Part 4 Ombudsman's jurisdiction for
administrative actions of public authorities
and police conduct
13 Interpretation ................................................................................. 10
14 Matters for investigation ................................................................ 10
15 Executive and ministerial matters must not be investigated .......... 10
16 What administrative actions may not be investigated .................... 11
17 Parliamentary reference of matter for investigation ....................... 12
18 Ombudsman to deal with complaint referred by complaints
entity .............................................................................................. 12
19 Liaison with complaints entity ........................................................ 13
20 Application to Supreme Court ........................................................ 13
Part 5 Complaints about administrative actions of
public authorities and police conduct
21 Who may make complaint ............................................................. 14
22 Complaint for deceased person ..................................................... 14
23 Making complaint about administrative action ............................... 14
24 Making police complaint ................................................................ 15
25 When complaint to be made .......................................................... 15
26 Prisoner complaints ....................................................................... 15
27 Effect of restrictive provisions on complaint ................................... 16
28 Preliminary inquiries about administrative action ........................... 17
29 Principal officer to give help ........................................................... 17
30 Request for non-disclosure of information and other things .......... 17
Division 2 Decisions about referring and investigating
31 Decision on complaint without investigation .................................. 18
32 Referral of complaint to complaints entity ...................................... 18
33 When Ombudsman may decline to deal with complaint ................ 18
34 Ombudsman need not investigate if investigation by
complaints entity ............................................................................ 19
35 Decisions about investigating if complaint made to public
authority ......................................................................................... 19
36 Notice of decision not to investigate .............................................. 20
37 Dealing with complaint by conciliation or mediation....................... 20
Ombudsman Act 2009 iii
38 Who can be conciliator or mediator ............................................... 20
39 Objection to conciliator or mediator ............................................... 20
40 Suspending investigation ............................................................... 20
41 Participation voluntary ................................................................... 21
42 Progress report .............................................................................. 21
43 Termination.................................................................................... 21
44 Resolution of complaint ................................................................. 21
45 Restricted use of information ......................................................... 21
46 Effect of unsuccessful conciliation or mediation ............................ 22
47 Notice of investigation ................................................................... 22
48 Conduct of investigation ................................................................ 22
49 Procedure generally ...................................................................... 23
50 Consultation................................................................................... 23
51 Hearing for investigation ................................................................ 24
52 Requirement to give information, document or thing ..................... 24
53 Requirement to attend hearing ...................................................... 25
54 Investigation at public authority's premises ................................... 26
55 Ombudsman may issue direction in relation to administrative
action ............................................................................................. 26
56 Custody of thing given to Ombudsman .......................................... 27
Division 5 Reports and recommendations on
57 Report to complainant ................................................................... 27
58 Report to public authority ............................................................... 27
59 Adverse reports ............................................................................. 28
60 Report of breach of duty or misconduct ......................................... 29
61 Report containing adverse comment ............................................. 29
62 Report may include recommendations .......................................... 29
63 Action after report and recommendations ...................................... 30
64 Ombudsman to inform complainant of action taken....................... 30
65 Notice of complaint to Ombudsman............................................... 31
66 Ombudsman to assess and decide how to deal with complaint..... 31
Ombudsman Act 2009 iv
67 When Ombudsman may decline to deal with complaint ................ 32
68 Definition........................................................................................ 33
69 When police complaint may be dealt with by conciliation .............. 33
70 Who can be conciliator .................................................................. 33
71 Objection to conciliator .................................................................. 33
72 Suspending other police complaint process .................................. 34
73 Participation voluntary ................................................................... 34
74 Progress report .............................................................................. 34
75 Termination.................................................................................... 34
76 Report of results of conciliation...................................................... 34
77 Effect of unsuccessful conciliation ................................................. 34
Division 4 Police complaints resolution process and
Professional Standards Command
Subdivision 1 Police complaints resolution process
78 When police complaint may be dealt with by resolution
process .......................................................................................... 35
79 Conduct and report of resolution process ...................................... 35
Subdivision 2 Professional Standards Command
80 When complaint to be investigated by Professional Standards
Command ...................................................................................... 35
81 Conduct of investigation ................................................................ 35
82 General powers of Professional Standards Command .................. 36
83 Professional Standards Command member's power to give
direction to police officer ................................................................ 36
84 Request by Ombudsman on how to conduct investigation ............ 36
85 Ombudsman to oversee police complaints resolution process
and investigation............................................................................ 37
86 When complaint may be investigated by Ombudsman .................. 38
Ombudsman Act 2009 v
87 Application of Subdivision .............................................................. 39
88 Conduct of investigation ................................................................ 39
89 Procedures and powers ................................................................. 39
90 Ombudsman may investigate consequential action....................... 40
Division 6 Reporting requirements and related
provisions
Subdivision 1 Investigations if Commissioner reports to
parties
91 Application of Subdivision .............................................................. 40
92 Report of investigation by Professional Standards Command
