Part I
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Commonwealth act
The Ombudsman Act 1976 establishes the independent Commonwealth Ombudsman to investigate complaints about how federal agencies and certain related private bodies treat people. It covers members of the public who feel unfairly treated, ignored, or subject to poor administration, and includes several specialist functions (defence, postal, students, health insurance, VET loans).
It cannot review ministers’ or judges’ judicial acts, intelligence agencies, routine public‑service employment matters, or tax administration. It provides a free, non‑court accountability route for citizens.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Ombudsman Act 1976.
This Act may be cited as the Ombudsman Act 1976.
This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.
(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
ACC means the Australian Crime Commission established under section 7 of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.
ACMA means the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
ACT enactment means an enactment as defined by section 3 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1988.
adult has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
AFP appointee has the same meaning as in the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
AFP Commissioner means the Commissioner within the meaning of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
AFP conduct issue has the same meaning as in the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
AFP practices issue has the same meaning as in the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
Agency Head has the same meaning as in the Public Service Act 1999.
alternative dispute resolution process means a procedure or service that:
(a) is for the resolution of disputes, including mediation and conciliation (but not including arbitration or court processes or services); and
(b) does not involve the exercise of the judicial power of the Commonwealth.
APS Code of Conduct means the rules in section 13 of the Public Service Act 1999.
Australia Post means the Australian Postal Corporation.
authorized person means:
(a) a person appointed by the Ombudsman to be an authorized person for the purposes of this Act; or
(b) a person included in a class of persons appointed by the Ombudsman to be authorized persons for the purposes of this Act.
Board of the ACC means the Board of the Australian Crime Commission established under section 7B of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.
Chief Executive Medicare has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
chief executive officer, in relation to a court or tribunal, means the person holding the office, or performing the duties, of:
(a) in relation to the High Court—the Chief Executive and Principal Registrar of the Court; or
(b) in relation to the Federal Court of Australia—the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Court; or
(c) in relation to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1)—the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1); or
(d) in relation to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)—the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1); or
(e) in relation to the Administrative Review Tribunal—the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Tribunal; or
(f) in relation to a court or tribunal declared by the regulations—the office declared by those regulations to be the office of the chief executive officer of the court or tribunal for the purposes of this Act; or
(g) an office prescribed by the regulations in lieu of an office referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e).
Commonwealth‑controlled company means an incorporated company in which the Commonwealth has an interest that enables the Commonwealth:
(a) to control the composition of the board of directors of the company; or
(b) to cast, or control the casting of, more than one‑half of the maximum number of votes that might be cast at a general meeting of the company; or
(c) to control more than one‑half of the issued share capital of the company (excluding any part of that share capital that carries no right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital).
Commonwealth entity has the same meaning as in the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Commonwealth service provider has the meaning given by section 3BA.
complying health insurance policy has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
complying health insurance product has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
constitutional corporation means a corporation to which paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution applies.
constitutional provider means:
(a) a constitutional corporation; or
(b) a body corporate that is established by or under a law of the Commonwealth or a Territory.
CSC (short for Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation) has the same meaning as in the Governance of Australian Government Superannuation Schemes Act 2011.
Department means a Department within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999, but does not include the branch of the Australian Public Service comprising the transitional staff as defined by section 3 of the A.C.T. Self‑Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988.
Department of Defence means the Department administered by the Minister administering section 1 of the Defence Act 1903.
Deputy Ombudsman means a Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman.
Deputy Ombudsman (Defence Force) means the Deputy Ombudsman who is, by virtue of a notice under subsection 23(1) that is in force, designated as the Deputy Ombudsman (Defence Force).
disclosable conduct has the same meaning as in the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013.
enactment means, subject to section 3B:
(a) an Act; or
(b) an Ordinance of the Australian Capital Territory; or
(c) an Ordinance of Norfolk Island, of the Territory of Christmas Island or of the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands; or
(d) an instrument made under an Act or under an Ordinance referred to in paragraph (b) or (c); or
(e) a law (not being an Act, an Ordinance referred to in paragraph (c) or an instrument referred to in paragraph (d)) in force in Norfolk Island, the Territory of Christmas Island or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands;
but does not include the Northern Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1978 or an enactment of the Northern Territory.
enactment of the Northern Territory means:
(a) a law or Ordinance referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of enactment in subsection 4(1) of the Northern Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1978; or
(b) an instrument (including rules, regulations or by‑laws) made under such a law or Ordinance.
engage in conduct means:
(a) do an act; or
(b) omit to do an act.
examiner of ACC has the meaning given by the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.
excluded action has the meaning given by subsections 21AD(3) and (4).
health care provider has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Health Department means the Department administered by the Health Minister.
health insurance business has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Health Minister means the Minister administering the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Higher Education Department means the Department administered by the Higher Education Minister.
