Western Australia’s Ombudsman Found Guilty of ‘Serious Misconduct’

Western Australia’s (WA) Ombudsman Chris Field has been found guilty by the state’s Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) of engaging in serious misconduct after he failed to declare taxpayer-funded travel. It also found he has displayed a “disturbing lack of familiarity” with the laws governing his role. He has been in the role, which handles complaints about the public service, for more than 17 years. During 2022 and 2023, Field was also president of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). The Commission alleged he had failed to seek approval for international travel on Institute business, paid for through his office, despite clear government guidelines to the contrary....