member ......................................................................................... 40
93 Commissioner to release report and comments ............................ 40
Subdivision 2 Investigations if Commissioner reports to
Ombudsman
94 Application of Subdivision .............................................................. 41
95 Report of investigation by Professional Standards Command
member ......................................................................................... 41
96 Commissioner to give report and comments to Ombudsman ........ 41
97 Ombudsman's assessment and recommendations on
investigation................................................................................... 42
98 Application of Subdivision .............................................................. 42
99 Ombudsman to report on investigation .......................................... 42
100 Report containing adverse comment ............................................. 42
101 Assessments and recommendations ............................................. 43
Subdivision 5 Other provisions relating to reports,
assessments and recommendations
102 Application of Subdivision .............................................................. 44
103 Consideration of Ombudsman's report .......................................... 44
104 Action on Ombudsman's report ..................................................... 45
105 Ombudsman to inform complainant and police officer of action
taken .............................................................................................. 45
106 Commissioner to notify Ombudsman of proceedings taken........... 46
Ombudsman Act 2009 vi
107 Deferral and discontinuing of dealing with complaint ..................... 46
108 Ombudsman may require further action ........................................ 47
109 Complainant may ask for investigation to be conducted................ 47
110 Revocation or variation of decision, assessment or
recommendation ............................................................................ 48
111 Parties to complaint to be informed of decision ............................. 49
112 Commissioner may refer police conduct to Ombudsman .............. 49
113 Commissioner may request non-disclosure of information ............ 49
114 Restricted use of certain information ............................................. 50
115 Consultation................................................................................... 50
116 Register of police complaints ......................................................... 50
Part 8 Confidentiality, offences and related
provisions
117 Information disclosure and privilege .............................................. 51
118 Disclosure of particular matters not required ................................. 52
119 Non-compellable witnesses ........................................................... 52
120 Confidentiality of information ......................................................... 53
121 Direction not to disclose information .............................................. 54
122 Person consulted not to disclose information ................................ 55
Division 2 Other offences, disciplinary provisions and
related matters
123 Misleading information or document .............................................. 56
124 Preventing or obstructing making of complaint .............................. 57
125 Offence to commit act of reprisal ................................................... 57
126 Failure to comply with particular notices ........................................ 58
127 Refusal to take oath....................................................................... 59
128 Failure to comply with requirement to help Ombudsman ............... 59
129 Obstruction of persons acting in official capacity ........................... 59
Division 3 Legal proceedings for offences
130 Evidentiary certificates ................................................................... 60
Ombudsman Act 2009 vii
Division 1 Matters relating to Ombudsman and
Ombudsman's Office
Subdivision 1 Appointment of Ombudsman and related
matters
132 Ombudsman .................................................................................. 60
133 Eligibility for appointment ............................................................... 60
134 Term of appointment ..................................................................... 61
135 Conditions of appointment ............................................................. 61
136 Restriction on outside employment................................................ 62
137 Leave of absence .......................................................................... 62
138 Resignation.................................................................................... 62
139 Retirement ..................................................................................... 62
140 Termination of appointment by Administrator ................................ 62
141 Termination of appointment by Legislative Assembly after
suspension .................................................................................... 62
142 Appointment ceases on becoming candidate for election .............. 63
143 Acting Ombudsman ....................................................................... 63
144 Oath before taking office ............................................................... 64
Subdivision 2 Officers of Ombudsman's Office
145 Status ............................................................................................ 64
146 Officers not subject to outside direction ......................................... 64
147 Delegation ..................................................................................... 64
148 Arrangements with other jurisdictions ............................................ 65
149 Validity of acts and decisions......................................................... 66
Division 2 Agreements for dealing with police
150 Ombudsman and Commissioner may make agreement ................ 66
151 Tabling, publication and availability of agreement ......................... 66
152 Annual report ................................................................................. 67
153 Report on Ombudsman's initiative to Minister ............................... 67
154 Tabling of reports........................................................................... 67
155 Report on parliamentary reference ................................................ 67
Ombudsman Act 2009 viii
156 Compliance with requirement as soon as practicable.................... 68
157 Compliance with requirement for informing complainant ............... 68
158 Extension of period for compliance with notices ............................ 68
159 Protection from liability – complainants and informants ................. 68
160 Protection from liability – persons administering Act ..................... 69
161 Regulations.................................................................................... 70
Part 11 Repeals and transitional matters for
Ombudsman Act 2009
Division 1 Preliminary matters
162 Definitions ...................................................................................... 70
Division 2 Repeals
163 Repeal of Ombudsman legislation ................................................. 70
164 Ombudsman continues in office .................................................... 70
165 Actions before commencement date ............................................. 71
Part 12 Transitional matters for Integrity and
Accountability Legislation Amendment
166 Effect on Ombudsman in office...................................................... 71
Part 13 Transitional matters for Integrity and
Ethics Commissioner Act 2025
167 Application of amendment to section 143 ...................................... 72
As in force at 28 November 2025
OMBUDSMAN ACT 2009
An Act to establish the office of Ombudsman for the Northern Territory
for investigating, and dealing with complaints about, particular actions
of public authorities and conduct of police officers, and for related
purposes
Part 1 Preliminary matters
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Ombudsman Act 2009.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on the date fixed by the Administrator by
Gazette notice.