“17 Ombudsman may refuse to investigate complaint

• “(1) An Ombudsman may refuse to investigate or further investigate a complaint if it appears to the Ombudsman that,—

  • “(a) under the law or existing administrative practice, the complainant has an adequate remedy or right of appeal (other than the right to petition the House of Representatives) and it is, or would have been, reasonable for the complainant to resort to that remedy or right of appeal; or

  • “(b) the complaint relates to a decision, recommendation, act, or omission that the complainant has known about for more than 12 months; or

  • “(c) the subject matter of the complaint is trivial; or

  • “(d) the complaint is frivolous or vexatious or is not made in good faith; or

  • “(e) the complainant does not have a sufficient personal interest in the subject matter of the complaint; or

  • “(f) having regard to all the circumstances of the case,—

    • “(i) following preliminary inquiries, an investigation is unnecessary; or

    • “(ii) having commenced an investigation, further investigation is unnecessary.

  “(2) If an Ombudsman refuses to investigate or further investigate a complaint, the Ombudsman must inform the complainant of the decision and give his or her reasons for it.”