Results
During the year, the Director of Human Rights Proceedings made
a total of 79 decisions on human rights and privacy matters against
an estimated measure of 60–80 matters, compared with 70 in the
previous year.
The Office of Human Rights Proceedings (OHRP) exceeded its identified
performance measures for timeliness, with over 80 per cent of
applications being dealt with in a timely manner. One hundred per
cent of applications received during the period were sent an initial
response within five working days. For 83 per cent of applications for
representation, a determination of application pathway was made
within 10 working days of receiving material from the Human Rights
Commission. Over 80 per cent of matters were substantially progressed
within one year. These were new measures so no comparative data
is available.
Feedback on the quality of the OHRP’s standard of service was a new
measure. Feedback was received from 15 applicants. Of these, 13
applicants made positive comments. One applicant was dissatisfied
with the result of the Director’s decision and one former applicant was
dissatisfied with a response to an email. As a result, 87 per cent of
applicants were satisfied, falling just short of the identified performance
standard of 90 per cent.
The OHRP set a performance standard of 80 per cent satisfaction with
the thoroughness of decisions, measured by exception-based reporting.
During the period, the OHRP did not receive any feedback from
applicants expressing dissatisfaction in the thoroughness of the Director’s
decision, which is the same result as the previous year.
Similarly, no feedback indicating dissatisfaction was received from the
courts, thereby exceeding the performance standard of 95 per cent
satisfaction, and meeting the 100% compliance of the previous year.
One hundred per cent compliance was achieved with the Lawyers and
Conveyancers Act 2006 during the period, meeting the same result as
the previous year. However, full compliance with Tribunal and Court
timetables was not achieved. One timetabling order was not met with
regard to a direction that copies of pleadings and briefs of evidence be
provided to new parties added to a proceeding. The reason for the delay
was due to confusion caused when the new parties ceased to instruct
counsel and became self-represented; 100% compliance was achieved in
the previous year.
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Human Rights Commission