All Investigation Reports

Ombudsman role: All - Department of Human Services - Department of Social Services - Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet - Department of Health - National Disability Insurance - Department of Jobs and Small Business - Indigenous Australians - Immigration - Defence Force - Postal Industry - Overseas Students - VET Student Loans - Private Health Insurance - Commonwealth Ombudsman - International Program

2007

• August 2007: Lessons for public administration —Ombudsman investigation of referred immigration cases - 11|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: In 2005 and 2006 the Australian Government referred 247 immigration detention cases to the Ombudsman for investigation. Eight published reports contain the results of those investigations. The purpose of this new report is to draw together ten lessons from the referred immigration reports that are relevant to all areas of government.
• June 2007: Department of Immigration and Citizenship—Report into referred immigration cases: Other legal issues - 10|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Immigration: In 2005 and 2006 the Australian Government referred 247 immigration detention cases to the Commonwealth Ombudsman for investigation. This report addresses the detention of 33 people whose matters were classified as ‘other legal issues’.
• June 2007: Department of Immigration and Citizenship—Report into referred immigration cases: Notification issues (including cases affected by the Federal Court Decision in Srey) - 09|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Immigration: In 2005 and 2006 the Australian Government referred 247 immigration detention cases to the Commonwealth Ombudsman for investigation. This report deals with notification issues and cases affected by the Federal Court decision in Srey.
• June 2007: Department of Immigration and Citizenship—Report into referred immigration cases: Data problems - 08|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Immigration: In 2005 and 2006, the Australian Government referred 247 immigration detention cases to the Commonwealth Ombudsman for investigation. This report deals with 45 cases in which a data recording error occurred at some stage during the detention of a person under the Migration Act 1958, during the period 2002 to 2005.
• June 2007: Department of Immigration and Citizenship—Report into referred immigration cases: Detention process issues - 07|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Immigration: In 2005 and 2006, the Australian Government referred the cases of 247 people who had been detained by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to the Commonwealth Ombudsman for investigation. This report deals with 70 cases categorised as detention process issues.
• June 2007: Review of ACT policing’s watchhouse operations: A joint report by the Australian Federal Police and the Commonwealth Ombudsman 06|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: This review was undertaken because the AFP considered it timely to assess the operations of the City Watchhouse. The review was triggered in part by concerns raised by recent complaints from persons who had been held in police custody in the Watchhouse.
• June 2007: Migration Agents Registration Authority—Complaint-handling process - 05|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Report on own motion investigation to review MARA’s complaint-handling process with a view to ascertaining whether MARA’s commitment to resolving complaints is reflected in its systems and processes; the resolution of complaints is in accordance with best practice; and whether there are opportunities for improvement.
• June 2007: Australian Defence Force—Management of complaints about unacceptable behaviour - 04|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Defence Force: This investigation into the management of complaints about unacceptable behaviour made by Australian Defence Force members was initiated to determine whether the Department of Defence complaint-handling policy and practices are effective, and identify any areas requiring improvement.
• May 2007: Complaint handling in Australian airports—Own motion investigation - 03|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Report on investigation of complaint-handling systems in airports for the Australian Customs Service, Australian Federal Police, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Office of Transport Safety.
  Agency responses to the report and the self-audit checklist that we provided to agencies are also provided.
  Agency responses (PDF)
  Self-audit checklist for agencies (PDF)
• May 2007: Australian Film Commission—Investigation into the assessment of film funding applications - 02|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: The discussion and recommendations in this report draw from the analysis of Strand I funding decisions in 2006, but are otherwise framed in terms that apply more generally to the policies and procedures of the AFC.
• April 2007: Australian Taxation Office—Administration of garnishee action - 01|2007
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Taxation Ombudsman: This report provides observations on themes or issues we identified from the garnishee action complaints received by our office.
• 2007 State of the Health Funds Report
  Private Health Insurance: Provides comparative information on the performance and service delivery of health funds
• Taxation Ombudsman activities 2007
  Taxation Ombudsman: Taxation Ombudsman activities

