Law, justice & securityAgencyExists today
Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman
Commonwealth Ombudsman
1 July 1977 – present
Investigates complaints about the administrative actions of Australian Government agencies and conducts own-motion investigations, and holds specialist roles including Defence Force, Immigration, Postal Industry, Overseas Students, VET Student Loans and Private Health Insurance Ombudsman and ACT Ombudsman.
How it came into existence
The first Commonwealth Ombudsman, Jack Richardson, took office when the Ombudsman Act 1976 commenced on 1 July 1977, implementing recommendations of the Kerr and Bland committees on administrative review.
Legislation: Ombudsman Act 1976
Changes during its life
- 1983Defence Force Ombudsman role created by amendment to the Ombudsman Act 1976.
- 1989Began serving as the ACT Ombudsman following ACT self-government.
- 1995Designated Taxation Ombudsman for complaints about the Australian Taxation Office.
- 2005Designated Immigration Ombudsman, with oversight of long-term immigration detention.
- 2006Postal Industry Ombudsman and Law Enforcement Ombudsman roles created.
- 2011Overseas Students Ombudsman role created.
- 1 July 2017VET Student Loans Ombudsman role created.
- Private health insurance complaints handling
- Investigation of freedom of information complaints
The Ombudsman kept a residual FOI complaint role.
- Tax complaints handling
Main functions
- Investigation of complaints about Commonwealth administration
- Own-motion investigations
- Oversight of law enforcement use of covert and intrusive powers
- Inspection of immigration detention
- Defence Force, Postal Industry and Overseas Students Ombudsman roles
- Private health insurance complaints (from 2015)
- ACT Ombudsman services
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Attorney-General's Department.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Attorney-General's
- Accountable authority
- Commonwealth Ombudsman – Ombudsman Act 1976 section 4A(c)
- ABN
- 53 003 678 148
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))