WA’s Ombudsmen Chris Field is facing a Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) inquiry over his travel expenditures. 

Field, who held the position of president at the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), is under investigation for the utilisation of taxpayer funds during his international travels.

Over the past three years, Field's travel expenses have surged into the hundreds of thousands, including lavish spending on short chauffeur-driven car trips in Rome, among other expenditures. 

The IOI, responding to inquiries from the media, has now clarified that Field's travel activities were “neither initiated, expected, commissioned nor financed” by the organisation.

At the CCC hearings, it was disclosed that Field had only spent 36 days in his Perth office over a year, raising questions about his commitment to his domestic role. 

Despite the allegations, Field maintained that his dual roles were “utterly complementary”, seeing no conflict in holding both positions.

Field's recent step down as IOI president marks a significant turn in the ongoing investigation. 

This move came after it was revealed he spent hundreds on two limousine trips in Rome, covering just over two kilometres. 

The inquiry into Field's alleged misuse of his position for personal benefit began last month, shining a light on his extensive travels to countries like Ukraine, Russia, Slovenia, Morocco, Poland, Pakistan, the USA, and Hungary.

Despite the scrutiny, Field has received support from some quarters, including a letter of congratulations from then-premier Mark McGowan, sent after his election as IOI president in March 2020. 

Field has defended the necessity of travel for his role as president, highlighting an OECD project he sourced as being “on hold” pending the outcome of the CCC inquiry.

The CCC is set to continue its hearings in April.