During 2003/04 a significant number of the complaint files referred to above lapsed thus providing a temporary distortion to the figures as shown in Table 4. This resulted in an inflated percentage of complaints and a correspondingly decreased ‘lapsed’ percentage in the proportion of total complaints conciliated. Adjusting these figures by applying the previously utilised method of placing several alternative grounds in the one complaint file, Table 5b provides a more accurate comparison with figures from earlier years. Table 5b Outcomes of Complaints from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 The extent to which legal officers settle complaints that have been referred to the Equal Opportunity Tribunal before the Tribunal hears the matter indicates the effectiveness of providing legal assistance to complainants. In 2003/04 there was a 5.8% decrease in the settlement rate of cases that had been referred to the Tribunal. Table 6 provides the rates of settlement. 6 Settlement Rate, through mediation, of Complaints Referred to the Equal Opportunity Tribunal The decrease in the settlement rate is due to an increase in the number of cases that were withdrawn (from 1 in 2002/03 to 4 in 2003/04) and an increase in discontinued assistance (from 5 in 2002/03 to 8 in 2003/04). Of the total number of complaints closed in the 2003/04 financial year 25.3% of complaints were conciliated (150 complaints) or settled through mediation (40 cases) without proceeding to a hearing.
During 2003/04 a significant number of the complaint files referred to above lapsed thus providing a temporary distortion to the figures as shown in Table 4. This resulted in an inflated percentage of ‘lapsed’ complaints and a correspondingly decreased percentage in the proportion of total complaints conciliated. Adjusting these figures by applying the previously utilised method of placing several alternative grounds in the one complaint file, Table 5b provides a more accurate comparison with figures from earlier years. Table 5b Outcomes of Complaints from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 The extent to which legal officers settle complaints that have been referred to the Equal Opportunity Tribunal before the Tribunal hears the matter indicates the effectiveness of providing legal assistance to complainants. In 2003/04 there was a 5.8% decrease in the settlement rate of cases that had been referred to the Tribunal. Table 6 provides the rates of settlement. 6 Settlement Rate, through mediation, of Complaints Referred to the Equal Opportunity Tribunal The decrease in the settlement rate is due to an increase in the number of cases that were withdrawn (from 1 in 2002/03 to 4 in 2003/04) and an increase in discontinued assistance (from 5 in 2002/03 to 8 in 2003/04). Of the total number of complaints closed in the 2003/04 financial year 25.3% of complaints were conciliated (150 complaints) or settled through mediation (40 cases) without proceeding to a hearing.