Reporting structure being set up for Complaints Commissioner

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced that a mechanism is being worked out to allow reports from the Complaints Commissioner to be sent directly to the Governor.

In a recent statement in the House of Assembly (HOA), Premier Wheatley noted that draft Cabinet papers have been prepared to facilitate the Complaints Commissioner reporting annually to the HOA’s Standing Finance Committee (SFC).

Dr Wheatley said this is being done to “set out the extent to which there has been a response to the Commissioner’s criticisms and recommendations, and also to establish a reporting structure for the Commissioner to report to the Governor and Deputy Governor.”

The mechanism will also incorporate recommended response times to these complaints, the Premier added.

The new measures announced are in keeping with Recommendation 45 of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report and were scheduled to be implemented by July 31, the Premier said.

In the meantime, COI Commisssioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom said in his report that the move would give the House or Committee an opportunity to scrutinise the report and raise questions about it as part of the budget process.