ABOUT THIS REPORT This report aims to provide an overview of our activities during 2003/04. Section 1 provides the Commissioner’s overview. Details on the Commission’s education and policy initiatives and services undertaken in 2003/04 are provided in section 2. Statistical information and analysis of trends relating to enquiries and complaints are provided in section 3. Compliance with legislation and corporate governance are outlined in section 4. Details on the Commission’s Performance Indicators are provided in section 5 and Financial Statements in section 6. The Commissions’s contribution towards the State Government’s Strategic Planning Framework is provided in section 7. Some case summaries of complaints handled by the Commission are provided in the Appendix A on page 82. This Report is available from the Publications section of the Commission’s web page located at . Printed copies may be requested from the Commission, where necessary. FEEDBACK As the Commission is constantly striving to improve our services, any comments, observations or queries relating to the contents of our Annual Report will be appreciated. To provide feedback on the effectiveness of our Annual Report 2003/04, please refer to the Feedback Form in Appendix B on page 87. OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION DIRECTORY HEAD OFFICE Level 2, 141 Terrace WA 6000 TELEPHONE AND FACISIMILE NUMBERS Telephone: (08) 9216 3900 TTY Number: (08) 9216 3936 Toll Free: 1800 198 149 Facsimile: (08) 9216 3960 POSTAL ADDRESS Cloisters Square WA 6850 WEBSITE www.eoc.wa.gov.au E-MAIL eoc@eoc.wa.gov.au
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.
7.3 Goal 3: To Ensure that has an Environment in Resources are Managed, Developed and Used Sustainably, Biological Diversity is Preserved and Habitats Protected In 2003/04 the Commission participated in a Level 3 Energy Audit, conducted by Lincolne Scott, a consulting organisation. This audit identified a number of energy saving actions that have a potential energy cost saving of 11.0% with a return on investment in 2.27 years. Improved control of tenancy lighting and reduced energy consumption by computers were identified as the primary areas for savings. Recommendations to replace existing computers with a new flat styled LCD computer monitor will be implemented over the next two years. STRATEGIC OUTCOME 4: EFFECTIVE WASTE AVOIDANCE, RESOURCE RECOVERY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT The Commission continued its participation in Government’s recycling program by recycling all waste paper, recycling toner cartridges, using a minimum of 50% recycled content in all our publications (e.g. newsletters and brochures). During 2003/04 the Commission provided 780 kilograms of waste paper to be recycled. 7.4 Goal 4: To Ensure that Regional Western Australia is Strong and Vibrant STRATEGIC OUTCOME 1: ENHANCED GOVERNMENT BASED ON A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF REGIONAL ISSUES During 2003/04 the Commissioner continued work on the investigation into the provision of public housing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in accordance with section 80 of the Opportunity Act 1984. As part of the investigation and in response to requests from individuals and organisations, the Commission’s officers visited the South West, Great Southern, Goldfields, , Midwest/Gascoyne and Pilbara regional areas to take oral and videotaped submissions. STRATEGIC OUTCOME 3: EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT SERVICE DELIVERY TO REGIONS THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE COMMUNITIES The Commission’s legal officers achieved success in resolving discrimination complaints lodged by people in the regions, particularly Aboriginal people, through teleconference facilities, and occasionally attending mediation conferences in regional centres. The legal section has contributed significantly to the Commission’s investigation into public housing for Aboriginal people, with particular emphasis on regional communities. Commission trainers have worked with Farsi interpreters in delivering equal opportunity information to groups of people from . The Commission’s Unlawful Discrimination brochure is currently being translated into Mandarin and Malay to accommodate the needs of the people in the of Christmas and . The Commission has continued to provide support to the seven Wongatha people in as part of the advocacy program on social justice and equal opportunity “ Wangka” in .