Higher Education Minister means the Minister administering the TEQSA Act.
higher education officer, of a higher education provider, means a person who:
(a) is an officer or employee of the provider; or
(b) performs services for or on behalf of the provider (other than a person covered paragraph (a)).
higher education principal executive officer, of a higher education provider, means the person who has executive responsibility for the operation of the provider.
higher education provider means a constitutional provider that is:
(a) registered under Part 3 of the TEQSA Act; and
(b) listed on the National Register of Higher Education Providers under paragraph 198(1)(a) of that Act.
higher education student, of a higher education provider, means:
(a) a student enrolled in any course of study with the higher education provider (other than a student enrolled only in a VET course with the provider); or
(b) a prospective student, or a former student, in relation to any course of study (other than a VET course) with the higher education provider.
Note: A course of study includes, for example, an enabling course and a microcredential course.
law enforcement agency has the same meaning as in the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.
medical practitioner has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
National Anti‑Corruption Commissioner means the Commissioner within the meaning of the National Anti‑Corruption Commission Act 2022.
National Student Ombudsman Rules means rules made under section 21AZL.
officer means:
(a) in relation to a Department:
(i) a person (including the principal officer of the Department) employed, whether in a permanent or temporary capacity, in the Department; or
(ii) any other person (not being a Minister) authorized to exercise powers or perform functions of the Department on behalf of the Department; or
(b) in relation to a prescribed authority:
(i) the person who constitutes, or is acting as the person who constitutes, the authority;
(ii) a person who is, or is acting as, a member of the authority or is a deputy of such a member;
(iii) a person who is employed in the service of, or is a member of the staff of, the authority, whether or not he or she is employed by the authority; or
(iv) a person authorized by the authority to exercise any powers or perform any functions of the authority on behalf of the authority.
Note: For the meaning of officer in Parts IIB, IIC and IID, see sections 19G, 19ZF and 20A respectively.
Ombudsman means the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
ombudsman scheme means a scheme providing for the investigation of complaints by consumers about matters relating to decisions or actions of the holders of licences or authorities granted under an enactment.
Ordinance, in relation to the Australian Capital Territory, includes a law of a State that applies, or the provisions of a law of a State that apply, in the Territory by virtue of an enactment (other than a law that is, or provisions that are, an ACT enactment).
Parliamentary Department means a Department of the Parliament established under the Parliamentary Service Act 1999.
personal information has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
PHI records, of a subject of a complaint under Division 3 of Part IID or an investigation under Division 4 of Part IID, includes any of the following documents that are in the possession, or under the control, of the subject:
(a) the constitution and rules of the subject, if the subject is a private health insurer;
(b) the internal training manuals and related documents of the subject;
(c) any documents relevant to a private health insurance arrangement to which the subject is a party or that applies to the subject;
(d) to the extent that the complaint or investigation relates to the subject’s dealings with a particular person—the subject’s documents relating to its dealings with that particular person including correspondence, internal memoranda, emails, and recordings of taped conversations;
whenever those documents came into existence.
postal or similar service includes:
(a) a postal service; and
(b) a courier service; and
(c) a packet or parcel carrying service.
PPO (short for Private Postal Operator) means an entity (other than Australia Post) that provides a postal or similar service, whether or not that entity also provides other services.
prescribed authority means:
(a) a body corporate, or an unincorporated body, established for a public purpose by, or in accordance with the provisions of, an enactment, other than:
(i) an incorporated company or association;
(ii) a body that has the power to take evidence on oath or affirmation and is required, or is expressly permitted, by an enactment to be constituted by, or to include among its members, a person who is a Justice or Judge of a court created by the Parliament or a person who has, by virtue of an Act, the same status as a Justice or Judge of such a court;
(iii) a body that, under subsection (2) or the regulations, is not to be taken to be a prescribed authority for the purposes of this Act; and
(v) a Royal Commission; or
(b) a Commonwealth‑controlled company that is a prescribed authority by virtue of section 3A; or
(ba) a body corporate, or an unincorporated body, established by the Governor‑General or by a Minister and declared by the regulations to be a prescribed authority; or
(bb) a chief executive officer, in relation to a court or tribunal; or
(c) the person holding, or performing the duties of, an office established by an enactment, other than:
(i) the chief executive officer, in relation to a court or tribunal, or a person who, for the purposes of this Act, is to be taken to be a member of the staff of a court or tribunal; or
(ii) a person who, under subsection (3) or the regulations, is not to be taken to be a prescribed authority for the purposes of this Act; or
(d) the person performing the duties of an appointment declared by the regulations to be an appointment the holder of which is a prescribed authority for the purposes of this Act, being an appointment made by the Governor‑General, or by a Minister, otherwise than under an enactment.
