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Judicial decisions and decisions of administrative tribunals affecting the operation of the Department
There were no judicial decisions or decisions of administrative tribunals that had a significant impact on the operations of the Department during 2005–06.
Commonwealth Ombudsman
During 2005–06, the Commonwealth Ombudsman made two inquiries concerning the Department.
The first inquiry concerned whether the Department was responsible for the administration of the compensation and rehabilitation rights of two employees of the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. On 13 April 2006, the Department advised the Ombudsman's office that the Department was not responsible for this administration as the individuals concerned had not been transferred to the Department. The Ombudsman's investigation of this matter is continuing.
The second inquiry concerned an initial failure of the Department, subsequently rectified, to locate the minutes of the July 2004 Ausfilm Board meeting in response to an application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. On 10 April 2006 and 18 May 2006, the Department wrote to the Ombudsman's office to explain its actions concerning this matter and to outline its guidance on searching for documents as part of its FOI Guidelines. The Ombudsman's investigation of this matter is continuing.
Investigations of the two complaints mentioned in the Department's Annual Report 2004–05 are now complete. No adverse findings or comments were made about the Department.
The first of these complaints concerned a decision of 8 June 2004 by the Regional Manager, West Kimberly Regional Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services, to decline a funding submission made by the Yuriny Aboriginal Cultural Centre (YACC). The program in question was subsequently transferred to the Department. On 10 March 2006, the Ombudsman's office notified the Department, under section 12 of the Ombudsman Act 1976, of the Ombudsman's decision to cease inquiries concerning this complaint.
The second of the complaints was received from Multilocus Interactive Pty Limited concerning the Department's management of an information technology services contract. On 27 June 2006, the Ombudsman's office notified the Department, under section 12 of the Ombudsman Act 1976, of the Ombudsman's decision to cease inquiries concerning this complaint.
Parliamentary committees
During 2005–06 the Department was involved in 23 Parliamentary Committee inquires compared to 21 in 2004–05.
The Department coordinated the Government's response to four Parliamentary Committee inquiry reports and provided input to a further two Government responses. The Department also made written submissions, or gave evidence, to a further 17 Parliamentary Committee inquiries.
Details on the Department's involvement in these Parliamentary Committee inquiries are at appendix 2.