Posted 22/7/09
MAKING A COMPLAINT AGAINST A COUNCILLOR
With Council
With the Office of Local Government
With the Ombudsman
With Council:
Macedon Ranges Councillor Code Of Conduct
M. REPORTING OF BREACHES AND COMPLAINT HANDLING PROCEDURES
17. A complaint about an alleged breach of this code of conduct by a councillor should be made in writing to the Mayor.
17.1 A complaint about an alleged breach of this code of conduct by the Mayor should be made to the Chief Executive Officer.
17.2 Where an alleged breach of this code is reported to the Mayor or the Chief Executive Officer he or she must determine whether or not the breach is of a sufficiently serious nature to call for investigation by a “Conduct Committee”. If so the matter is to be referred to such a Committee to be dealt with in accordance with this Code.
17.3 Where the Mayor or Chief Executive determine not to convene a ‘Conduct Committee ‘ to make enquiries into the alleged breach of the code of conduct they will give the complainant the reason/s in writing.
Mayor's Contact Details
Councillor John Letchford,
Mayor, Macedon Ranges Shire Council
PO Box 151,
Kyneton, 3444.
CrJohnLetchford@bigpond.com
0401 682 364
With the Office of Local Government, Victoria
With the Ombudsman Victoria
You can complain to Ombudsman Victoria if you are unhappy about the way you have been treated by:
The Ombudsman investigates complaints made against staff who work for government departments, statutory authorities and local councils.
The Ombudsman has a team of experienced enquiry and investigation officers who handle enquiries and complaints received by the office.
Before making a complaint
Before making a complaint to the Ombudsman, you should first try to resolve your concerns with the authority concerned. Most public bodies have established complaint handling processes and can provide you with advice on how to go about making a complaint or seeking a review of a decision made by the authority.
Some useful tips for making a complaint to an authority
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It is often more effective to write rather than call, especially if your complaint is complex and you need to provide copies of documents. Even if you feel angry or frustrated, staying calm and focusing on the main problem will help you to get your point across.
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Whether you write or call, you should stick to the main facts and provide as much detail as needed to understand and resolve the problem, but no more.
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Ask for the name of the person you speak with and their position. Keep a note of the conversation and the date and time of your call.
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It is useful to indicate what action you think the authority should take to resolve the problem. Be calm and polite. Becoming abusive or blaming an individual often encourages people to defend their actions and may prevent them from seeing the issue from your perspective.
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If your request is reasonable and realistic, you are more likely to be satisfied with the agency's response.
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For more information, please refer to 
tips on making a complaint to a Victorian public sector agency.pdf (283KB)
If you are unhappy with the outcome of this process or if you experience an undue delay in obtaining a response, you can complain to the Ombudsman by completing the
online complaint form or contact Ombudsman Victoria (as below).
Contact us
Making a Complaint
If you wish to make a complaint to the Ombudsman, please use the Complaint Form
Telephone:
9613 6222 (international callers 0011 + 61 + 3 + phone number)
Toll Free: 1800 806 314 (regional only)
TTY via the National Relay Service (www.relayservice.com.au)
(a phone solution for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment)
on 133 677 or 1300 555 727
Facsimile:
9614 0246
Reception hours:
9.00am - 5.00pm
Monday to Friday
Interpreter service
Via telephone - 131 450
On-site - 1300 655 082
Email:
ombudvic@ombudsman.vic.gov.au
Mail:
Ombudsman Victoria
Level 9, 459 Collins Street (North Tower)
Melbourne Victoria 3000
or
DX: 210174
Melbourne