principal officer means:
(a) in relation to a Department of the Australian Public Service—the person holding, or performing the duties of, the office of Secretary of the Department; or
(c) in relation to a prescribed authority:
(i) if the regulations declare an office to be the principal office in respect of the authority—the person holding, or performing the duties of, that office; or
(ii) in any other case—the person who constitutes, or is acting as the person who constitutes, that authority or, if the authority is constituted by 2 or more persons, the person who is entitled to preside at any meeting of the authority at which he or she is present.
Note: For the meaning of principal officer for the purposes of Part IIB, see section 19G.
private health insurance arrangement has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
private health insurance broker has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Private Health Insurance (Information Disclosure) Rules means rules mentioned in subsection 333‑20(1), table item 16, of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman Rules means rules made under section 20ZJ.
private health insurance policy has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
private health insurer has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
product has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
registered PPO means a PPO that is registered for the purposes of Part IIB (see section 19ZA).
Note: In certain circumstances, a PPO that is no longer registered for the purposes of Part IIB may still be treated as a registered PPO (see section 19J).
responsible Minister, in relation to a matter, or to action taken in or in relation to a matter, means:
(a) if a Department of the Australian Public Service is responsible for dealing with the matter—the Minister administering that Department; or
(c) if a prescribed authority referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of prescribed authority is responsible for dealing with the matter—the Minister administering the enactment by which, or in accordance with the provisions of which, the prescribed authority is established; or
(d) if a prescribed authority referred to in paragraph (c) of that definition is responsible for dealing with the matter—the Minister administering the enactment by which the office is established; or
(e) if any other prescribed authority is responsible for dealing with the matter—the Minister declared by the regulations to be the responsible Minister in respect of that authority;
or another Minister acting for and on behalf of that Minister.
restorative engagement process means a facilitated process that:
(a) is for the purpose of a complainant engaging with a higher education officer of a higher education provider that is the subject of the complainant’s complaint to have the complaint acknowledged; and
(b) does not involve the exercise of the judicial power of the Commonwealth.
rules, of a private health insurer, has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Secretary means:
(a) in relation to a Department—the person who is the Secretary of the Department for the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999; or
(b) in relation to a Parliamentary Department—the person who is the Secretary of the Parliamentary Department for the purposes of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999.
State or Territory body includes a Department of State, or an authority or agency, of a State or Territory.
takes a reprisal: see section 35D.
taxation law has the same meaning as in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
TEQSA (short for Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency) means the body established by section 132 of the TEQSA Act.
TEQSA Act means the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011.
VET course has the same meaning as in the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011.
VET loan assistance has the meaning given by subsection 20ZM(4).
VET student means:
(a) a student enrolled in a course of study with a VET student loan scheme provider; or
(b) a prospective student, or a former student, in relation to such a course.
VET student loan officer has the meaning given by subsection 20ZS(4).
VET student loan principal executive officer has the meaning given by subsection 20ZS(5).
VET student loan scheme provider means:
(a) an approved course provider within the meaning of the VET Student Loans Act 2016, including a body that has been (but is no longer) such a provider; or
(b) a VET provider within the meaning of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, including a body that has been (but is no longer) such a provider.
