The ACT Ombudsman has recorded a drop in public complaints about the Territory’s Directorates, Agencies and ACT Policing in his latest report.
In the 2022–23 Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 Report, Ombudsman Iain Anderson said that between 1 July and 31 December 2022, his office received 242 complaints in total, a slight decrease of four per cent from the 251 complaints received during the first half of the year before.
Mr Anderson said his office received 224 complaints and finalised 278 in relation to ACT Directorates, Agencies and ACT Policing.
He said that of the 191 complaints received about ACT Directorates and Agencies, 55 related to the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate, 48 to the Community Services Directorate, and 35 to the Justice and Community Safety Directorate.
“The ACT Agency for which we received the highest number of complaints during Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of 2022–23 was ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS) with 34 complaints, closely followed by Housing ACT with 33 complaints, and Access Canberra with 28 complaints,” Mr Anderson said.
He said the 34 complaints received about ACTCS – which includes the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) – represented a decrease of 11 per cent compared to the same period in 2021–22.
The Ombudsman said issues identified in complaints related to the AMC included medical and health care, detainees accounts, visitations and smoking.
“Approximately 60 per cent of all complaints in this period raised multiple issues,” he said.
He said there was also a 39 per cent drop in complaints about Housing ACT, with the most common issues relating to maintenance and repair, anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood disputes, administration of public housing waitlists/requests for transfer, and financial claims (payments and charges).
Mr Anderson said there was also a drop in complaints about Access Canberra, a decrease of 18 per cent compared to the 34 complaints received in the first half of 2021–22.
He said the most common issues raised were licencing and registrations, building and property issues and approvals, and parking and traffic infringement notices.
“The Office received 33 complaints about ACT Policing and finalised 39 complaints during Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of 2022–23,” the Ombudsman said.
“This represents a decrease of 31 per cent in complaints received compared to the 48 complaints received in Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of 2021–22.
“Of the complaints finalised in Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of 2022–23, three were the subject of formal investigations.”
Mr Anderson said the most common topics of complaints included allegations of inappropriate action and failure to take action.
The Ombudsman’s 18-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
