WA's corruption watchdog has made a finding of serious misconduct against the state's ombudsman for creating a sham process to bypass the premier and approve extensive international travel, and for deceiving the treasurer over a lucrative contract.

Chris Field has been in charge of handling complaints about the public service for more than 17 years, with a three-year period of that term catching the attention of WA's Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) as he jetted across the world while also serving as the president of the International Ombudsman Institute.

Earlier this year, the CCC held hearings into Mr Field's overseas travel.

In its report released today, the CCC found Chris Field had created an "unmanageable conflict of interest" in using the resources of the state to carry out his work as the president of the International Ombudsman Institute.

The CCC also found Mr Field failed to declare hospitality in the form of travel and accommodation, and breached procurement rules.

Those trips included cultural exchanges with Uzbekistan, Bahrain and Canada, meeting the president of the OECD in Paris and attending a candlelight vigil with Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Mr Field gave evidence before the CCC for 11 days.

The corruption watchdog concluded Mr Field did not seek approval for travel from the premier, as he was required to do.

"Instead he created a sham process within his office to approve his own international travel", the report said.

Ombudsman 'misled' treasurer

In August 2023, Mr Field entered into a contract for €129,640, or $210,000 with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), for a scan survey on the role of ombudsmen in civil society to be conducted.

"In doing so, he breached procurement rules and failed to keep proper record," the CCC report said.

WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti sought information about the OECD project, but Mr Field "misled the Treasurer by creating a document on procurement of services that contained falsehoods".

The report went as far as to say: "Mr Field later attempted to deceive the State Treasurer Ms Saffioti by creating a memorandum that contained falsehoods."

Oversight recommended

The CCC recommended parliament consider establishing a bipartisan joint committee to oversee the ombudsman.

It also recommended the functions of the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission be expanded to include oversight of the ombudsman and his office.

The CCC found Mr Field was "not motivated by greed or personal gain" and the report was "likely to be devastating to him personally."

But it said Mr Field acted "in arrogant disregard of his functions" as the ombudsman and his "unmanageable" conflict of interests compromised every funding decision he made.

Mr Field has been contacted for comment.