Australia | Western Australia Ombudsman appointed for a further five-year-term

Chris Field, Western Australian Ombudsman and President of the International Ombudsman Institute has been appointed for a further five-year term. It is absolutely vital that an Ombudsman is utterly apolitical and impartial. It is therefore particularly pleasing that Mr Field was first appointed for a five-year term in 2007 under the Carpenter Labor Government, twice reappointed under the Barnett Liberal Government and now reappointed under the McGowan Labor Government. 

Mr Field is currently Australia’s longest serving Ombudsman and the only Ombudsman in the fifty-year history of the Ombudsman institution in Australia to be appointed to four terms of office.

Over the next term, his office will have the privilege of commencing a range of important new functions (including as an OPCAT NPM), as well as continuing to assist in the consideration of a range of proposed functions. The new, and proposed, functions would see the office grow to over 100 staff; a very different office than 2007 when the office employed 26 staff. 

Two positions that will be recruited shortly are inaugural roles in the office; an Assistant Ombudsman for Aboriginal Engagement and Collaboration and a research, policy and projects officer with a special focus on ensuring the office stands with the LGBTIQA+ community. The office will also continue its program of major own-initiative investigations in relation to key human rights issues, undertaken with all the powers of a standing Royal Commission.

Source: Office of the Western Australia Ombudsman