THE commonwealth Ombudsman decided against publishing a report on the failed home insulation, solar rebate and green loans programs.
This was despite complaints increasing nearly tenfold.
In his annual report for 2009-10, tabled yesterday, the Ombudsman said he had finalised 494 complaints about the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, without releasing a full report.
"After the transfer of DEWHA's energy efficiency programs to DCCEE in March 2010, we decided to finalise our investigation without publishing a report, given that DEWHA was already in the process of bringing its complaints policies and procedures into line," the report says.
During 2009-10, then ombudsman John McMillan received 341 complaints about DEWHA and 153 complaints about DCCEE, almost all relating to the solar panel rebate, home insulation and green loans programs.
This compares with just 46 complaints about DEWHA in 2008-09 and only six complaints about the former department of climate change. Professor McMillan was succeeded by Allan Asher in August.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said the report highlighted that information on the failed schemes continued to be "covered up".
"The entire process of bringing the pink batts and green loans programs to account has been one long cover-up," Mr Hunt said.
"We will be moving for a judicial inquiry in the coming sitting of parliament."
Mr Asher's report also revealed complaints about the tax office were at record highs. A total of 1810 approaches and complaints were received about the Australian Taxation Office in 2009-10, the highest number in five years.
"This may be a reflection of the impact of the economic climate on many taxpayers, particularly in relation to complaints about superannuation and debt collection," the report says.
Australian Customs and Border Protection also reported a small increase in the number of complaints received, with 99 in total for 2009-10. The majority related to departmental officers exercising coercive powers when performing security checks at airports.
Meanwhile, the Australian Public Service Commission's annual report, also tabled yesterday, revealed it had received eight whistleblowing reports from public servants and 19 complaints from outsiders -- including former public servants and private citizens -- during 2009-10.
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