complaint. The Commissioner may refer a complaint to the Tribunal where she is of the view that the complaint cannot be resolved by conciliation, or has attempted to resolve the complaint by conciliation but has been unsuccessful, or is of the opinion that the nature of the complaint is such that the matter should be referred to the Tribunal. In 2003/04 the Commissioner referred 93 (8.8%) complaints to the Tribunal. a complaint has been dismissed by the Commissioner the complainant may, within 21 days of the notice of dismissal, require the Commissioner to refer the complaint to the Tribunal. In 2003/04 an additional 11 (1.0%) complaints were referred to the Tribunal by request from the complainant. TIME TAKEN TO CLOSE COMPLAINTS Table 16 provides details of the time taken to close complaints. Of the 691 complaints closed in 2003/04, 202 (29.2%) were closed within six months and 197 (28.5%) were closed within twelve months. There was a major increase in the number of complaints finalised within 13—18 months from 31 (6.2%) in 2002/03 to 224 (32.4%) in 2003/04. The reason for this increase is largely due to the efforts of the Commission’s officers to progress older matters that had not been finalised. A significant majority of the older matters were finalised during this year. A total of 191 more complaints were finalised this year compared to the previous financial year. Table 16: Time to Finalise Complaints, 2001/02 to 2003/04 In addition to attempting to finalise older matters, the Commission’s complaint handling processes have been reviewed to assist parties to move through the process more expediently. 3.8 Provision Of Legal Assistance Legal assistance was provided to complainants whose complaints the Commissioner referred to the Equal Opportunity Tribunal for determination. The Commissioner only provides assistance in relation to complaints she considers as having substance under the provisions of the Equal Opportunity Act. The number of legal matters handled is shown in Table 17 on page 30. A means a single inquiry by the Equal ‘matter’ Opportunity Tribunal into all complaints made by one or more complainants.
complaint. The Commissioner may refer a complaint to the Tribunal where she is of the view that the complaint cannot be resolved by conciliation, or has attempted to resolve the complaint by conciliation but has been unsuccessful, or is of the opinion that the nature of the complaint is such that the matter should be referred to the Tribunal. In 2003/04 the Commissioner referred 93 (8.8%) complaints to the Tribunal. a complaint has been dismissed by the Commissioner the complainant may, within 21 days of the notice of dismissal, require the Commissioner to refer the complaint to the Tribunal. In 2003/04 an additional 11 (1.0%) complaints were referred to the Tribunal by request from the complainant. TIME TAKEN TO CLOSE COMPLAINTS Table 16 provides details of the time taken to close complaints. Of the 691 complaints closed in 2003/04, 202 (29.2%) were closed within six months and 197 (28.5%) were closed within twelve months. There was a major increase in the number of complaints finalised within 13—18 months from 31 (6.2%) in 2002/03 to 224 (32.4%) in 2003/04. The reason for this increase is largely due to the efforts of the Commission’s officers to progress older matters that had not been finalised. A significant majority of the older matters were finalised during this year. A total of 191 more complaints were finalised this year compared to the previous financial year. Table 16: Time to Finalise Complaints, 2001/02 to 2003/04 In addition to attempting to finalise older matters, the Commission’s complaint handling processes have been reviewed to assist parties to move through the process more expediently. 3.8 Provision Of Legal Assistance Legal assistance was provided to complainants whose complaints the Commissioner referred to the Equal Opportunity Tribunal for determination. The Commissioner only provides assistance in relation to complaints she considers as having substance under the provisions of the Equal Opportunity Act. The number of legal matters handled is shown in Table 17 on page 30. A ‘matter’ means a single inquiry by the Equal Opportunity Tribunal into all complaints made by one or more complainants.
annual-report-2003-04d79f4d5bde9f62fcb668ff0000be6566.docx