Media releases
2013
2012
- 20 Aug 2012: Update on Wilkie complaint
- 16 Aug 2012: Appointment of Commonwealth Ombudsman
- 15 Aug 2012: Statement regarding Wilkie complaint
- 06 Aug 2012: Integrity agencies’ MoU consolidates Pacific partnership
- 07 Jun 2012: Ombudsman review leads to an overhaul of Income Management decision making
- 23 Apr 2012: DIAC to rethink detainee transfer processes
- 17 Apr 2012: Quarantine investigations done by the book
- 14 Mar 2012: Statement by Acting Ombudsman Alison Larkins
- 14 Mar 2012: DEEWR makes good on school chaplaincy program
2011
- 20 Oct 2011: Ombudsman resigns
- 13 Oct 2011: Covert policing practices continue to improve
- 13 Oct 2011: Response to commentary about Ombudsman actions—May 2011 Budget Estimates
- 12 Oct 2011: Whistleblowing key to improving public sector integrity
- 07 Oct 2011: Media alert: Launch of Whistling While They Work: A good-practice guide for managing internal reporting of wrongdoing in public sector organisations
- 05 Oct 2011: Tax Commissioner agrees to overhaul language
- 06 Sep 2011: Why government service delivery often fails
- 05 Sep 2011: Media alert: Why government service delivery often fails
- 29 Jul 2011: Inquiry to examine suicide and self-harm in immigration detention
- 29 Jul 2011: Australia’s immigration detention values: Milestones or motherhood statements?
- 26 Jul 2011: Chaplaincy Program administration needs to improve
- 25 Jul 2011: Media alert: Chaplaincy Program administration needs to improve
- 25 Jul 2011: Ombudsman calls on government to communicate better
- 12 Jul 2011: Help for overseas students in private education
- 05 Jul 2011: Pacific ombudsmen meet to improve regional governance
- 27 Jun 2011: Minister pays tribute to Australia’s first Ombudsman, Professor Jack Richardson
- 27 May 2011: More money needed for immigration detention oversight
- 24 May 2011: Covert policing
- 12 May 2011: Agencies encouraged to make customers happy
- 19 Apr 2011: Interpreters key to good Government-Indigenous relationships
- 14 Apr 2011: Govt breaches its own care principles? Ombudsman investigates
- 05 Apr 2011: Complaint by Paul Hogan, John Cornell and Anthony Stewart
- 23 Mar 2011: ACC to improve scrutiny of covert operations
- 17 Mar 2011: No weapons evident
- 16 Mar 2011: More than 200,000 requests for review
- 04 Mar 2011: Improved immigration detention outcomes for children and families
- 03 Mar 2011: Covert policing oversight
- 21 Feb 2011: Visa refusal overturned
- 09 Feb 2011: AFP claims rap sheet clear
- 02 Feb 2011: Christmas Island overloaded
- 19 Jan 2011: Biosecurity investigations report
2010
- 16 Dec 2010: Red tape causes Indigenous programs to fail
- 08 Dec 2010: Caution on coercive powers
- 30 Nov 2010: Difficult behaviour shouldn’t mean inadequate service
- 05 Nov 2010: Letter to the Editor The Australian
- 02 Nov 2010: Solving government problems at the root cause
- 22 Sep 2010: Falling through the cracks in the social security system
- 21 Sep 2010: Compromised Tax File Numbers – a problem still to be solved
- 25 Aug 2010: Capacity to pay child support under spotlight
- 24 Aug 2010: Failure to provide review rights to people under Income Management in the Northern Territory
- 23 Jul 2010: Appointment of the Commonwealth Ombudsman
- 16 Jun 2010: Government ‘watchdog’ fundamental to democracy
- 15 Jun 2010: Top marks for Fair Work Ombudsman
- 09 Jun 2010: Identity fraudsters dealt another blow
- 08 Jun 2010: Opening of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
- 04 May 2010: Fraud conviction began with a mistake on a form
- 15 Apr 2010: Rejected LPG grant applicants should try again
- 24 Mar 2010: Underpaid Comcare clients entitled to reparation
- 23 Mar 2010: Historic meeting of Regional integrity agency heads
- 05 Mar 2010: Forget dogs, Australia’s posties have horse problems
- 26 Feb 2010: Appointment of the Information Commissioner Designate
- 15 Feb 2010: ATO surprise visits get tick of approval
- 08 Feb 2010: Vexation over out–of–date compensation
2009
- 21 Dec 2009: DAFF grant schemes not fair
- 20 Dec 2009: Better engagement with Indigenous Australians needed on program development & delivery
- 15 Dec 2009: Pacific Ombudsman Alliance supports PNG colleague
- 14 Dec 2009: Joint media release from the Commonwealth Ombudsman and NT Ombudsman—Cutting red tape in the Red Centre
- 18 Nov 2009: Workable law considers the exception, not just the rule
- 15 Nov 2009: Confusion over government bonus
- 28 Oct 2009: Taking the stress out of tax time
- 27 Oct 2009: Sorting out ACC information security
- 16 Oct 2009: Watchdog’s in-tray continues to swell
- 24 Sep 2009: Investigators warned to keep a professional distance
- 22 Sep 2009: What has the Haneef case taught us?
