Complaint resolution in government owned corporations and privatised utilities : Some legal and constitutional conundrums

Book chapter


Zifcak, Spencer Michael. (2017). Complaint resolution in government owned corporations and privatised utilities : Some legal and constitutional conundrums. In From Bureaucracy to Business Enterprise Legal and Policy Issues in the Transformation of Government Services pp. 173-190 Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315195988-11
AuthorsZifcak, Spencer Michael
Abstract

This chapter examines a number of issues and problems concerning the legal and constitutional position of one part of the regulatory framework, the industry ombudsman. The hybrid nature of government owned corporations and the public responsibilities of private service providers have presented new constitutional puzzles. The chapter focuses on a particular case-study to introduce the relevant dilemmas and conundrums. It determines whether and to what extent an industry ombudsman concerned with the resolution of consumer complaints about the delivery of essential services can and should be situated within that doctrine. The chapter considers the ombudsman's legal accountability by reference to the review of its decisions by the courts. It outlines in some detail the nature and operation of the innovative Victorian ombudsman scheme. The chapter also examines how, if at all, the Energy and Water Ombudsman of Victoria (EWOV) may be required to provide such an account. EWOV's duty to account politically for its activities and actions is almost non-existent.

KeywordsArea Studies; Law; Politics; International Relations
Page range173-190
Year01 Jan 2017
Book titleFrom Bureaucracy to Business Enterprise Legal and Policy Issues in the Transformation of Government Services
PublisherRoutledge
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
Edition1
ISBN978-113871766-4
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315195988-11
Web address (URL)https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315195988-11/complaint-resolution-government-owned-corporations-privatised-utilities-legal-constitutional-conundrums-spencer-zifcak
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Research or scholarlyResearch
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All rights reserved
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Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online30 Sep 2019
Publication process dates
Completed2010
Deposited27 Feb 2024
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Copyright © Michael J. Whincop 2003.

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