27 Jun 2011: Minister pays tribute to Australia’s first Ombudsman, Professor Jack Richardson

Special Minister of State for the Public Service and Integrity Gary Gray today acknowledged the important role played by the inaugural Commonwealth Ombudsman, Professor Jack Richardson AO, in service to all Australians.

Professor Richardson died on 13 June 2011, aged 90.

“Professor Richardson made a tremendous contribution to our community, both as Ombudsman and as a distinguished law academic,” Minister Gray said. “He will be greatly missed.”

Professor Richardson served as Commonwealth Ombudsman from 1977 to 1985. He established the office, overseeing the first critical years and guiding it through substantial changes and growth in jurisdiction and case load.

“He developed the Office’s reputation for intellectual rigour and a robust approach to public administration,” Mr Gray said.

“The Commonwealth Ombudsman is now a key national integrity agency, and while its functions and role have expanded, its core activities and value to the community have changed little, thanks in great part to the contribution made by Professor Richardson in its formative years.”

The current Ombudsman Allan Asher also paid tribute to Professor Richardson, crediting him with improving accessibility to Ombudsman services through an effective oral complaints mechanism, opening offices in five state capitals, and fostering effective working relationships with department heads.

“Towards the end of his time as Ombudsman, the total number of approaches to the office exceeded 20,000, demonstrating the strength of his public education efforts and the establishment of a reputation that exemplified independence and fairness,” Mr Asher said.

During Professor Richardson’s tenure, his office took on the role of Defence Force Ombudsman, and began reviewing the Australian Federal Police’s internal investigation of complaints from the public. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 allowed people to make complaints to the Ombudsman about the handling by agencies of FOI requests. Professor Richardson was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia in 1984. In 2002, the Ombudsman’s office established the ‘Jack Richardson Prize in Administrative Law’ at the Australian National University in recognition of the contributions he made.

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Date of release: 27 June 2011