- 06 Sep 2009: Openness in a secret world—integrity in public inquiries
- 31 Aug 2009: CSA & AFP told to cooperate to avoid harmful mistakes
- 05 Aug 2009: APS clients deserve better…
- 03 Aug 2009: Compensating for agency error
- 28 Jul 2009: DIAC processing puts visa applicants at risk
- 28 Jun 2009: Australia Post told ‘the mail must get through’
- 16 Jun 2009: No time for delay on heritage strategies
- 04 Jun 2009: CSA needs to pay sharper attention to detail
- 10 May 2009: Tax-related complaints in 2008 a mixed bag
- 06 May 2009: New Brisbane office launch
- 27 Mar 2009: Scope to improve re-raise of written-off tax debts
- 26 Mar 2009: Ombudsman report on use of interpreters
- 05 Mar 2009: Problems in assessing claims for disability support pension from people with acute or terminal illness
- 05 Mar 2009: Changing the way communities comment on new postal delivery services
2008
- 23 Dec 2008: Ombudsman’s report on carded postal items
- 17 Nov 2008: Ombudsman report on equine influenza assistance payments
- 13 Nov 2008: Tackling customer fraud in child support
- 07 Nov 2008: Pacific Ombudsman Alliance Launch
- 22 Oct 2008: Ombudsman releases third report on how ACT police deal with intoxicated people
- 16 Oct 2008: Commonwealth Ombudsman’s 2007–08 annual report released
- 25 Aug 2008: Ombudsman looks at Centrelink’s arrangements for banning face-to-face contact with customers
- 31 Jul 2008: Ombudsman reports on DIAC Safeguards System for visa applications
- 24 Jun 2008: Ombudsman report on delays in Immigration FOI processing
- 17 Jun 2008: Ombudsman releases report on job capacity assessments
- 11 Jun 2008: Ombudsman releases report on tax activities
- 29 Apr 2008: Ombudsman releases report into allegations concerning the HMAS Westralia fire
- 24 Apr 2008: Ombudsman’s report on damage to inbound international postal items
- 02 Apr 2008: Ombudsman examines Immigration’s administration of detention debt waiver and write-off
- 12 Feb 2008: Commonwealth Ombudsman opens office in Alice Springs
2007
- 19 Dec 2007: Ombudsman investigates DIAC’s notification of decisions and review rights for unsuccessful visa applications
- 19 Dec 2007: Ombudsman releases report on application of penalties under Welfare to Work
- 26 Oct 2007: Commonwealth Ombudsman releases 30th annual report
- 18 Oct 2007: Ombudsman recommends amendments to policy guidelines on marriage-like relationships
- 12 Jul 2007: Government watchdog celebrates 30 years
- 02 Jul 2007: End of a chapter: Ombudsman releases final immigration reports
- 26 Jun 2007: Report on ACT Watchhouse operations released
- 22 Jun 2007: Ombudsman calls for improvements to migration industry watchdog
- 18 Jun 2007: Ombudsman releases report on ADF handling of unacceptable behaviour complaints
- 23 May 2007: Ombudsman releases report on complaint handling in Australian airports
- 22 May 2007: Update on review of ACT Policing’s watch house operations
- 08 May 2007: Update on review of ACT Policing’s watch house operations
- 17 Apr 2007: Ombudsman releases report on the ATO’s administration of garnishee action
- 10 Apr 2007: Update on review of ACT Policing’s watch house operations
- 12 Feb 2007: Review of ACT Policing’s watch house operations
2006
- 06 Dec 2006: Ombudsman releases three reports on immigration detention
- 30 Nov 2006: Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner to streamline joint complaint handling processes
- 02 Nov 2006: Whistleblower protection laws need national revision: new issues paper
- 01 Nov 2006: Commonwealth Ombudsman releases 2005–06 annual report
- 24 Jul 2006: Commonwealth Ombudsman says earlier payment of family tax benefit supplement possible
- 10 Jul 2006: Minister launches Postal Industry Ombudsman scheme
