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 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.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into review of parking fines by the City of Melbourne
Date posted:We found Melbourne Council acted unfairly in upholding parking fines against drivers who made a genuine mistake. These drivers paid a parking fee but entered the wrong registration number in the PayStay app. The Council agreed to refund people who appealed against this fine in recent years.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation into the planning and delivery of the Western Highway duplication project
Date posted:This investigation looked into whether government agencies consulted with Aboriginal people about how to protect sacred land near Ararat. We concluded that agencies did consult with official Aboriginal bodies. And that considerable efforts have been made to minimise damage.
Tags:Investigation report Ombudsman's recommendations - third report
Date posted:This report looks into the implementation of recommendations the Ombudsman made to public organisations between April 2018-March 2020. The Ombudsman made 109 recommendations - 41 have been implemented in full, with 63 in progress.
Tags:Investigation report Investigations into allegations of nepotism in government schools
Date posted:Family members and associates of principals in Victorian government schools continue to be hired without principals properly declaring or managing their conflicts of interest.
Tags:Investigation report Investigation of alleged improper conduct by Executive Officers at Ballarat City Council
Date posted:Two Ballarat Council Executives gave preferential treatment to personal associates and former colleagues. A Director was improperly involved in recruiting three former colleagues. The CEO was involved in decisions regarding two staff that were 'unwise at best and may have been improper'.
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Looking for reports published prior to 2014?
Find a list of all reports published prior to 2014.