(2) An unincorporated body, being a board, council, committee, sub‑committee or other body established by, or in accordance with the provisions of, an enactment for the purpose of assisting, or performing functions connected with, a prescribed authority shall not be taken to be a prescribed authority for the purpose of this Act, but action taken by the body, or by a person on its behalf, shall, for the purpose of this Act, be deemed to have been taken by that prescribed authority. (3) A person shall not be taken to be a prescribed authority by virtue of holding, or performing the duties of: (a) an office whose duties the person performs as duties of employment as an officer or employee of a Department or as a member of the staff of a prescribed authority; (b) an office of member of a body; or (c) an office established by an enactment for the purposes of a prescribed authority; but any action taken by or on behalf of a person holding, or performing the duties of, such an office shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to have been taken by the Department, body or authority concerned. (4) Where: (a) a person who is not an officer of a Department, or of a prescribed authority, for the purposes of this Act takes action in the exercise of a power or the performance of a function that the person is authorized to exercise or to perform, as the case may be, by reason of his or her holding an appointment made by, or by reason of authority given by, the Governor‑General, a Minister or the Secretary of a Department; and (b) the person does not exercise the power or perform the function by reason of his or her holding, or performing the duties of, an office established by, or in accordance with the provisions of, an enactment or by reason of his or her being a Judge of a court of, or a magistrate of, a State or Territory; the action shall be deemed to be taken, for the purposes of this Act, by the Department responsible for dealing with the matter in connection with which the action is taken. (4A) Notwithstanding subsection (4), where a person is authorized to exercise a power or perform a function by reason of his or her holding an appointment made by, or by reason of authority given by, the Governor‑General, a Minister or the Secretary of a Department otherwise than under an enactment, the regulations may provide that action taken by the person in the exercise of that power or the performance of that function shall not be deemed to be taken, for the purposes of this Act, by the Department responsible for dealing with the matter in connection with which the action is taken. (4B) For the purposes of this Act, if: (a) a person is not an officer of a Department or prescribed authority; and (b) the person is, or is an employee of, a Commonwealth service provider of the Department or prescribed authority under a contract; and (c) for the purposes of the contract, the person takes action in the exercise of a power or the performance of a function for or on behalf of the Department or prescribed authority; and (d) the person does not exercise the power or perform the function by reason of: (i) his or her holding, or performing the duties of, an office established by, or in accordance with the provisions of, an enactment; or (ii) his or her being a Judge of a court of, or a magistrate of, a State or Territory; and (e) the regulations do not otherwise provide; the action is taken to be action taken by the Department or prescribed authority. (5) For the purposes of this Act, action that is taken by an officer of a Department shall be deemed to be taken by the Department: (a) if the officer takes, or purports to take, the action by virtue of his or her being an officer of the Department, whether or not: (i) the action is taken for or in connexion with, or as incidental to, the performance of the functions of the Department; or (ii) the taking of the action is within the duties of the officer; or (b) if the officer takes, or purports to take, the action in the exercise of powers or the performance of functions conferred on him or her by an enactment. (5A) Notwithstanding subsection (5), where the person holding, or performing the duties of, an office established by an enactment is, under the regulations, not to be taken to be a prescribed authority for the purposes of this Act, the regulations may also provide that action taken by an officer of a Department, being action in the furtherance of the duties of that office, shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed not to be action taken by that Department. (6) For the purposes of this Act, action that is taken by an officer of a prescribed authority shall be deemed to be taken by the authority: (a) if the officer takes, or purports to take, the action by virtue of his or her being an officer of the authority, whether or not: (i) the action is taken for or in connexion with, or as incidental to, the performance of the functions of the prescribed authority; or (ii) the taking of the action is within the duties of the officer; or (b) if the officer takes, or purports to take, the action in the exercise of powers or the performance of functions conferred on him or her by an enactment. (6A) For the purposes of this Act, action that is taken by a member of the Defence Force shall be deemed to be taken by the Defence Force if the member takes, or purports to take, the action by virtue of his or her being a member of the Defence Force, whether or not: (a) the action is taken in connection with, in the course of, or as incidental to, his or her service as a member of the Defence Force; or (b) the taking of the action is within his or her duties as a member of the Defence Force. (6B) Action taken by any person or persons by way of, or in connection with, the appointment of a person to be the Chief of the Defence Force, the Chief of Navy, the Chief of Army or the Chief of Air Force is not action taken by the Defence Force or by a Department for the purposes of this Act. (6C) In this Act (other than subsection (6A)), unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to a member of the Defence Force or of an arm or part of the Defence Force includes a reference to: (a) a person who has been a member of the Defence Force or of that arm or part of the Defence Force; or (b) a deceased person who was at any time before his or her death a member of the Defence Force or of that arm or part of the Defence Force. (6D) For the purposes of this Act, action that is taken by an officer of a registered PPO is taken to have been taken by the registered PPO if the officer takes, or purports to take, the action because he or she is an officer