Automatic language translation
Our website uses an automatic service to translate our content into different languages. These translations should be used as a guide only. See our Accessibility page for further information.
28 June 2022
The NSW Ombudsman oversees the NSW public sector and investigates complaints regarding most NSW government agencies, local councils and community service providers.
Attorney General Mark Speakman said, if passed, the Bill will make 25 amendments to two pieces of legislation governing the functions of the Ombudsman.
"The Ombudsman Act 1974 and the Community Services (Complaints, Reviews and Monitoring) Act 1993 have not been significantly reviewed or substantively amended for a number of years," Mr Speakman said.
"The proposed amendments in this Bill were requested by the Ombudsman, Paul Miller PSM, and will clarify and enhance the Ombudsman's powers, resolve inconsistencies, and update the legislation."
In particular, the Bill proposes an amendment to the Ombudsman Act to enable the Ombudsman to review the systems used by public authorities for handling complaints.
Currently, the Ombudsman has audit and monitoring powers over agencies performing functions under particular Acts, for example, a power to review the complaint handling systems of service providers, and has broad powers to conduct investigations about the conduct of a public authority, but does not have a general power to review the complaint handling systems of public authorities. The proposed power will enable the Ombudsman to assist agencies, in a collaborative manner, to improve their own complaint-handling systems.
Some other important changes proposed by the Bill are:
The Bill has been prepared after extensive consultation with the Ombudsman and was introduced into the NSW Parliament and second read in the Legislative Assembly last week.
It will be debated when Parliament returns in August.
Download media release: Ombudsman Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 (PDF , 176.8 KB)
13 Apr 2023