Do you feel that your human rights are more protected thanks to the work of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) who coordinate more than 200 independent Ombudsman institutions from more than 100 countries?

A recent blog post by independent journalist David Hencke (March 4th 2024) revealed that the president of the IOI, Chris Field is currently being investigated for corruption and misuse of funds.

Transcript of proceedings 13.2.24

  • The scope and purpose of the Commission investigation is to determine whether Mr Christopher Field PSM, Parliamentary  Commissioner for Administrative Investigations, has engaged  in serious misconduct by corruptly using his public office and the resources of the Office of the Ombudsman WA to benefit himself, the Acting Principal Assistant Ombudsman Ms Rebecca Poole, and the International Ombudsman Institute and its members. 

The following post by Margaret Whalley tells the story so far.

In it for the Long Haul?

Operation Kullen & the West Australian Ombudsman

Breaking the mould of a detached regulator, here is a story about the jovial jet setter, West Australia (WA) Ombudsman, Chris Field. Field holds the exalted position of President of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). For those who can’t bring Chris Field’s face to mind, the picture below shows Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets flanked by Chris Field, Western Australia Ombudsman to his left and Rob Behrens, UK Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to his right.

Source: An Ombudsman in peril. Field, Lubinets and Behrens in Ukraine

You may remember that just over a year ago, in December 2022, Mr Field invited Rob Behrens, to accompany him on a trip to Ukraine, via Poland. Mr Behrens wrote up his experiences as a blog,

‘An Ombudsman in peril’: Rob Behrens visits Ukraine.

He explained, ‘Chris wanted Europe represented in the delegation and asked me to join him and I accepted his invitation.’

Operation Kullen

Field is currently being investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC), West Australia’s leading anti-corruption body. The Commission has launched, Operation Kullen. There were three days of public hearings in February (transcripts here) but there will be more to come in the next hearing due on March 18th.

A year ago, Field’s current situation would have seemed unthinkable. Field’s name was included on the January 2023 Australia Day Honours List. Basking in the honour bestowed on their President, the Institute stated, that Field was, ‘respected for the highest levels of personal integrity, accountability and responsibility…’

Huge Bill for Travelling

By late August 2023, according to the Opening Statement from Operation Kullen, the CCC had received many notifications of suspected serious misconduct from various sources. The notifications concerned the conduct of Mr Christopher Field. The allegations were that Mr Field had corruptly used his position, as Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative investigations, to benefit himself and his Chief of Staff. On 3rd October 2023, the following headline began to raise doubts among West Australians about the President’s integrity. ‘$266,000 tab: Huge tax-payer funded bill for ombudsman Chris Field’s extraordinary year of travelling.’

On the first day, of the hearings, it was revealed that the $450,000-a-year Ombudsman attends his office as little as two days in ten and directs, ‘operational queries to his executive assistant’.

As his overseas IOI presidential duties increased, Field adjusted the staffing levels in his Perth Office. Where there were 26 on the payroll in 2007, now there are around 85. Rebecca Poole, his assistant Ombudsman, was assigned to accompany Field on his trips abroad. Funding for extra staff and the travel that took Mr Field and Ms Poole across the world was met by the WA tax- payer (pages 43, 82 transcript 13.02.24).

Source: Ombudsman Western Australia President news.
Field and Rebecca Poole outside the Hsing Tian Kong temple

No Permission Needed

On the first day of the hearing the focus was whether it was right for Mr Field to use his budget to bankroll his IOI Presidential duties. Field said he had discussed his global role, in April 2021, with the then premier, Mark McGowan’s chief of staff and that Daniel Pastorelli was, ‘comfortable with me undertaking the additional roles.’ (page 51 transcript 14.02.24)

Mr Field told the inquiry that he didn’t seek permission from the Premier, or any other minister, before undertaking foreign assignments. Field understood that, were he to do so, this would compromise his independence and integrity.

