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1997

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28/97
AFP Whistleblower Report Highlights Need For Change

The need for a comprehensive approach to managing and protecting whistleblowers in the AFP has been highlighted by a new report from Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith.

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19/97
Improvements at Australia Post

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith has reported on a range of improvements to Australia Post’s procedures for compensating people whose mail is lost or damaged.

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18/97Starting a business — not plain sailing

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith has again highlighted problems which can be created by different definitions of 'full time', 'part time', 'employed' and 'unemployed'.

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17/97
Star Wars of the debt collection kind

The Commonwealth Ombudsman’s 1996-97 Annual Report contains a number of cases which highlight how Austudy arrangements have frustrated many students.

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16/97
A Ph.D needed to understand Austudy arrangements

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith has warned that the Austudy program had become so legally and administratively complex and confusing, that it was questionable whether it could deliver effective income support for many students.

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15/97
DSS unfairly transfers risks

During 1996-97, the Commonwealth Ombudsman again received significantly more complaints about the Department of Social Security than any other agency.

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14/97
Own motion investigation into the Defence Force investigations

The Commonwealth Ombudsman, Philippa Smith, has reported on a major investigation her office conducted into the way the Australian Defence Force investigates and reviews complaints internally.

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13/97
Whistleblowers — blown out

During 1996-97 the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s office intensified its investigation of the treatment of whistleblowers — now known within the Australian Federal Police as 'professional reporters'.

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12/97
When an Aussie holiday maker is turned away at the border

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith has stated that there should be clear and sufficient reasons for the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs to deny a person entry to Australia after a visa has been validly granted.

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11/97
ATO: retired? your troubles have just begun ...

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith has reported that over 3,800 retired taxpayers may be at risk, and owe the ATO more than $10 million in unpaid tax.

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10/97
ATO: when a house buyer gets something heavier than bricks and mortar

In her 1996-97 Annual Report, the Ombudsman reported a case where the ATO had inappropriately used its powers to collect a debt from the innocent buyers of a mortgaged property.

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9/97
ATO: from one extreme to another

Complaints to the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Special Tax Adviser, Peter Haggstrom, have exposed problems with the consistency of decision making in the Australian Taxation Office.

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8/97
Ombudsman seeks increased resources

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith has called on the Government to increase resources and support for her office.

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7/97
Freedom of Information — can be difficult to obtain

During 1996-97 the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Office handled some 300 complaints about Freedom of Information (FOI) matters.

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6/97
Rules for contracting out still muddy

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith has requested stronger powers, and greater clarity when it comes to ensuring accountability and responsibility for contracted out services.

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5/97
Conflict of interest confusion

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith has called on agency CEOs and the Government to caution public servants about confusing their public and private interests.

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4/97
Remedying a mistake — it’s not that simple

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith said Commonwealth arrangements for providing a fair remedy for clients disadvantaged by poor quality advice or a mistake were in need of urgent review.

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3/97
Setting the standards — not lowering the standard

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith said that government agencies could improve their services by examining the causes of complaints, and the developing client service charters.

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2/97
Ombudsman identifies emerging issues in government service delivery

Commonwealth Ombudsman Philippa Smith has pinpointed a number of service delivery problems which caused a surge in complaints to her office in 1996-97.

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1/1997
Surge in complaints to the Ombudsman

The Commonwealth Ombudsman’s office received a record number of complaints during 1996-97.

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