Part 6Other matters

Part 6 Other matters

10.96 Purpose of Part

This Part provides for other matters relating to the complaints resolution scheme.

10.97 Record of complaints

The Secretary must keep a register of all complaints made to the Secretary under this Chapter.

10.98 Suspicion of offence

If, at any time, a Complaints Resolution Committee or the Determination Review Panel thinks that material before it about a complaint indicates that someone may have committed an offence against Commonwealth, State or Territory law, the committee must:

(a) stop dealing with the complaint; and

(b) refer the material to the Secretary and tell the Secretary of its concerns; and

(c) tell the parties to the complaint that it has stopped dealing with the complaint.

10.99 Effective communication of information

(1) This section applies if:

(a) the Secretary, a Complaints Resolution Committee or the Determination Review Panel is required under this Chapter to tell someone about something; and

(b) it appears to the Secretary, committee or panel that the person is blind, illiterate, cannot understand or read English, or is suffering from dementia or another form of cognitive impairment.

(2) The Secretary, committee or panel must endeavour to tell the person in a way that the person is likely to understand.

Example

If the person cannot read English, the Secretary, committee or panel may give the person a document written in a language that the person can read.

(3) Failure to comply with this section does not affect the validity of anything done under these Principles.

10.100 Effective communication of information to approved provider

(1) This section applies if the Secretary, a Complaints Resolution Committee or the Determination Review Panel is required under this Chapter to tell the relevant approved provider about something.

(2) The communication of information to the approved provider is effective if the information is given to key personnel of the approved provider.

10.101 Annual report

(1) This section applies if a Complaints Resolution Committee has met during a financial year.

(2) After the end of the financial year, the committee must prepare a report on the committee’s activities during the financial year.

(3) The Commissioner for Complaints must coordinate all reports prepared for a financial year and give the reports to the Minister for presentation to the Parliament.

Notes to the Committee Principles 1997