in the public sector. Through independent, objective and impartial investigations, the Ombudsman promotes fairness and equity and aims to bring about improvements in the quality and standard of public administration.
The Ombudsman also has a number of other responsibilities including:
· Energy Ombudsman under the Energy Ombudsman Act 1998;
· Coordinator of the Official Visitors Scheme under the Corrections Act 1997;
· Principal Official Visitor under the Mental Health Act 2013;
· providing administrative support for the Mental Health and Prison Official Visitors Programs; and
· implementing the Right to Information Act 2009, the Personal Information Protection Act 2004 and the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2002.
The Health Complaints Commissioner operates under the Health Complaints Act 1995 and is responsible for promoting and protecting health rights, resolving complaints between health care users and providers and seeking improvements in the delivery of health services in Tasmania. The Commissioner achieves this through the conciliation, investigation and assessment of complaints, encouraging parties to resolve complaints between themselves and assisting providers to develop procedures to resolve complaints.
The Custodial Inspector is appointed by the Governor of Tasmania under the Custodial Inspector Act 2016. The purpose of the Custodial Inspector is to provide independent, proactive, preventative and systemic oversight of custodial centres. The focus of the Inspector is on systemic issues relating to the management, control and security of the State’s prisons and youth detention centre and the care and welfare of prisoners and detainees. In particular, the Inspector provides external scrutiny through the publication of reports and recommendations. The Inspector reports directly to the Minister responsible for the custodial centre and the responsible Minister is then required to table a copy of the Inspector’s report in each House of Parliament.
This chapter provides financial information about the Outputs to be delivered by the Office in 2021‑22 and the Forward Estimates (2022‑23 to 2024‑25). Further information about the Office of the Ombudsman and Health Complaints Commissioner is provided at:
· www.ombudsman.tas.gov.au;
· www.healthcomplaints.tas.gov.au;
· www.energyombudsman.tas.gov.au;
· www.officialvisitors.tas.gov.au; and
· www.custodialinspector.tas.gov.au.
Table 20.1 provides a summary of the Budget and Forward Estimates allocations for the Office’s key deliverables.
|
|
2021‑22
Budget |
2022‑23 Forward Estimate |
2023‑24 Forward Estimate |
2024‑25 Forward Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Initiatives Office of the Ombudsman ‑ Additional Funding |
500 |
750 |
1 000 |
1 000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This initiative provides further support for the Office to fulfil its statutory responsibilities, as outlined below.
The Custodial Inspector has completed a full round of inspections as required by the Custodial Inspector Act. Additional resourcing will allow the Custodial Inspector to carry out audits of recommendations made in previous inspection reports and commence another round of inspections.
Conciliation is a major function of the Health Complaints Commissioner resulting in complaints being resolved collaboratively between parties. It is effective in restoring trust and therapeutic relationships and can result in systemic improvements and resolution without the need for formal investigation or litigation. Additional funding will strengthen this function with the appointment of a Conciliation Officer in 2023‑24.
Additional funding has been allocated to strengthen the Official Visitor Program including: increased remuneration for Official Visitors; provision of training for new Visitors; and improved training resources for all Visitors.
Additional funding will be provided to support the Ombudsman’s responsibilities and functions under a range of statutes. This initiative will enable the appointment of a Deputy Ombudsman to oversee the operations of the Office as a whole and major investigations, and undertake other delegated functions. It will also provide for a position to oversee a review of the operation of consorting provisions in the Police Offences Act 1935, and undertake a review of all statutes administered by the Office. Increased resources will also be allocated to investigate disclosures and notifications received under the Public Interest Disclosures Act; to manage inquiries; and to undertake training in other government agencies.
Outputs of the Office of the Ombudsman are provided under the following Output Groups:
· Output Group 1 ‑ The Office of the Ombudsman; and
· Output Group 89 ‑ Public Building Maintenance Program.
Table 20.2 provides an Output Group Expense Summary for the Department.
Notes:
1. The increase in Decisions on Complaints Referred to the Ombudsman and Health Complaints Commissioner and Right to Information reflects additional funding provided to support the Office.
2. The renovation of existing office accommodation funded through the Public Building and Maintenance Program was completed in 2020‑21.
3.
This Output provides for the independent and impartial resolution of complaints and the investigation of systemic issues relating to public administration, health care and energy services.
|
Performance Measure |
Unit of Measure |
2018‑19 Actual |
2019‑20 Actual |
2020‑21 Actual |
2021‑22 Target |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enquiries Finalised ‑ Ombudsman, Health Complaints and Energy Ombudsman1,2 |
Number |
1 920 |
1 685 |
1 848 |
1 940 |
|
Complaints Finalised ‑ Ombudsman, Health Complaints and Energy Ombudsman1,3 |
Number |
1 458 |
1 223 |
1 375 |
1 444 |
|
Cases Finalised per FTE4,5 |
Number |
196 |
156 |
184 |
186 |
|
Complaints to Ombudsman, Health Complaints and Energy Ombudsman Resolved in Less Than Three Months1,3 |
% |
81 |
80 |
79 |
80 |
|
Health Complaints Assessed Within Statutory Period of 45 days6 |
% |
79 |
82 |
79 |
80 |
|
Health Complaints Assessed Within the Extended Statutory Period of 90 days6 |
% |
87 |
91 |
88 |
90 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The Office expects the number of enquiries and complaints finalised to increase by approximately five per cent in 2021‑22.
