Next step: The Ombudsman
If you are not satisfied with the process applied to your complaint or the outcome of the complaints process administered by DPIRD (other than reviewable decisions), you can refer the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman Western Australia.
The Ombudsman Western Australia can investigate complaints about any person appointed as an inspector under the Act.
The website of the Ombudsman WA also provides information on:
- the role of the Ombudsman
- the procedure of making a complaint to the Ombudsman, and
- the complaints that will be dealt with
All appointed general and scientific inspectors are holders of an office, post or position established for a public purpose and are an ‘authority’ under the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971 (the Parliamentary Commissioner Act). As a result, the Ombudsman has jurisdiction to investigate all general and scientific inspectors when they make decisions or take actions under the Act and those decisions/actions are related to matters of administration.
Please note that the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman to investigate complaints is subject to certain restrictions. The Ombudsman cannot investigate a complaint in relation to an action of an inspector where (see section 14(4) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act):
- The person aggrieved has or had a right of appeal, reference or review to or before a tribunal, and
- The person aggrieved has or had a remedy by the way of proceedings in any court of law.
This restriction applies to the matters defined in section 71(1) of the Act as a ‘reviewable decision’ and those matters where a person can seek redress through the courts (for example, for the return of a seized animal section 44(6)).