Good > Better > Best
National conference

23 - 24 September | Hotel Realm | 18 National Circuit, Barton ACT

The Commonwealth Ombudsman’s 2009 National conference brought together policy makers, legal practitioners, community representatives and other expert guest speakers representing public integrity and human rights agencies, and state and industry ombudsman schemes.

The conference was held on 23-24 September 2009 at Hotel Realm in Canberra.

The Hon. John Clarke QC delivered the conference keynote address at the pre-dinner drinks on Wednesday, 23 September. Mr Clarke’s critical examination of administrative, accountability, transparency and government agency interoperability through the prism of the inquiry into the case of Dr Mohamed Haneef, highlighted the core conference themes which were explored in plenary and concurrent workshop sessions on Thursday, 24 September.

The unifying themes of the conference were the challenges and changes to complaint handling in our changing world, and future agendas for public integrity agencies to safeguard best-practice in governance and public administration.
The conference provided an important professional development and networking forum for:

  • senior government policy developers and program administrators
  • complaint-handling officers
  • investigators and community advocates
  • ministerial advisers
  • administrative law advocates, practitioners and academics.

Post Conference Presentation Papers

Media releases

Investigators warned to keep a professional distance—24 September 2009

What has the Haneef case taught us?—22 September 2009

Openness in a secret world—integrity in public inquiries—6 September 2009

Photo of The Hon. John Clarke QC and Professor John McMillan Audience member asking a question Amused audience members at the conference