Ombudsman Act 2001

This section applies to the ombudsman in relation to the ombudsman’s official responsibilities as the ombudsman and the inspector of detention services.

If the ombudsman has an interest that conflicts or may conflict with the discharge of the ombudsman’s responsibilities, the ombudsman—

must disclose the nature of the interest and conflict to the Speaker and parliamentary committee as soon as practicable after the relevant facts come to the ombudsman’s knowledge; and

must not take action or further action concerning a matter that is, or may be, affected by the conflict until the conflict or possible conflict is resolved.

If the conflict or possible conflict between an interest of the ombudsman and the ombudsman’s responsibilities is resolved, the ombudsman must give to the Speaker and parliamentary committee a statement advising of the action the ombudsman took to resolve the conflict or possible conflict.

A reference in this section to an interest or to a conflict of interest is a reference to those matters within their ordinary meaning under the general law and, in relation to an interest, the definition in the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, schedule 1 does not apply.