Internal Ombudsman
Council has an independent Internal Ombudsman (IO) who investigates complaints against Council staff and services.
The IO will investigate complaints relating to any Council staff member, contractors, consultants or volunteers across four areas:
- Alleged corrupt conduct: the dishonest or partial exercise of official functions by a public official
- Maladministration: action or inaction of a serious nature that is contrary to law, unreasonable, unjust, oppressive, improperly discriminatory, or based wholly or partly on improper motives
- Serious and substantial waste of public money: the uneconomical, inefficient or ineffective use of resources that could result in the loss or waste of local government funds
- Breaches of Council’s Code of Conduct that relate to alleged corrupt conduct, maladministration, or the serious and substantial waste of public money.
Complaints not Covered by IO
The IO’s role does not cover the following issues:
- Grievance and dispute procedures as set out in the Local Government State Award
- Performance management issues
- Complaints that are already being investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the NSW Ombudsman, NSW Police, the Minister for Local Government or Office of Local Government
- Matters relating to the dismissal of an employee or industrial disciplinary issues
- Matters where there is an existing remedy or right of appeal that is considered more appropriate. However, some issues may still be investigated if the remedy or right of appeal would not be likely to address corrupt behaviour, maladministration or serious and substantial waste of public money.
- Matters concerning the actions or conduct of private individuals who were not Council employees or Councillors at the time the issue occurred.
How to Make a Complaint to IO
To make a complaint about suspected unethical, fraudulent or corrupt behaviour via email internal.ombudsman@wsc.nsw.gov.au or via phone on 0402 353 422.