Victorian Numbered Acts

INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURES, OVERSIGHT AND INDEPENDENCE) ACT 2019 (NO. 2 OF 2019) - SECT 147

    (1)     In section 2(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 insert the following definition—

""public body" means—

        (a)     a body that is performing a public function on behalf of the State or an authority (whether under a contract or otherwise); or

        (b)     a public statutory body;".

    (2)     In section 2(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 , after paragraph (ba) in the definition of "authority" insert —

    "(bb)     a public body;".

    (3)     In section 2(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 , in the definition of "principal officer"—

        (a)     after paragraph (c) insert —

    "(ca)     in relation to a public statutory body, the chairperson or presiding member of the public statutory body;";

        (b)     for paragraph (f) substitute —

    "(f)     in relation to a person or body prescribed to be a public interest disclosure entity, the person prescribed as the principal officer for that person or body;".

    (4)     In section 2(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 , for paragraph (e) of the definition of public interest disclosure entity substitute —

    "(e)     a prescribed person or body;".

    (5)     In section 2(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 , in the definition of "responsible Minister"—

        (a)     after paragraph (c) insert —

    "(ca)     in relation to a public statutory body—

              (i)     in the case of a public statutory body that is established by or under an Act—the Minister administrating the provision of the Act under which the public statutory body is constituted or established; or

              (ii)     in any other case—the Minister responsible for the public statutory body;";

        (b)     in paragraph (g)—

              (i)     for "a person or body prescribed by Rules of Parliament made under this Act" substitute "a prescribed person or body";

              (ii)     omit "by the Rules".

    (6)     In section 2(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 , for the definition of "witness summons" substitute —

"" witness summons" means a summons issued by the Ombudsman under section 18(1);".

    (7)     After section 2(2) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 insert —

    "(2A)     For the purposes of the definition public body in subsection (1), in determining whether a body is performing a public function, any of the following factors may be taken into account—

        (a)     whether the function is conferred on the body or person by or under a statutory provision;

        (b)     whether the function is of a regulatory nature;

        (c)     whether the body is publicly funded to perform the function.

    (2B)     To avoid doubt—

        (a)     the factors listed in subsection (2A) are not exhaustive of the factors that may be taken into account in determining whether a body is performing a public function; and

        (b)     the fact that one or more of the factors set out in subsection (2A) are present in relation to a function does not necessarily mean that function is a public function.".