Council financial hardship schemes under scrutiny

Victoria’s Ombudsman is investigating how councils are helping cash-strapped ratepayers.

2 December, 2020

Ombudsman finds misuse of council credit cards

There was an impression that ‘snouts were in the trough’ at Warrnambool Council, a report says.

12 October, 2020

Nepotism complaints at Vic schools

Victoria’s Ombudsman is concerned about a string of complaints about nepotism in state schools.

21 May, 2020

Senior council officers in ‘jobs for mates’ probe

A report has uncovered nepotism and ‘jobs for mates’ at Ballarat City Council.

14 May, 2020

Better complaints handling pays dividends

It’s time we thought of complaints as a gift – and one we can’t afford not to accept. Properly managed, they can be a very valuable tool.

29 March, 2020

Councils to pay back $19.5m in parking fines

A decision to outsource parking fine reviews will cost three Victorian councils $19.5 million.

26 February, 2020

Cemetery worker abused position: Ombudsman

The Victorian Ombudsman says a former council cemetery worker should be referred to police.

14 November, 2019

Councils sweep complaints under the carpet

Victorian councils may be seriously understating the number of complaints they get.

10 October, 2019

Victoria launches probe into parking fine contractors

The Victorian Ombudsman is probing councils’ use of contractors in parking fine appeals.

30 May, 2019

Complaints about Victorian infringements body ‘soar’

Fines Victoria is officially the third most complained-about agency in the state, an Ombudsman’s report says.

17 April, 2019

VicRoads pledges to do better after report highlights complaints

Victoria’s roads and traffic authority has accepted it needs to do better after a report revealed a barrage of complaints against it.

21 February, 2019

Ombudsman to probe council complaints

Survey will assess how local government handles, resolves and records complaints from the public.

5 February, 2019

New guide supports councils on ‘challenging behaviours’

Local governments should adopt a four-staged “graduated response” to dealing with abusive behaviour from members of the public, Victoria’s Ombudsman has recommended.

24 May, 2018

Mum’s grief worse after bureaucratic nightmare with Births, Deaths and Marriages

Ombudsman uncovers serious problems at Registry.

30 January, 2017