2. The Enquiries Finalised figures includes out of jurisdiction enquiries received by the Office.
3. The Complaints Finalised figures include Public Interest Disclosure notifications.
4. ‘Case’ includes both enquiries and complaints managed by the Office.
5. FTEs include all investigation staff and corporate administration support. FTEs exclude Official Visitor and Custodial Inspectorate staff who do not manage cases.
6. This period includes time waiting for responses from health providers and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
|
|
2020‑21 |
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue and other income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appropriation revenue ‑ operating1 |
2 678 |
3 246 |
3 562 |
3 889 |
3 948 |
|
Other revenue from government |
56 |
93 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Grants2 |
100 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Other revenue |
557 |
557 |
557 |
557 |
557 |
|
Total revenue |
3 391 |
3 896 |
4 119 |
4 446 |
4 505 |
|
Total income |
3 391 |
3 896 |
4 119 |
4 446 |
4 505 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee benefits1 |
2 596 |
3 079 |
3 288 |
3 565 |
3 612 |
|
Depreciation and amortisation3 |
187 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
|
Supplies and consumables1 |
558 |
739 |
751 |
800 |
810 |
|
Borrowing costs3 |
32 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Other expenses |
93 |
95 |
97 |
98 |
100 |
|
Total expenses |
3 466 |
3 945 |
4 168 |
4 495 |
4 554 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net result |
(75) |
(49) |
(49) |
(49) |
(49) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive result |
(75) |
(49) |
(49) |
(49) |
(49) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The increase in Appropriation revenue ‑ operating, Employee benefits and Supplies and consumables reflects additional funding provided to support the Office.
2. The decrease in Grants in 2021‑22 reflects completion of funding provided through the Public Building Maintenance Program to renovate existing office accommodation.
3. The variation in Depreciation and amortisation, and Borrowing costs, from 2021‑22 reflects revised estimates for the Office’s lease arrangements.
|
|
2020‑21 |
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attorney‑General and Minister for Justice |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Output Group 1 ‑ The Office of the Ombudsman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.1 Decisions on Complaints Referred to the Ombudsman and Health Complaints Commissioner and Right to Information1 |
2 678 |
3 246 |
3 562 |
3 889 |
3 948 |
|
|
2 678 |
3 246 |
3 562 |
3 889 |
3 948 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office of the Ombudsman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Operating Services |
2 678 |
3 246 |
3 562 |
3 889 |
3 948 |
|
|
2 678 |
3 246 |
3 562 |
3 889 |
3 948 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appropriation Rollover |
56 |
93 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Revenue from Appropriation |
2 734 |
3 339 |
3 562 |
3 889 |
3 948 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Controlled Revenue from Appropriation |
2 734 |
3 339 |
3 562 |
3 889 |
3 948 |
|
|
2 734 |
3 339 |
3 562 |
3 889 |
3 948 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note:
1. The increase in Decisions on Complaints Referred to the Ombudsman and Health Complaints Commissioner and Right to Information reflects additional funding provided to support the Office.
|
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and deposits1 |
84 |
324 |
324 |
324 |
324 |
|
Receivables1 |
2 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
|
|
86 |
343 |
343 |
343 |
343 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non‑financial assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangibles |
4 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Other assets2 |
1 007 |
406 |
374 |
342 |
310 |
|
|
1 011 |
406 |
374 |
342 |
310 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
1 097 |
749 |
717 |
685 |
653 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payables1 |
21 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
Interest bearing liabilities2 |
617 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Employee benefits1 |
541 |
595 |
612 |
629 |
646 |
|
Other liabilities |
1 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Total liabilities |
1 180 |
602 |
619 |
636 |
653 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets (liabilities) |
(83) |
147 |
98 |
49 |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated funds1 |
(83) |
147 |
98 |
49 |
.... |
|
Total equity |
(83) |
147 |
98 |
49 |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The increase in Cash and deposits, Receivables, Employee benefits and Accumulated funds and decrease in Payables in 2022 reflects revised estimates based on 30 June 2020 actuals.
2. The decrease in Other assets and Interest bearing liabilities reflects revised estimates for the Office’s lease arrangements.
|
|
2020‑21 |
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash inflows |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appropriation receipts ‑ operating |
2 678 |
3 246 |
3 562 |
3 889 |
3 948 |
|
Appropriation receipts ‑ other |
56 |
93 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Grants |
100 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Other cash receipts |
557 |
557 |
557 |
557 |
557 |
|
Total cash inflows |
3 391 |
3 896 |
4 119 |
4 446 |
4 505 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash outflows |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee benefits |
(2 314) |
(2 744) |
(2 909) |
(3 142) |
(3 174) |
|
Superannuation |
(265) |
(318) |
(362) |
(406) |
(421) |
|
Borrowing costs |
(32) |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Supplies and consumables |
(558) |
(739) |
(751) |
(800) |
(810) |
|
Other cash payments |
(93) |
(95) |
(97) |
(98) |
(100) |
|
Total cash outflows |
(3 262) |
(3 896) |
(4 119) |
(4 446) |
(4 505) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash from (used by) operating activities |
129 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net borrowings |
(129) |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Net cash from (used by) financing activities |
(129) |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents held |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and deposits at the beginning of the reporting period |
84 |
324 |
324 |
324 |
324 |
|
Cash and deposits at the end of the reporting period |
84 |
324 |
324 |
324 |
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|