- 22 Jun 2006: Taxation Ombudsman releases annual activities report
- 27 Apr 2006: new websites for Ombudsman
- 19 Apr 2006: Commonwealth Ombudsman releases report into DIMA’s management of Mrs Aziza Agha’s case
- 30 Mar 2006: Postal Industry Ombudsman scheme legislation passed
- 23 Mar 2006: Ombudsman releases report into immigration detention of Australian citizen
- 14 Mar 2006: Commonwealth Ombudsman scrutinises handling of FOI requests by government agencies
- 16 Feb 2006: Dr Vivienne Thom joins the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s office
- 09 Feb 2006: Commonwealth Ombudsman releases report into Immigration’s visa cancellation powers
2005
- 29 Nov 2005: Public statement Changes to Ombudsman’s work practices
- 28 Oct 2005: Commonwealth Ombudsman releases 2004–2005 annual report
- 19 Oct 2005: Commonwealth Ombudsman releases report on investigation into young people in the military
- 06 Oct 2005: Ombudsman releases report of Inquiry into the Circumstances of the Vivian Alvarez matter
- 28 Jul 2005: Commonwealth Ombudsman asks for restraint in speculation about the Vivian Alvarez (Solon) inquiry
- 14 Jul 2005: Commonwealth Ombudsman review of circumstances of long-term immigration detainees
- 14 Jul 2005: Commonwealth Ombudsman takes on immigration detention investigations
- 08 Jun 2005: Delays in the processing of requests under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
- 27 Apr 2005: ADF Complaint Handling Fast Tracked Joint Media Release
2004
- 01 Nov 2004: Commonwealth Ombudsman releases 2003–04 Annual Report
- 26 Oct 2004: Commonwealth Ombudsman appoints new Special Tax Adviser
- 23 Aug 2004: New postal industry role for Commonwealth Ombudsman
- 02 Aug 2004: Families should get $600 per child bonus payment sooner
- 29 Jun 2004: Commonwealth Ombudsman investigates Australian Crime Commission review
- 15 Jun 2004: Commonwealth Ombudsman recommends improvements to Child Support Agency’s assessment decisions
2003
- 19 Dec 2003: Ombudsman enquires into incident at Port Hedland IRPC
- 27 Oct 2003: Report by Ombudsman on National Witness Protection Program
- 11 Aug 2003: Improving complaint handling in the Job Network: Ombudsman
- 18 Jun 2003: Improvements to Tax Office complaint handling
- 16 May 2003: Appointment heralds a new direction: Ombudsman
- 15 May 2003: Report on Forensic procedures & DNA materials tabled Joint Media Release
- 28 Feb 2003: Family Assistance reform needed: Ombudsman
2002
- 31 Oct 2002: Commonwealth Ombudsman completes another busy year
- 04 Oct 2002: Ombudsman reports on social security penalties
2001
- 23 Aug 2001: Ombudsman reports on events leading to refugee’s death
- 02 Mar 2001: Ombudsman releases Immigration detention reports
2000
- 25 Oct 2000: Ombudsman Annual Report Tabled
- 03 Oct 2000: Commonwealth Ombudsman staff visit Geelong
- 03 Oct 2000: Commonwealth Ombudsman staff visit the Central West
- 07 Sep 2000: Ombudsman multilingual brochures launched in Victoria
- 06 Sep 2000: Ombudsman multilingual brochures launched in NSW
- 24 Jul 2000: Review of Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme
- 21 Jul 2000: Allegation against Tax Office
- 04 Apr 2000: Tax Ombudsman comments on Petroulias case
1999
1998
- 27 Feb 1998: Pensioners get justice at last
- 06 Feb 1998: The comments and reflections of the outgoing Ombudsman
- 04 Feb 1998: Ombudsman releases ABARE investigation report
- 30 Jan 1998: Compensation for injuries to jobseekers on compulsory work programs
- 28 Jan 1998: Child Support Overpayments—a case of give and take?
- 28 Jan 1998: Ombudsman investigates unlawful arrest, unlawful use of force and detention
- 16 Jan 1998: Ombudsman and Defence Chief release serious incident report Joint release, Defence Force/Ombudsman
- 14 Jan 1998: ‘Beware of oral advice’