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Ombudsman Act 1976
20ZSApplication of Act to VET Student Loans Ombudsman
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#### 20ZS Application of Act to VET Student Loans Ombudsman
(1) Each provision of this Act specified in Column 1 of this table applies in relation to the VET Student Loans Ombudsman in accordance with the table:
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<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:0.25pt; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="4" style="width:343.5pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Application of Act to VET Student Loans Ombudsman</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 1</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 2</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 3</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Item</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>This provision of this Act ...</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>applies in relation to the VET Student Loans Ombudsman as if any reference in that provision to ...</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>were a reference to ...</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A provision covered by subsection</span><span> </span><span>(2) of this section</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>the Ombudsman, or the Commonwealth Ombudsman</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>the VET Student Loans Ombudsman.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A provision covered by subsection</span><span> </span><span>(2) of this section</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>a Department or a prescribed authority</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>a VET student loan scheme provider.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A provision covered by subsection</span><span> </span><span>(2) of this section</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>the principal officer of a Department or a prescribed authority</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>the VET student loan principal executive officer of a VET student loan scheme provider.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>4</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A provision covered by subsection</span><span> </span><span>(2) of this section</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>an officer of a Department or a prescribed authority</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>a VET student loan officer of a VET student loan scheme provider.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>5</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Subsection</span><span> </span><span>7A(1) (preliminary inquiries)</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>paragraph</span><span> </span><span>5(1)(b) (functions of Ombudsman)</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>paragraph</span><span> </span><span>20ZO(b) (investigations).</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>6</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Subsection</span><span> </span><span>8A(1) (investigations by Commonwealth and State Ombudsmen)</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>a matter of administration</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>a function of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>7</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>subsection</span><span> </span><span>11A(4) (powers of the Federal Court of Australia)</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>the Minister</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>the Minister administering this Act and the Minister administering the </span><span style="font-style:italic">VET Student Loans Act 2016</span><span>.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>8</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>subsections</span><span> </span><span>12(4) and (5) (complainant and Department etc. to be informed)</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>section</span><span> </span><span>15 (reports by Ombudsman)</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>section</span><span> </span><span>20ZV (reports to VET student loan scheme providers).</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>9</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>subsection</span><span> </span><span>35(6A) (officers to observe confidentiality)</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>paragraph</span><span> </span><span>6(4D)(e) (discretion not to investigate certain complaints)</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>paragraph</span><span> </span><span>20ZQ(2)(b) (referral of complaints to other bodies).</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>paragraph</span><span> </span><span>35AA(1)(a) (disclosure of information and documents to National Anti</span><span>‑</span><span>Corruption Commissioner or Inspector)</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>paragraph</span><span> </span><span>5(1)(b) (functions of Ombudsman)</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>paragraph</span><span> </span><span>20ZO(b) (investigations).</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>11</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>subsections</span><span> </span><span>35B(2) and 35C(2)(paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(a) of the definition of </span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:italic">listed disclosure method</span><span>) (disclosure of ACC and NACC information)</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Division</span><span> </span><span>2 of Part</span><span> </span><span>II (reports)</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Division</span><span> </span><span>4 of this Part (reporting by the VET Student Loans Ombudsman).</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>12</span></p></td><td style="width:109.2pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>subsections</span><span> </span><span>35B(2) and 35C(2) (paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b) of the definitions of </span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:italic">listed disclosure method</span><span>) (disclosure of ACC and NACC information)</span></p></td><td style="width:81.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>section</span><span> </span><span>6 or 6A (discretion not to investigate certain complaints; transfer of complaints about ACC)</span></p></td><td style="width:95.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>paragraph</span><span> </span><span>20ZQ(2)(b) (referral of complaints to other bodies).</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
```
(2) This subsection covers the following provisions:
(a) the definition of authorized person in subsection 3(1) (interpretation);
(b) section 7 (complaints);
(c) section 7A (preliminary inquiries);
(d) section 8 (investigations), other than:
(i) paragraph (7A)(b); and
(ii) subsections (8) to (12);
(e) section 8A (investigations by Commonwealth and State Ombudsmen), other than subsections (1A) to (1D);
(f) section 9 (power to obtain information and documents), other than:
(i) paragraphs (1AA)(ab) and (ac); and
(ii) paragraph (4)(ab);
(g) section 11A (powers of Federal Court of Australia), other than subsections (1) and (5);
(h) section 12 (complainant and Department etc. to be informed);
(i) section 13 (power to examine witnesses);
(j) section 31 (staff), other than subsection (2);
(k) Part IV (miscellaneous), other than the following:
(i) subsections 34(1) to (2C) (delegation);
(ii) paragraph 35(1)(e) and (f) and subparagraph (3)(b)(ia) (officers to observe confidentiality);
(iii) subsection 35A(3) (disclosure of information by Ombudsman).
(3) Section 14 (power to enter premises) applies in relation to the VET Student Loans Ombudsman as if paragraph 14(1)(a) referred to:
(a) a place that is occupied by a VET student loan scheme provider; or
(b) a place that is occupied by a VET student loan scheme officer of a VET student loan scheme provider predominantly for the purposes of:
(i) carrying out the officer’s powers, duties and functions as an employee in the provider’s service, or a member of the provider’s staff; or
(ii) performing services for or on behalf of the provider.
(3A) Section 14A (power to obtain access to documents etc. by remote means) applies in relation to the VET Student Loans Ombudsman as if:
(a) a reference in subsections 14A(1) and (2) to any of the following were a reference to a VET student loan scheme provider:
(i) a Department;
(ii) a prescribed authority;
(iii) a Commonwealth service provider of a Department or prescribed authority under a contract; and
(b) paragraph 14A(5)(a) were omitted and the following paragraph substituted:
“(a) the person is the VET student loan principal executive officer of a VET student loan scheme provider; and”.
(4) A VET student loan officer of a VET student loan scheme provider is a person who:
(a) is employed in the service of the provider; or
(b) is a member of the staff of the provider, whether or not the person is employed by the provider; or
(c) performs services for or on behalf of the provider.
(5) The VET student loan principal executive officer of a VET student loan scheme provider is the person who has executive responsibility for the operation of the provider.