Victorian Numbered Acts

INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURES, OVERSIGHT AND INDEPENDENCE) ACT 2019 (NO. 2 OF 2019) - SECT 73

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

"" public interest complaint" means a disclosure determined to be a public interest complaint under section 26 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 and that is referred to the Ombudsman by the IBAC under the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011 ;

"public interest disclosure entity" means—

        (a)     a member of Parliament;

        (b)     a Councillor;

        (c)     a member of the teaching service within the meaning of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 ;

        (d)     a State funded residential care service within the meaning of the Health Services Act 1988 ;

        (e)     a person or body prescribed by the Rules of Parliament made under this Act;

"relevant public interest complaint" means a public interest complaint that the Ombudsman is required to investigate under section 15C;".

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

        (a)     in the definition of "assessable disclosure", for " Protected Disclosure Act 2012 " substitute " Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 ";

        (b)     in the definition of "restricted matter", after paragraph (g) insert —

    "(h)     the fact that a disclosure or related disclosure has been notified to an appropriate entity for assessment under Part 3 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 ;

              (i)     the fact that a disclosure or related disclosure has been determined under Part 3 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 to be a public interest complaint;

        (j)     the fact that the Ombudsman intends to conduct an investigation on a public interest disclosure;";

        (c)     in the definition of "principal officer", in paragraph (f), for "protected disclosure entity" substitute "public interest disclosure entity";

        (d)     in the definition of "responsible Minister", in paragraph (g), for "protected disclosure entity" substitute "public interest disclosure entity".

    (3)     In section 2(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 , the definitions of "protected disclosure complaint", protected disclosure entity and relevant protected disclosure complaint are repealed .

    (4)     In section 2(3) of the Ombudsman Act 1973 —

        (a)     for "protected disclosure complaint" (wherever occurring) substitute "public interest complaint";

        (b)     for " Protected Disclosure Act 2012 " substitute " Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 ".