Chapter 8
Ombudsmen—200 years of service
The Ombudsman in Australia
Western Australia was the first Australian state to establish an ombudsman function, with legislation passing in 1971 and the first appointee taking office in 1972. Ombudsman offices were established later the same year in South Australia, in Victoria in 1973, Queensland in 1974, New South Wales (NSW) in 1975 and Tasmania in 1978. The Commonwealth Ombudsman took office in 1977. The Northern Territory (NT) Ombudsman commenced in 1978 with the introduction of self–government for the NT and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Ombudsman in 1989 when the ACT became self–governing.
A large number of industry ombudsman offices have since been established in Australia, sometimes by the separation of a function from a parliamentary (or public sector) ombudsman office. Two examples are the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, established in 1993, building on a function previously discharged by the Commonwealth Ombudsman; and the Energy and Water Ombudsman of NSW, established in 1998, building on the former role of the NSW Ombudsman.
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