Liaison in Paris

On the second day of the CCC hearing Field was questioned about his June 2023 trip to Europe. Field was staying in Vienna and from there he secured a meeting with the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. Rather than take a taxi, Field emailed his office staff to arrange a limousine to transfer him from his hotel to the OECD Paris headquarters. Quizzed about what seemed indulgence, Field explained it was busy in Paris and he was worried about taxi availability.

The CCC tried to determine in what capacity Field had arranged his meeting with the OECD –as WA Ombudsman or as President of the IOI. Field asserted that the trip was made in his capacity as Ombudsman. Unfortunately his assertion fell, ‘under a cloud’ when the commission brought out his correspondence with the OECD, written on IOI headed notepaper. There was no mention of Western Australia.

The CCC referred to an agreement (Page 17 of Transcript 15/02/24) between the OECD and Chris Field drawn up following the meet-up in Paris. Western Australian taxpayers would in effect, pay the OECD over $213,000 for a project concerning, ‘the role of Ombudsman institutions in building a culture of open government for stronger and more resilient communities.’ An invoice from the OECD was produced. It was dated September 12 2023 and it prompted the ombudsman’s office to pay across 129,960 Euros within 30 days. The transaction was halted after questions were raised.

These revelations are hard to swallow for disadvantaged Western Australian families, trapped in a cycle of poverty and hardship. Rates of family violence are surging partly due to underfunding. Shadow Police Minister Peter Collier has commented that it was a failure of the Cook Labour Government that, ‘WA Police force remains so under-resourced…”

During the CCC hearing, Field was shown official guidelines stating that travel should only be undertaken if essential. Rather than using teleconferencing or videoconferencing, Field chose to visit in person. The WA Ombudsman’s 2023 report reveals that within a year Field had tripled his travel expenses. He visited Taiwan, China, Ukraine, Britain, the US, Slovenia, Thailand, Austria, Morocco, France, Russia, Poland and Hungary.

Field Provided Evidence to PACAC on UK Ombudsman’s Performance

Every year, the UK Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) conduct an annual scrutiny session in London on the performance of the UK Ombudsman. Before the hearing takes place, PACAC welcomes written submissions, evidence from members of the public.

Chris Field, provided written evidence to PACAC on the performance of Rob Behrens, his, ‘good friend and colleague’, ahead of the oral scrutiny session (held in November 2023). Field included, ‘Rob Behrens is held in the highest regard by the IOI, its members, and me personally.’

The second page of his submission shows it was published by PACAC on or before the 24th October 2023. However, before this date, on 3rd October 2023, The West Australian was already raising the issue of his probity, ‘$266,000 tab: Huge tax-payer funded bill for ombudsman Chris Field’s extraordinary year of travelling.’

Field’s evidence to PACAC references his own distinguished service medal for ‘outstanding public service..’ perhaps lending the piece a persuasive weight?

Publication of Evidence

Whenever a member of the UK public submits evidence on Ombudsman performance to PACAC, they shouldn’t assume it will automatically be published. There is a vetting procedure.

Were PACAC aware of the suspicion Chris Field was then under when they published his evidence for public scrutiny? Was Ombudsman Behrens aware of Operation Kullen? With his integrity in question at that time, should Field’s evidence have been factored in at all?

Operation Kullen ongoing

The CCC enquiry has provided a fascinating glimpse into the role, conduct and networking of an international ombudsman. Operation Kullen hearings resume March 18th.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In June 2023 members of PHSOtheFACTS requested information on the time spend by Rob Behrens on IOI business since he had signed the UK up to membership. The response given was limited to the period June 2022 to July 2023. It includes the fact that from 24th to 27th October 2022, Mr Behrens attended a conference in The Hague. However it is unclear why the FOI response omits the trip to Ukraine via Poland, made alongside Chris Field in December 2022. It is clear that PHSO are being ‘economical with the truth’ over this matter. Closer PACAC scrutiny of the separate roles played by the UK Ombudsman and how the roles are funded would provide greater transparency and accountability.