Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

OMBUDSMAN ACT 1976 - SECT 6C

Scope

  (1)   This section applies if the Ombudsman is satisfied of either of the following:

  (a)   that:

  (i)   a complainant has complained, or could complain, to the Information Commissioner about an action taken by a Department or prescribed authority under Part   V of the Privacy Act 1988 or Part   VIIB of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 ; and

  (ii)   the action could be more appropriately or effectively dealt with by the Information Commissioner;

  (b)   a complaint about an action taken by a Department or prescribed authority has been the subject of a completed investigation by the Information Commissioner under Part   V of the Privacy Act 1988 or Part   VIIB of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 .

Requirement to consult with Information Commissioner

  (2)   The Ombudsman:

  (a)   must consult the Information Commissioner about the complaint with a view to avoid inquiries being conducted into that matter by both the Information Commissioner and the Ombudsman; and

  (b)   may decide not to investigate the action, or not to continue to investigate the action.

Transfer to Information Commissioner

  (3)   If the Ombudsman decides not to investigate, or not to continue to investigate, an action under paragraph   (2)(b), the Ombudsman must:

  (a)   transfer the complaint to the Information Commissioner; and

  (b)   notify the complainant in writing that the complaint has been transferred; and

  (c)   give the Information Commissioner any information or documents that relate to the complaint in the possession, or under the control of, the Ombudsman.

  (4)   A complaint transferred under subsection   (3) is taken to be a complaint made to the Information Commissioner under Part   V of the Privacy Act 1988 or Part   VIIB of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 , as the case requires.