Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Act 2026

The Commissioner must prepare a draft report (a draft inquiry report) for an inquiry conducted under Division 2 of this Part.

The draft inquiry report must set out:

the preliminary findings of the inquiry; and

a summary of the evidence and other material on which those preliminary findings are based; and

any proposed recommendations resulting from the inquiry.

See also:

section 23, which requires the Commissioner to give certain persons an opportunity to respond before including certain information in a draft inquiry report; and

section 28, which provides that certain material must not be included in a draft inquiry report.

If the inquiry relates to the exercise of powers, or the performance of functions, by a Commonwealth entity, the Commissioner must give the accountable authority of the Commonwealth entity:

the draft inquiry report, or the part of the draft inquiry report that relates to the entity; and

a reasonable opportunity to comment on the report or the part of the report.

The Commissioner may also give the draft inquiry report, or a part of the draft inquiry report, to any other person or body if the Commissioner considers it appropriate to give the person or body an opportunity to comment on the report.

A comment on a draft inquiry report must be made in writing.