273New section 13AD inserted

273 New section 13AD inserted

After section 13AC of the Ombudsman Act 1973 insert—

"13AD Cultural safety guidelines and procedures

(1) The Ombudsman, after consultation with the First Peoples' Assembly, must establish written guidelines and procedures to promote and safeguard cultural safety in the exercise of the Ombudsman's powers and performance of the Ombudsman's functions under this Act or any other Act in relation to Gellung Warl or any Gellung Warl official.

(2) The Ombudsman may request the Treaty Authority provide advice for the purposes of establishing the guidelines and procedures.

(3) Guidelines and procedures established under this section are not binding on the Ombudsman and a failure to comply with them does not, of itself—

(b) affect the validity of any act or decision, or otherwise make unlawful any exercise of power or performance of functions, of the Ombudsman under this Act or any other Act, or provide grounds for review of any act or decision.

(4) Nothing in this section affects or takes away from the Ombudsman's independence.".