Services Australia taken to task over myGov security

Users of myGov aren’t adequately protected from fraud and Services Australia needs to improve and co-ordinate security, the Ombudsman says.

7 August, 2024

Digital Transformation Minister talks data, avoids Centrelink robo debt

Says DTA’s powers at their height.

5 May, 2017

Centrelink Robodebt: Human Services off the hook?

But Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report cites poor service delivery.

10 April, 2017

The postman never rings once: Australia Post parcel complaints keep coming

Parcel profits up but customers feeling let down.

27 February, 2017

Social media campaign reveals misery of Centrelink debt recovery

Ombudsman to investigate.

10 January, 2017

Getting petty: Tax Office pursues woman for $1 debt

Big bad debt threat over tiny amount.

12 November, 2015

Plea for more humans at Centrelink

Audit fallout continues.

24 August, 2015

Your life on hold: Centrelink cuts create call centre hell

Busy signal for 13.7 million calls.

21 May, 2015

Centrelink responds to complaints by acting on Ombudsman recommendations

The Department of Human Services has agreed to act on 12 remedial recommendations made by the Commonwealth Ombudsman to sharpen its service delivery after a slew of nearly 10,000 complaints from customers.

2 May, 2014

Tax Commissioner faces grilling

By Julian Bajkowski A claimed rise in complaints to the Commonwealth Ombudsman about the Australian Taxation Office is set to take centre stage today when Taxation Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo comes before the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) this morning. In a curtain raiser to what is anticipated to be a fiesty exchange, […]

14 September, 2012

Watchdog cautions Customs on ‘intrusive’ searches

By Angela Dorizas The Commonwealth Ombudsman, Allan Asher, has received complaints from travellers about the "unfair and unnecessarily intrusive" behaviour of Customs officers. Mr Asher today warned that coercive powers of Customs officers must be lawful and reasonable. “These coercive powers allow the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to question international travellers, search baggage, copy documents […]

8 December, 2010

Ombudsman receives fewer complaints

The Commonwealth Ombudsman has reported a decline in the number of complaints received in the past financial year. The Ombudsman’s annual report found that in 2009-10 the office received 37, 468 approaches and complaints. This represented an 18 per cent reduction in the number of complaints received in the previous year. Of the approaches and […]

8 November, 2010

Government welcomes new watchdog

The Federal Government has appointed Allan Asher as the new Commonwealth Ombudsman. Mr Asher is currently the inaugural chief executive of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network. He previously held positions as the chief executive of EnergyWatch in the UK and non-executive Board Member of the UK Office of Fair Trading. He was also deputy […]

26 July, 2010

Ombudsmen fundamental to democracy: Brent

Public sector officials have been reminded of the importance of government 'watchdogs' by the Acting Commonwealth and ACT Ombudsman Ron Brent. The Ombudsman’s new office premises were officially opened last week by Cabinet Secretary and Special Minister of State Senator Joe Ludwig. Mr Brent used the occasion to remind government officials of the relevancy of […]

22 June, 2010