WA ombudsman resigns, demands review of watchdog’s ‘serious misconduct’ claims

Embattled WA Ombudsman Chris Field has resigned just hours after the corruption watchdog dropped a scathing report accusing him of engaging in serious misconduct and creating a “sham” process to green-light taxpayer-funded travel.

In a report handed down on Tuesday, the state’s Corruption and Crime Commission ruled the evidence showed Field acted in what it claimed was a “disturbing lack of familiarity” and arrogant disregard of his functions under the Parliamentary Commissioners Act.

Field failed to seek approval for international travel between 2022 and 2023 in his dual role as head of the International Ombudsman Institute, despite government policy requiring all overseas travel to be approved by a minister.

Instead, the commission claims Field created a “sham” process to rubber-stamp trips he took to the United States, parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia, often alongside his deputy Rebecca Poole.

A breakdown of the office’s expenses showed the pair racked up more $223,400 in travel costs in the 2022/23 financial year.

In a statement released several hours after the report was handed down, Field confirmed his intention to hand the governor his resignation after 17 years in the role.

It is understood that occurred this afternoon.

But Field has also demanded the Parliamentary Inspector review the report and the steps taken by the commission over concerns he was denied procedural fairness.

“There has been no finding of serious misconduct by the Commission in regard to my travel, which was the essential and original basis for the conduct of the public examinations,” he said.

“The final report, however, does contain two remaining and ultimate findings against me, in circumstances where I was not able to make submissions to the commission regarding the legal basis for one of these findings.

“It is with deep regret that the publication of the Final Report in this form means I can no longer serve in the Office of Ombudsman of Western Australia as I have for the last 17 years.”

While questioning the reliability of aspects of Field’s evidence, the commission alleged Field’s testimony indicated he had “an unmanageable conflict of interest” in decisions he made as ombudsman and institute boss.

The report also claimed Field diverted public servants from the office to work on institute business even before he had been elected president, from penning his speeches to preparing travel packs.

“Mr Field asserted he was acting within his functions in utilising state funds for matters falling outside his statutory functions,” the report read.

“Yet the evidence reveals that he acted in arrogant disregard of his functions under the [law].

“The conflict of interest compromised every funding decision made by him, materially benefiting the [institute].

“Mr Field continually failed to declare travel and hospitality, contrary to his office’s policies.

“If his evidence is true, Mr Field displayed a disturbing lack of familiarity with and understanding of his own legislation.”

The commission recommended parliament consider creating a bipartisan joint committee to oversee the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations and that the CCC’s parliamentary inspector be handed oversight of the ombudsman.

During a press conference in Collie on Tuesday, Premier Roger Cook said the allegations were “very, very serious” and that it was important Field now took time to reconsider his position.

Meanwhile, Treasurer Rita Saffioti, who Field accused of reprimanding him to overcome media scrutiny, said she was “very disappointed” and accused the ombudsman of using his time on the witness stand to launch a political attack.

Cook has previously expressed concern about the extent of Field’s travel, but said his removal from the role required a direction to the governor supported by both houses of parliament.

The findings come five months after Field announced plans to take extended leave for the sake of his mental health, heeding the advice of CCC boss John McKechnie.

Field was the subject of a nine-day inquiry by the CCC between February and April, in which he was grilled over his extensive international travel on the taxpayer dime.

He used the statement five months ago to reiterate that his decisions to travel during his time as president of the institute – the decisions at the centre of the probe – were part of his broader duties and never made a secret.

While acknowledging it was likely he would resign regardless of the outcome of the report, he said he wouldn’t formally do so until the commission’s findings were handed down.

Field had largely escaped public attention until his extensive travels were broadcast by the media in October 2023.

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