The Victorian Ombudsman has released her third biennial report on the implementation of recommendations made to State and local Government bodies, finding that 98 per cent of her recommendations had been accepted.
In her report, Ombudsman’s recommendations – third report, the Ombudsman, Deborah Glass (pictured) says some of the most important recommendations actioned included the public apology to the victims of Puffing Billy; reform and increased funding of State Trustees; and the major systemic reform of WorkSafe.
“An unenthusiastic response to an Ombudsman report without an acknowledgement of failings or desire to tackle them means the issue simply does not go away,” Ms Glass said.
“We can all tell the difference between an authentic response and where the box is merely being ticked,” she said.
“Memo to box tickers: the problems will not go away, and it is in the community’s and your own interests to fix them.”
“And until then, the Ombudsman will stay on your case.”
Ms Glass said she would continue to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the recommendations she had made across 17 reports over the past two years.
She said it was disappointing that the Government had not yet responded to her recommendation that it designate an independent, empowered and resourced local body to undertake inspections of places of detention against the standards of the United Nations’ Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) human rights treaty.
Ms Glass said she had undertaken two investigations using OPCAT standards, including one in 2019 which found children and young people in detention were being damaged through excessive use of isolation and separation.
The Ombudsman’s 97-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
