New Commonwealth Ombudsman Announced
16 August 2012 at 3:01 pm
The Federal Government has appointed Colin Neave AM as the new Commonwealth Ombudsman.
Minister for the Public Service and Integrity Gary Gray said Neave had an impeccable record in senior leadership roles in the law, consumer affairs and government administration.
“His experience in public administration and in complaint resolution means he is well placed to ensure the Office of the Ombudsman is held in the highest regard by the Parliament and the community,” Gray said.
Colin Neave is currently President of the Administrative Review Council, Vice Chair of the Australian Press Council, Chairperson of the Legal Services Board of Victoria and Chairman of the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June 2005 for service to public administration and to the banking and finance industry, particularly through dispute resolution.
Previously Neave has served as the Chief Ombudsman of the Financial Ombudsman Service and as the Australian Banking Industry Ombudsman. He has held senior management positions in the public sectors of several jurisdictions including as Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, Managing Director of the Legal Aid Commission of NSW, Secretary of the Victorian Attorney-General’s Department and Director-General of the South Australian Department of Public and Consumer Affairs.
His appointment is for a period of five years commencing on 17 September 2012. It fills a vacancy created by the resignation of the former Commonwealth Ombudsman, Allan Asher.
