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Victorians have complained in record numbers to the state ombudsman about how they’ve been treated by government officials during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her annual report tabled on Thursday, Ombudsman Deborah Glass said the workload at her office was increasing, with an unprecedented number of complaints in the past year.
Ombudsman Deborah Glass.Credit:Penny Stephens
Of the 18,058 complaints to the watchdog in 2020-21 – a 12 per cent increase – most were about local governments or Corrections Victoria.
Complaints about Business Victoria shot up from just 121 to 1503 after thousands of businesses were denied $10,000 COVID-19 grants as a result of a complicated application process and minor errors. Businesses were later given the opportunity to reapply.
A further 274 complaints were made against the Department of Health over its handling of COVID-19, focussed on permits, exemptions, testing, quarantine and lockdowns.
Complaints to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights commissions also jumped 42 per cent in the year, mostly because of COVID-19.
IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich during Operation Watts public hearings earlier this month.
According to the Department of Justice and Community Safety report, many complaints were made by “people with a disability who are denied access to goods and services and employment when they are unable to wear a face mask”.
Victoria’s anti-corruption agency experienced a 17 per cent increase in complaints in the year, receiving 2832 notifications.
But the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission assessed 4965 allegations, 17 per cent fewer than the year prior.
IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich, QC, has repeatedly called on the Andrews government to increase its long-term funding.
The commission was promised an extra $25 million over the next four years. Although IBAC said this was “very welcome”, it said would still be difficult to manage budget reductions after the one-off boost.
Commissioner Redlich also wanted greater search and publishing powers, saying the body’s probes were delayed and frustrated unnecessarily because the laws empowering its investigators were not strong enough.
He said many of the legislative reforms IBAC proposed could be found in the powers available to integrity agencies in other Australian jurisdictions, and that would promote greater transparency and accountability for agencies the commission monitored.
“The recommendations we make arising from investigations are currently required to be made in private, and can only be published in special or annual reports if we are not satisfied that the agency has responded,” he said.
The funding plea came as IBAC investigated allegations of corrupt conduct involving Victorian public officers, including members of parliament, and amid accusations that taxpayer-funded staff and grants were misused for factional activities. The probe centres on MP Adem Somyurek and the Moderate Labor group he was once aligned to.
Ms Glass last year accused the Andrews government of failing to provide enough funding to her office in what she said could be perceived as an attempt to undermine the agency’s ability to investigate government corruption.
Premier Daniel Andrews at the time responded her claim had “no basis in fact”.
In her annual report, Ms Glass said she had been provided a modest budget increase this year, “although not the full amount I had requested of the government”.
“I am pleased I have received the Treasurer’s commitment to make up the shortfall, to allow me to do the job expected of me by Parliament and the public.”
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