of the registered PPO, whether or not: (a) the action is taken for or in connection with, or as incidental to, the provision of a postal or similar service by the registered PPO; or (b) the taking of the action is within the duties of the officer. (6E) For the purposes of this Act, action that is taken by a person is deemed to be have been taken by a higher education provider if the person takes, or purports to take, the action because the person is the higher education principal executive officer, or a higher education officer, of the provider, whether or not: (a) the action is taken for or in connection with, or as incidental to: (i) performing services for or on behalf of the provider; or (ii) carrying out the person’s powers, duties and functions as an employee in the provider’s service, or as an officer of the provider; or (b) the taking of the action is within the person’s duties as the higher education principal executive officer, or a higher education officer, of the provider. (7) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to the taking of action includes a reference to: (a) the making of a decision or recommendation; (b) the formulation of a proposal; and (c) failure or refusal to take any action, to make a decision or recommendation or to formulate a proposal. (7A) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to the Ombudsman of a State shall be read as a reference to a person performing, under a law of the State, functions similar to the functions performed by the Ombudsman. (7B) For the purposes of a provision of this Act (other than this subsection) in which a reference to the Ombudsman of a State occurs: (a) a reference to a State, in relation to the Ombudsman of a State, shall be read as including a reference to the Australian Capital Territory and a reference to the Northern Territory; (b) a reference to a law of a State, in relation to the Ombudsman of a State, shall be read as including a reference to an ACT enactment and a reference to an enactment of the Northern Territory; and (c) a reference to a Department or authority of a State, in relation to the Ombudsman of a State, shall be read as including a reference to: (i) the Australian Capital Territory; or (ii) a Territory authority as defined by section 3 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1988; as the case requires. (8) A reference in this Act to the international relations of the Commonwealth is a reference to the relations of the Commonwealth with the Government of another country or with an international organization. (9) For the purposes of this Act, the Australian Federal Police shall be deemed to be a prescribed authority. (10) In the application of this Act in relation to the Australian Federal Police, references in this Act to an officer of a prescribed authority shall be read as references to an AFP appointee. (11) For the purposes of this Act (other than subsection (6)), the Defence Force shall be deemed to be a prescribed authority. (12) In the application of this Act in relation to the Defence Force: (a) references in this Act to an officer of a prescribed authority shall be read as references to a member of the Defence Force; (b) references in this Act to the principal officer of a prescribed authority shall be read as references to the Chief of the Defence Force; and (c) references in this Act to the responsible Minister, in relation to a matter in relation to a prescribed authority, or in relation to action taken by a prescribed authority in or in relation to a matter, shall be read as references to the Minister for Defence or another Minister acting for and on behalf of the Minister for Defence. (13) For the purposes of this Act, any matter (including a report) concerning both the Defence Force and the Department of Defence may, by arrangement between the Defence Force Ombudsman, the Chief of the Defence Force and the principal officer of the Department of Defence, be communicated by the Defence Force Ombudsman to either the Chief of the Defence Force or the principal officer of that Department. (13A) For the purposes of this Act, the ACC is taken to be a prescribed authority. (14) For the purposes of this Act: (a) the officers of a court or tribunal (other than the chief executive officer); and (b) the members of the staff of the registry or registries of a court or tribunal; and (c) officers or employees of a Department, or of an authority of the Commonwealth, whose services are made available to a court or tribunal; and (d) persons declared by the regulations to be members of the staff of a court or tribunal for the purposes of this Act; are to be taken to be members of the staff of the court or tribunal. (15) A reference in this section to an officer of a court or tribunal does not include a judge of a court or a member of a tribunal. (16) In relation to anything that concerns: (a) a chief executive officer, in relation to a court or tribunal; or (b) a Parliamentary Department; a reference to which this subsection applies has effect in accordance with subsection (18). (17) Subsection (16) applies to the following references: (a) a reference in any of the following provisions to the responsible Minister: (i) paragraph 8(7A)(b); (ii) subsections 8(8) and (9); (iii) paragraph 8(10)(c); (iv) subsection 11A(5); (v) subparagraphs 35(3)(b)(i) and (ia); (b) the reference in paragraph 8(10)(a) to the Minister administering a Department; (c) the reference in subsection 15(6) to the Minister concerned. (18) A reference to which subsection (16) applies is to be read as follows: (a) in the case of the chief executive officer, in relation to a court, the reference is to be read as a reference to the chief justice or chief judge (however described) of the court; (b) in the case of the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Administrative Review Tribunal, the reference is to be read as a reference to the President of the Administrative Review Tribunal; (c) in the case of the chief executive officer, in relation to a tribunal (other than the Administrative Review Tribunal), the reference is to be read as a reference to the president or principal member (however described) of the tribunal or, if the tribunal consists of a single member, as a reference to that member; (d) in the case of the Department of the Senate, the reference is to be read as a reference to the President of the Senate; (e) in the case of the Department of the House of Representatives, the reference is to be read as a reference to the Speaker; (f) in the case of any other Parliamentary Department, the reference is to be read as a reference to the President of the Senate and the Speaker.
