Ombudsman 2025-26 annual report
Summary
The report's own summary: From the Ombudsman, pages 6 to 7
Generated summary: written by an AI model from the report text and checked against the cited pages.
The Victorian Ombudsman reported on 2025–26, covering complaint handling, investigations and preventive work to improve fairness in public administration.
The Ombudsman reported tabling four investigation reports in Parliament during the year.
The office reported closing 93 per cent of complaints within 30 days against a 90 per cent target, and 31 per cent of investigations within 12 months against a 75 per cent target.
The Ombudsman said inadequate funding and powers constrained the office’s ability to fulfil its mandate.
The office reported an operating deficit of $0.182 million.
In the body's own words
- Conclusion
Yet our capacity to fulfil this mandate continues to be constrained by inadequate funding and powers.
Finances 4
Total revenue and income from transactions
$25,131,396
Printed as
Total revenue and income from transactions 25,131,396 24,374,821
Total expenses from transactions
$25,313,726
Printed as
Total expenses from transactions 25,313,726 24,389,570
Employee expenses
$19,300,458
Printed as
Employee expenses 3.1.1 19,300,458 18,388,444
Net result
$(182,330)
Printed as
Net result (182,330) (14,749)
Staff 2
Total employees
116 people
Printed as
Total employees 116 111.39 84 13 94.06 19 17.93
Total employees
111.39 FTE
Printed as
Total employees 116 111.39 84 13 94.06 19 17.93
Executives and remuneration 8
The total remuneration package of the person holding the office of Ombudsman
$560,000-$570,000
Printed as
fell within the following bands: $560,000-$570,000 ($550,000-$560,000 in 2024-25)
Total remuneration
$2,615,453
Printed as
Total remuneration (a) 2,615,453 2,360,728
Total number of executives
11.00
Printed as
Total number of executives(b) 11.00 11.00
Total
$1,780,350
Printed as
Compensation of KMPs 2026 $ 2025 $ Total (a) 1,780,350 1,590,044
Total
9
Printed as
Total 9 0 6 0 3 0 0 0
SES-3
1
Printed as
SES-3 1(a) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
SES-2
3
Printed as
SES-2 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 0
SES-1
5
Printed as
SES-1 5 0 4 0 1 0 0 0
Consultancies 2
Bendelta Ltd
$57,500
Printed as
Bendelta Ltd Development of Workforce Plan 12/03/2026 30/06/2026 $57,500 $57,500 -
Total expenditure incurred during 2025–26 in relation to this consultancy
$57,500
Printed as
The total expenditure incurred during 2025–26 in relation to this consultancy is $57,500 (excluding GST)
Complaints and investigations 4
complaints received that were within our
17,913
Printed as
17,913 complaints received that were within our
New Parliamentary complaints investigations commenced
3
Printed as
New Parliamentary complaints investigations commenced 3
New own-motion investigations commenced
2
Printed as
New own-motion investigations commenced 2
Investigations finalised
13
Printed as
Investigations finalised 13
Other figures 10
enquiries made into complaints we received
4,575
Printed as
4,575 enquiries made into complaints we received
public interest complaints received
137
Printed as
137 public interest complaints received
public interest complaint cases finalised
109
Printed as
109 public interest complaint cases finalised
complaints conciliated
35
Printed as
35 complaints conciliated
complaints that engaged human rights
4,380
Printed as
we handled 4,380 complaints that engaged human rights
Number of jurisdictional cases opened
17,752
Printed as
Number of jurisdictional cases opened number 17,752 18,000
Investigation reports tabled in Parliament
4
Printed as
Investigation reports tabled in Parliament 4
Investigations continuing as of 30 June 2026
31
Printed as
Investigations continuing as of 30 June 2026 31
Investigation recommendations accepted
90%
Printed as
Investigation recommendations accepted 90% (35 out of 39)
Complaints closed within 30 days
93%
Printed as
Complaints closed within 30 days per cent 93 96 94 94
About the document
- Edition
- Current edition
- Reading status
- Read by OPAX
- Pages
- 96
- Figures not found in the report
- Executive average remuneration; Public hearings; Recommendations made; Referrals to prosecution