The Commonwealth Ombudsman, Mr Ron McLeod, indicated that he had been made aware of media reports circulating today attributed to Mr Peter Haggstrom, alleging that he had been threatened by senior tax officials that his funding would be undermined if he continued to investigate certain tax issues. Media reports suggest that the allegation will be repeated on Channel 9’s Sunday program.

Mr McLeod said that Mr Haggstrom had, following his resignation in 1998, made a number of public comments referring to his work in the Ombudsman’s Office. He had commonly been described as the ‘former Tax Ombudsman’. This is incorrect; Peter Haggstrom has never been the Tax Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman himself fulfils the role of Tax Ombudsman. During the time Mr Haggstrom worked in the Ombudsman’s Office he was responsible to the Ombudsman for investigating tax matters.

Mr McLeod said ‘At no time that Mr Haggstrom worked for me, had he brought to my notice any allegation of this kind. It would have been incumbent on him to have brought any such claim to my attention, if such an incident had ever occurred.’

Mr McLeod went on to say ‘If there was any substance to the allegation, it would represent a serious attempt to interfere with the Ombudsman’s responsibilities. I invite Mr Haggstrom to provide me with details so that the matter can be investigated immediately.’

Media Contact

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Email – Media@ombudsman.gov.au

Date of release: 21 July 2000