How complaints are processed
Complaints can be made about the Government or an agent of the Government, including employees of statutory bodies. This is how the Commission deals with a typical complaint, from the day it arrives to the follow-up after its report.
- Stages
- 6
- Steps
- 14
- Cost to you
- None
Filing a complaint
To file a complaint, write to the Commission with:
- who you are complaining about;
- the details of the complaint;
- when the incident happened;
- the evidence that supports your complaint;
- your contact details; and
- anything else you have done to try to deal with the complaint.
Deliver your complaint to the Constitution and Commissions Secretariat by post, by hand or by email, or complete the form on this website.
The process, step by step
Fourteen steps in six stages. You are kept informed throughout, and you receive the findings and recommendations at the end.
You marks the steps where the Commission contacts you or asks you to take part.
Stage 1 of 6
Receiving your complaint
The Secretariat logs your complaint and passes it to the Commissioners.
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Step 1: Your complaint is received and logged
Complaints arrive by email, by post or by hand. Each is stamped with the date it was received and logged in the incoming mail book.
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Step 2: It is sent to the Commissioners
The complaint and all the documents with it are scanned and emailed to the Commissioners.
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Step 3: A file is opened
The Secretariat creates a file for the complainant.
Stage 2 of 6
First assessment
The Commissioners decide whether the complaint meets the criteria for a preliminary inquiry.
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Step 4: The Commissioners consider the complaint You
A meeting is convened to decide whether the complaint meets the criteria for a preliminary inquiry.
If it does not meet the criteria, you are told.
Stage 3 of 6
Preliminary inquiry
You can give further information, and the Commission decides whether to investigate.
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Step 5: You are invited to a preliminary inquiry You
So that the Commissioners can gather any further information that was not in the complaint but is relevant to it. They also find out whether all other measures or procedures have been exhausted.
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Step 6: The Commission decides whether to investigate You
This decision is made immediately after the preliminary inquiry.
If the complaint will not be investigated, you are told. If it will, the investigation begins.
Stage 4 of 6
Investigation
Hearings with the people involved, followed by findings and recommendations.
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Step 7: Hearings are held You
Through the Secretariat, the Commission contacts the person or people associated with the complaint to arrange hearings. Individual hearings are normally held, and end with a preliminary discussion of the findings.
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Step 8: Minutes are prepared
The Secretariat completes the minutes of the hearings and circulates them to the Commissioners.
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Step 9: Findings and recommendations are agreed
The Commissioners meet to discuss the details of the complaint and finalise their findings and recommendations.
Stage 5 of 6
The report
A written report goes to Government, and you receive the findings and recommendations.
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Step 10: The report is drafted and reviewed
The report is completed in draft and circulated. The Commissioners meet to review it before the final version is produced.
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Step 11: The report is issued
A copy of the full report is sent to the Governor, the Ministers of Government and the Head of the Department associated with the complaint.
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Step 12: You receive the findings You
The findings and recommendations are sent to you.
Stage 6 of 6
Follow-up
The Commission checks what has been done about its recommendations.
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Step 13: The department reports on progress
The Head of Department is asked for an update on progress in putting the recommendations into effect, or on any difficulties in doing so.
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Step 14: Follow-up meetings
The Commission sometimes holds follow-up meetings with Heads of Departments to discuss how its recommendations have, or have not, been implemented.
If the recommendations are not acted on
When the Commission makes recommendations, it can ask the department or authority to tell it, within a set time, what steps it proposes to take, and can set a time within which the injustice should be remedied.
If no adequate action is taken, the Commission may, after considering the reasons, send a special report on the matter to the Governor. The special report is laid before the Legislative Assembly within three months.
Ready to make a complaint?
Complete the form online, or download it to email, post or hand in.