These decisions show the types of issues we deal with and what the Ombudsman expects of agencies, including recommendations for administrative improvement.
January
Statement on Investigation (in Arabic) (PDF, 130.6 KB)
Summary statement about an investigation of a complaint regarding the handling of student absences and transfers for religious reasons by the Department for Education.
Statement on Investigation - City of Onkaparinga - Investigation in relation to payment of reimbursements to a council employee (PDF, 164.5 KB)
Statement about an investigation of the conduct of the former Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mark Dowd in approving payment of reimbursements to a council employee.
April
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network - Investigation of agency's handling of a Freedom of Information Act application (2018/03422) (PDF, 211.4 KB)
Investigation of a complaint about the handling of an FOI application, including delay and sufficiency of search.
June
District Council of Cleve - Investigation in relation to using council funds to pay costs of the Cleve and District Bowling Club (2018/09526) (PDF, 500.7 KB)
Investigation following a report about the conduct of the district council's former Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Arnold.
August
Department for Correctional Services - Various issues before and after the death of an Aboriginal prisoner (2016/07705) (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Own initiative investigation of the Department of Correctional Services handling of various issues before and after the death in custody of Wiradjuri, Kokatha and Wirangu man, Mr Wayne Fella Morrison.
September
Gallagher Basset Services - Breach of Service Standards (2019/08708) (PDF, 127.2 KB)
Investigation of a complaint concerning a delay by the claims agent in resolving the payment of outstanding invoices for medical treatment related to a workplace injury.
Cr Belinda Spooner, District Council of Peterborough - Failure to comply with a council resolution (2020/03156) (PDF, 106.8 KB)
Investigation of a report Cr Spooner failed to apologise in accordance with a recommendation by the Local Government Association of South Australia’s Governance Panel, for her conduct during an altercation with another council member.
November
Mayor Robert Walsh, District Council of Franklin Harbour - Misconduct in public administration (2019/09108) (PDF, 485.4 KB)
Investigation of a report alleging Mayor Walsh had acted improperly in regard to the zoning and tenure of certain properties, provided false and misleading information in a council report to obtain Commonwealth funding on a project in which he had a private interest, and made repeated and inappropriate contact with the Department of Water and Environment.
South Australia Country Fire Service (CFS) and South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) - Handling of sexual harassment complaint (2019/09614) (PDF, 514.0 KB)
Investigation of a complaint from a CFS volunteer about the response of the CFS and SAFECOM to alleged sexual harassment by another CFS volunteer.
Women's and Children's Health Network - Unreasonable delay in issuing FOI determinations (2019/09718) (PDF, 127.7 KB)
Investigation of a complaint about delay in issuing FOI determinations while awaiting a 'ministerial noting' process.
December
City of Burnside - use of corporate credit cards (2018/10785) (PDF, 790.1 KB)
Investigation of a report raising potential systemic issues regarding the use of corporate credit cards by the City of Burnside.
Cr Faye Davis, City of Port Lincoln - misconduct in public administration (2018/10288; 2019/10157) (PDF, 376.6 KB)
Investigation of a report alleging that Cr Davis had inappropriately disclosed confidential information and failed to declare conflicts of interest.
Cr Kim Miller, District Council of Peterborough - failure to comply with a council resolution (2020/03096) (PDF, 385.3 KB)
Investigation of a complaint Cr Miller had refused to apologise in accordance with a recommendation by the Local Government Association of South Australia’s Governance Panel.
Department for Health and Wellbeing - Inappropriate use of social media during COVID-19 (2020/01948) (PDF, 327.2 KB)
Investigation of a complaint that the Department for Health and Wellbeing had promoted, or gave the appearance of promoting, a political party and /or the Premier, contrary to the obligations on the department to be politically impartial, through its use of social media.
Investigating procurement practices at a council - Statement on Investigation (PDF, 80.0 KB)
Summary statement following an investigation of the procurement practices of a council.