(1) A Commonwealth‑controlled company is a prescribed authority unless: (a) it is excluded by subsection (2); or (b) under the regulations it is to be taken not to be a prescribed authority. (2) Subject to subsection (3), a Commonwealth‑controlled company is excluded for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) if: (a) the company was a Commonwealth‑controlled company immediately before the commencement of Part 6 of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994; and (b) immediately before that commencement the company was not a prescribed authority for the purposes of this Act as then in force. (3) A Commonwealth‑controlled company that, but for this subsection, would be excluded by subsection (2) is not so excluded if the regulations declare that the company is to be taken to be a prescribed authority.
(1) ACT enactments are not enactments. (2) The Australian Capital Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1988 and the Canberra Water Supply (Googong Dam) Act 1974 are not enactments. (3) Part IV, sections 29 and 30, subsection 63(2), section 66 and Division 5 of Part X of the Australian Capital Territory Planning and Land Management Act 1988 are not enactments. (4) Where the whole of an Act or Ordinance is not an enactment, an instrument made under it is not an enactment. (5) Where part of an Act or Ordinance is not an enactment, an instrument made under the Act or Ordinance, as the case may be, is not an enactment unless made for the purposes of the other part of the Act or Ordinance, as the case may be.
A person is a Commonwealth service provider of a Department or prescribed authority under a contract (the Commonwealth contract) if: (a) both of the following apply: (i) the person, and the Department or prescribed authority or the Commonwealth, are parties to the Commonwealth contract; (ii) for the purposes of the Commonwealth contract, the person is responsible for providing goods or services, for or on behalf of the Department or prescribed authority, to another person who is not a Department or prescribed authority or the Commonwealth; or (b) both of the following apply: (i) the person, and a person who is (under a previous application of this section) a Commonwealth service provider of the Department or prescribed authority under the Commonwealth contract, are parties to another contract (the subcontract); (ii) under the subcontract and for the purposes of the Commonwealth contract, the person is responsible for providing goods or services, for or on behalf of the Department or prescribed authority, to another person who is not a Department or prescribed authority or the Commonwealth.
This Act applies both within and outside Australia and extends to every external Territory.
Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
This Act may be cited as the Ombudsman Act 1976.
This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.
(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
ACC means the Australian Crime Commission established under section 7 of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.
ACMA means the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
ACT enactment means an enactment as defined by section 3 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1988.
adult has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
AFP appointee has the same meaning as in the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
AFP Commissioner means the Commissioner within the meaning of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
AFP conduct issue has the same meaning as in the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
AFP practices issue has the same meaning as in the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
Agency Head has the same meaning as in the Public Service Act 1999.
alternative dispute resolution process means a procedure or service that:
(a) is for the resolution of disputes, including mediation and conciliation (but not including arbitration or court processes or services); and
(b) does not involve the exercise of the judicial power of the Commonwealth.
APS Code of Conduct means the rules in section 13 of the Public Service Act 1999.
Australia Post means the Australian Postal Corporation.
authorized person means:
(a) a person appointed by the Ombudsman to be an authorized person for the purposes of this Act; or
(b) a person included in a class of persons appointed by the Ombudsman to be authorized persons for the purposes of this Act.
Board of the ACC means the Board of the Australian Crime Commission established under section 7B of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.
Chief Executive Medicare has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
chief executive officer, in relation to a court or tribunal, means the person holding the office, or performing the duties, of:
(a) in relation to the High Court—the Chief Executive and Principal Registrar of the Court; or
(b) in relation to the Federal Court of Australia—the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Court; or
(c) in relation to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1)—the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1); or
(d) in relation to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)—the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1); or
(e) in relation to the Administrative Review Tribunal—the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the Tribunal; or
(f) in relation to a court or tribunal declared by the regulations—the office declared by those regulations to be the office of the chief executive officer of the court or tribunal for the purposes of this Act; or
(g) an office prescribed by the regulations in lieu of an office referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e).
