Guide helps councils handle complaints

An new guide helps councils deal with complaints, which it says is a ‘core business’ for local government.

22 July, 2021

Contractor duped council out of $1.6m

A Victorian council was duped by an IT contractor who directed $1.6 million of council money into his own companies.

9 June, 2021

Councils ‘worse than banks’ in dealing with hardship

Councils are worse than banks when it comes to financial hardship, a report says.

20 May, 2021

Report reveals Victoria’s most complained about councils

Local councils and prisons are the most complained about Victorian public agencies.

17 January, 2021

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

Video urges Victorians to report corruption in local government

Victoria’s anti-corruption bodies have made it easier to dob in dodgy council behaviour.

5 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