28Preliminary inquiries about administrative action

28 Preliminary inquiries about administrative action (1) The Ombudsman may make preliminary inquiries of a public authority for deciding whether or not the Ombudsman is authorised to investigate administrative action of the authority. (2) In addition, if the Ombudsman decides the Ombudsman is authorised to investigate the action, the Ombudsman may make preliminary inquiries of the public authority for deciding whether or not the Ombudsman should investigate the action. (3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply regardless of whether a complaint has been made about the administrative action. (4) Also, if a complaint is made about an action (other than administrative action) of a public authority and the Ombudsman is satisfied the complaint is made because of administrative action of the authority, the complaint is taken to have been made about administrative action. (5) This section does not apply in relation to a parliamentary reference.