2006

• December 2006: Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs—Report into referred immigration cases: children in detention - 08|2006
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Immigration: This report deals with ten cases of children in immigration detention referred to the Commonwealth Ombudsman by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
• December 2006: Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs—Report into referred immigration cases: mental health and incapacity - 07|2006
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Immigration: This report deals with nine immigration detention cases referred to the Commonwealth Ombudsman by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs that raise mental health or incapacity issues.
• December 2006: Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs—Report into referred immigration cases: Mr G - 06|2006
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Immigration: Report into the circumstances of the immigration detention of Mr G, an Australian resident suffering from a mental illness.
• October 2006: Review of the use of compliance powers by the Building Industry Taskforce
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Review of the use of compliance powers by the Building Industry Taskforce for the period 13 January 2005 TO 27 March 2006
  Report under s 88AI of the Workplace Relations Act 1996
• April 2006: Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs—Management of a frail aged visitor to Australia - 05|2006
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Immigration: This is an abridged report of an investigation into the handling by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs of the case of Mrs Aziza Yaukob Agha, an elderly visitor to Australia from Lebanon. Mrs Agha died shortly after attending a medical examination requested by the Department.
• March 2006: Australian Taxation Office—Administration of the superannuation co-contribution scheme - 03|2006
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Taxation Ombudsman: This report was prepared as part of the Taxation Ombudsman’s external projects work program for the period ending 30 June 2006. The Government Superannuation Co-contribution Scheme was selected for the program because an emerging complaints profile since February 2005 was identified and because the Scheme involves relatively new legislation.
• March 2006: Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs—Report on referred immigration cases: Mr T - 04|2006
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Mr T’s case is one of some 200 cases involving immigration detention matters previously referred in May 2005 to the Palmer Inquiry by the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
• March 2006: Scrutinising government—Administration of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 in Australian government agencies - 02|2006
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: This ‘own motion’ investigation into the administration of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) in Australian Government departments and agencies was initiated in the interests of focusing attention on good practice as well as areas requiring improvement.
• February 2006: Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs—Administration of s 501 of the Migration Act 1958 as it applies to long-term residents - 01|2006
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Report by the Commonwealth and Immigration Ombudsman, Professor John McMillan, about the application of s 501 to long-term permanent residents of Australia.
• Taxation Ombudsman activities 2006
  Taxation Ombudsman: Taxation Ombudsman activities
• 2006 State of the Health Funds Report
  Private Health Insurance: Provides comparative information on the performance and service delivery of health funds

2005

• October 2005: Australian Defence Force—Management of service personnel under the age of 18 years - 04|2005
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Defence Force: Report by the Commonwealth and Defence Force Ombudsman, Professor John McMillan, under the Ombudsman Act 1976.
• September 2005: Inquiry into the Circumstances of the Vivian Alvarez Matter - 03|2005
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Immigration: Report under the Ombudsman Act 1976 by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, Professor John McMillan, of an inquiry undertaken by Mr Neil Comrie AO APM.
• May 2005: Complaint by Mr Z about his immigration detention - 02|2005
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Immigration: Abridged version of report no. 02|2005. The full report has not been made publicly available to preserve the privacy of the complainant.
• April 2005: Review of Australian Defence Force Redress of Grievance System - 01|2005
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Defence Force: Joint report by the Department of Defence and the office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
• 2005 State of the Health Funds Report
  Private Health Insurance: Provides comparative information on the performance and service delivery of health funds

2004

• December 2004: Complaint about delay in the processing of an application for a bridging visa - 05|2004
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Abridged version for publication of report 05|2004. The full report has not been made publicly available to preserve the privacy of the complainant.
• November 2004: The Australian Crime Commission’s implementation of recommendations - 06|2004
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Arising from a review of the corporate and operational implications for the Australian Crime Commission arising from alleged criminal activity by two former secondees. Findings of an own motion investigation undertaken by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, Professor John McMillan, under the Ombudsman Act 1976.
• October 2004: Unacceptable behaviour at a Navy training establishment - 04|2004
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Defence Force: Complaint by a young person (under the age of 18) of an incident involving unacceptable behaviour at a Navy training establishment in mid–1996. Abridged version of report No. 04|2004. The full report has not been made publicly available to preserve the privacy of the complainant.
• August 2004: Use of access powers by the Australian Taxation Office - 07|2004
  Commonwealth Ombudsman; Taxation Ombudsman: Findings of an own motion investigation conducted by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, Professor John McMillan, under the Ombudsman Act 1976.
• June 2004: Refusal to provide reasons for not pursuing complaints about tax agents - 03|2004
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Refusal by the Tax Agents’ Board of New South Wales to provide reasons for decisions not to pursue complaints about tax agents. This is an abridged version of Report No. 03|2004 by the Commonwealth Ombudsman. The full report has not been made publicly available to preserve the privacy of the complainant and tax agent.
• June 2004: Own motion investigation into Australian Crime Commission - 02|2004
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Own motion investigation into a review of the operational and corporate implications for the Australian Crime Commission arising from alleged criminal activity by two former secondees.
• May 2004: Child Support Agency change of assessment decisions - 01|2004
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Administration of change of assessment decisions made on the basis of parents’ income, earning capacity, property and financial resources.
• 2004 State of the Health Funds Report
  Private Health Insurance: Provides comparative information on the performance and service delivery of health funds
• Taxation Ombudsman activities 2003-2004
  Taxation Ombudsman: Taxation Ombudsman activities

2003

• October 2003: Investigation into the Witness Protection Act 1994 - 01|2003
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: Investigation into the issue of substitute medical certificate under the Witness Protection Act 1994. A Special Investigation pursuant to sub-Section 46(1)(e) of the Complaints (Australian Federal Police) Act 1981.
  Covering letter from the Ombudsman to the AFP Commissioner (PDF)
• August 2003: Own motion investigation into complaints handling in the Job Network - 03|2003
  Commonwealth Ombudsman: This report examines the implementation by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) of the recommendations of the Ombudsman’s January 2001 Report of an Investigation into Complaints Handling in the Job Network.

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