Commonwealth‑controlled company means an incorporated company in which the Commonwealth has an interest that enables the Commonwealth:
(a) to control the composition of the board of directors of the company; or
(b) to cast, or control the casting of, more than one‑half of the maximum number of votes that might be cast at a general meeting of the company; or
(c) to control more than one‑half of the issued share capital of the company (excluding any part of that share capital that carries no right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital).
Commonwealth entity has the same meaning as in the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Commonwealth service provider has the meaning given by section 3BA.
complying health insurance policy has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
complying health insurance product has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
constitutional corporation means a corporation to which paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution applies.
constitutional provider means:
(a) a constitutional corporation; or
(b) a body corporate that is established by or under a law of the Commonwealth or a Territory.
CSC (short for Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation) has the same meaning as in the Governance of Australian Government Superannuation Schemes Act 2011.
Department means a Department within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999, but does not include the branch of the Australian Public Service comprising the transitional staff as defined by section 3 of the A.C.T. Self‑Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988.
Department of Defence means the Department administered by the Minister administering section 1 of the Defence Act 1903.
Deputy Ombudsman means a Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman.
Deputy Ombudsman (Defence Force) means the Deputy Ombudsman who is, by virtue of a notice under subsection 23(1) that is in force, designated as the Deputy Ombudsman (Defence Force).
disclosable conduct has the same meaning as in the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013.
enactment means, subject to section 3B:
(a) an Act; or
(b) an Ordinance of the Australian Capital Territory; or
(c) an Ordinance of Norfolk Island, of the Territory of Christmas Island or of the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands; or
(d) an instrument made under an Act or under an Ordinance referred to in paragraph (b) or (c); or
(e) a law (not being an Act, an Ordinance referred to in paragraph (c) or an instrument referred to in paragraph (d)) in force in Norfolk Island, the Territory of Christmas Island or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands;
but does not include the Northern Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1978 or an enactment of the Northern Territory.
enactment of the Northern Territory means:
(a) a law or Ordinance referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of enactment in subsection 4(1) of the Northern Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1978; or
(b) an instrument (including rules, regulations or by‑laws) made under such a law or Ordinance.
engage in conduct means:
(a) do an act; or
(b) omit to do an act.
examiner of ACC has the meaning given by the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.
excluded action has the meaning given by subsections 21AD(3) and (4).
health care provider has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Health Department means the Department administered by the Health Minister.
health insurance business has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Health Minister means the Minister administering the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Higher Education Department means the Department administered by the Higher Education Minister.
Higher Education Minister means the Minister administering the TEQSA Act.
higher education officer, of a higher education provider, means a person who:
(a) is an officer or employee of the provider; or
(b) performs services for or on behalf of the provider (other than a person covered paragraph (a)).
higher education principal executive officer, of a higher education provider, means the person who has executive responsibility for the operation of the provider.
higher education provider means a constitutional provider that is:
(a) registered under Part 3 of the TEQSA Act; and
(b) listed on the National Register of Higher Education Providers under paragraph 198(1)(a) of that Act.
higher education student, of a higher education provider, means:
(a) a student enrolled in any course of study with the higher education provider (other than a student enrolled only in a VET course with the provider); or
(b) a prospective student, or a former student, in relation to any course of study (other than a VET course) with the higher education provider.
Note: A course of study includes, for example, an enabling course and a microcredential course.
law enforcement agency has the same meaning as in the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.
medical practitioner has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
National Anti‑Corruption Commissioner means the Commissioner within the meaning of the National Anti‑Corruption Commission Act 2022.
National Student Ombudsman Rules means rules made under section 21AZL.
officer means:
(a) in relation to a Department:
(i) a person (including the principal officer of the Department) employed, whether in a permanent or temporary capacity, in the Department; or
(ii) any other person (not being a Minister) authorized to exercise powers or perform functions of the Department on behalf of the Department; or
(b) in relation to a prescribed authority:
(i) the person who constitutes, or is acting as the person who constitutes, the authority;
(ii) a person who is, or is acting as, a member of the authority or is a deputy of such a member;
(iii) a person who is employed in the service of, or is a member of the staff of, the authority, whether or not he or she is employed by the authority; or
(iv) a person authorized by the authority to exercise any powers or perform any functions of the authority on behalf of the authority.
Note: For the meaning of officer in Parts IIB, IIC and IID, see sections 19G, 19ZF and 20A respectively.
