Cutting Red Tape In The Red Centre

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14th December 2009, 01:00pm - Views: 722





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MEDIA RELEASE

Monday, 14 December 2009

Cutting red tape in the Red Centre

A new agreement between the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Northern Territory

(NT) Ombudsman means that people in the NT can now complain to either Ombudsman

about unresolved problems with government decision making without needing to know

which level of government is responsible.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) seeks to address uncertainty about which

agency a person should approach for help, particularly in relation to the Northern

Territory Emergency Response (NTER) and other Indigenous programs in the NT.

Commonwealth Ombudsman Professor John McMillan today said that the way

Indigenous programs and services in the NT were delivered and managed through local,

territory and federal agencies was complex and not easily understood by the public. This

was a particular challenge for people living in remote Indigenous communities.

‘It is essential that people have access to an independent complaint service if things go

wrong and that they do not face additional barriers if they do not know which level of

government has responsibility for a program,’ Professor McMillan said.

‘It is also important that government agencies are accountable for their decisions and

actions, and programs are properly administered.

‘To be effective, government agencies and Ombudsmen must lessen the jurisdictional

obstacles to complaining about program delivery when multiple governments have an

interest, in areas like health, housing, education and law enforcement. That’s what this

agreement does.’

The Ombudsman for the NT, Ms Carolyn Richards, said that the complex nature of the

NTER and other Indigenous programs in the NT required a complementary approach by

oversight agencies to ensure effective investigation of complaints and avoid duplication.

‘As a neutral third party, Ombudsmen play a vital safety net role in disputes between

government and individuals,’ Ms Richards said.

‘We know that many Indigenous Australians are confused about what and why particular

programs have been introduced into their communities, concerned about the impact

these programs may have on their communities, unaware that they can complain if they

are dissatisfied, or unsure about how or to whom they should complain.

‘It is critical, therefore, that both the Commonwealth Ombudsman and I make it as easy

as possible for them to ask for our help, if and when they need it.’

The MOU, which has been signed by Professor McMillan and Ms Richards, commits

them to working cooperatively and collaboratively to help ensure that people in the NT

have their issues heard and resolved.

For more information about the Ombudsmen or to make a complaint online, visit


complaints by telephone, call 1300 362 072 (Commonwealth) or 1800 806 380 (NT).

__________________________________

Media contacts:

Fiona Skivington

Commonwealth Ombudsman’s office

0408 861 803

Julie Carlsen

NT Ombudsman’s office

08 89991950






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