Maladministration is the mismanagement of public resources or functions that might have serious implications for an agency and/or the community.
Maladministration can arise from negligence or incompetence. It does not have to be intentional. Maladministration can include things like the misuse of public funds or mismanagement of projects.
Maladministration
A council is undertaking a significant development in your area. You have found out that there was no tender process and that the contract was given to a local business without getting any quotes or considering bids from competing businesses.
You have heard bad things about a local business and are worried they are charging the council too much.
You start working at a government office and notice there is no accounting system in place and unauthorised use of public money is occurring undetected.
Maladministration is a term used in section 4 of the Ombudsman Act 1972 which involves the conduct of a public officer, or the practice, policy or procedure of a public authority that results in:
- an irregular or unauthorised use of public money
- the substantial mismanagement of public resources
- the substantial mismanagement of official functions.
