Ombudsman Act 1976

As soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, the VET Student Loans Ombudsman must give an annual report to the Minister administering this Act, for presentation to the Parliament, on the operations of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman during the financial year.

The VET Student Loans Ombudsman may, from time to time, give the Minister administering this Act, for presentation to the Parliament, a report:

on the operations of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman during a part of a year; or

in relation to any matter relating to, or arising in connection with, the exercise of the powers, or the performance of the functions, of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman.

The VET Student Loans Ombudsman may also give a copy of a report under subsection (1) or (2) to the Secretary of the Department administered by the Minister administering the VET Student Loans Act 2016.

Subsections (1), (2) and (3) do not affect the powers and duties of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman under section 20ZV or 20ZW.

If the VET Student Loans Ombudsman gives a report to the Minister administering this Act under subsection (1) or (2), the Minister must cause the report to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report.

A report relating to the operations of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman during a period may be included in a report under:

section 19 of this Act; or

section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013;

A report relating to the operations of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman during a period must:

set out the number of complaints received by the VET Student Loans Ombudsman under this Part during that period; and

if the VET Student Loans Ombudsman has investigated any matters under paragraph 20ZO(a)—set out:

the number of such investigations started during that period; and

the number of such investigations completed during that period; and

if the VET Student Loans Ombudsman has investigated any matters under paragraph 20ZO(b)—set out:

the number of such investigations started during that period; and

the number of such investigations completed during that period; and

set out:

the number of times the VET Student Loans Ombudsman has made a requirement of a person under section 9 during that period; and

the circumstances in which each of those requirements was made; and

in relation to the function mentioned in paragraph 20ZM(1)(ca)—set out the number of persons whose HELP balances the VET Student Loans Ombudsman has recommended be re‑credited.

A report relating to the operations of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman during a period may include:

details of the circumstances and number of occasions during that period when the VET Student Loans Ombudsman decided, under section 20ZQ, to refer a matter to another body; and

details of recommendations made during that period in reports under section 20ZV; and

statistical information about actions taken during that period as a result of such recommendations; and

details of action that the VET Student Loans Ombudsman took during the period to promote best practice in dealing with complaints; and

details of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman’s observations during the period regarding:

any trends in complaints; or

any broader issues that arise from investigations.