Ombudsman means the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
ombudsman scheme means a scheme providing for the investigation of complaints by consumers about matters relating to decisions or actions of the holders of licences or authorities granted under an enactment.
Ordinance, in relation to the Australian Capital Territory, includes a law of a State that applies, or the provisions of a law of a State that apply, in the Territory by virtue of an enactment (other than a law that is, or provisions that are, an ACT enactment).
Parliamentary Department means a Department of the Parliament established under the Parliamentary Service Act 1999.
personal information has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
PHI records, of a subject of a complaint under Division 3 of Part IID or an investigation under Division 4 of Part IID, includes any of the following documents that are in the possession, or under the control, of the subject:
(a) the constitution and rules of the subject, if the subject is a private health insurer;
(b) the internal training manuals and related documents of the subject;
(c) any documents relevant to a private health insurance arrangement to which the subject is a party or that applies to the subject;
(d) to the extent that the complaint or investigation relates to the subject’s dealings with a particular person—the subject’s documents relating to its dealings with that particular person including correspondence, internal memoranda, emails, and recordings of taped conversations;
whenever those documents came into existence.
postal or similar service includes:
(a) a postal service; and
(b) a courier service; and
(c) a packet or parcel carrying service.
PPO (short for Private Postal Operator) means an entity (other than Australia Post) that provides a postal or similar service, whether or not that entity also provides other services.
prescribed authority means:
(a) a body corporate, or an unincorporated body, established for a public purpose by, or in accordance with the provisions of, an enactment, other than:
(i) an incorporated company or association;
(ii) a body that has the power to take evidence on oath or affirmation and is required, or is expressly permitted, by an enactment to be constituted by, or to include among its members, a person who is a Justice or Judge of a court created by the Parliament or a person who has, by virtue of an Act, the same status as a Justice or Judge of such a court;
(iii) a body that, under subsection (2) or the regulations, is not to be taken to be a prescribed authority for the purposes of this Act; and
(v) a Royal Commission; or
(b) a Commonwealth‑controlled company that is a prescribed authority by virtue of section 3A; or
(ba) a body corporate, or an unincorporated body, established by the Governor‑General or by a Minister and declared by the regulations to be a prescribed authority; or
(bb) a chief executive officer, in relation to a court or tribunal; or
(c) the person holding, or performing the duties of, an office established by an enactment, other than:
(i) the chief executive officer, in relation to a court or tribunal, or a person who, for the purposes of this Act, is to be taken to be a member of the staff of a court or tribunal; or
(ii) a person who, under subsection (3) or the regulations, is not to be taken to be a prescribed authority for the purposes of this Act; or
(d) the person performing the duties of an appointment declared by the regulations to be an appointment the holder of which is a prescribed authority for the purposes of this Act, being an appointment made by the Governor‑General, or by a Minister, otherwise than under an enactment.
principal officer means:
(a) in relation to a Department of the Australian Public Service—the person holding, or performing the duties of, the office of Secretary of the Department; or
(c) in relation to a prescribed authority:
(i) if the regulations declare an office to be the principal office in respect of the authority—the person holding, or performing the duties of, that office; or
(ii) in any other case—the person who constitutes, or is acting as the person who constitutes, that authority or, if the authority is constituted by 2 or more persons, the person who is entitled to preside at any meeting of the authority at which he or she is present.
Note: For the meaning of principal officer for the purposes of Part IIB, see section 19G.
private health insurance arrangement has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
private health insurance broker has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Private Health Insurance (Information Disclosure) Rules means rules mentioned in subsection 333‑20(1), table item 16, of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman Rules means rules made under section 20ZJ.
private health insurance policy has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
private health insurer has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
product has the same meaning as in the Private Health Insurance Act 2007.
registered PPO means a PPO that is registered for the purposes of Part IIB (see section 19ZA).
Note: In certain circumstances, a PPO that is no longer registered for the purposes of Part IIB may still be treated as a registered PPO (see section 19J).
responsible Minister, in relation to a matter, or to action taken in or in relation to a matter, means:
(a) if a Department of the Australian Public Service is responsible for dealing with the matter—the Minister administering that Department; or
(c) if a prescribed authority referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of prescribed authority is responsible for dealing with the matter—the Minister administering the enactment by which, or in accordance with the provisions of which, the prescribed authority is established; or
(d) if a prescribed authority referred to in paragraph (c) of that defini
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