The Hon. Tony Abbott, MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Dear Prime Minister
I have pleasure in submitting the thirty-seventh Commonwealth Ombudsman Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2014, as required by s 19(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1976.
The report also contains the annual reports of the Defence Force Ombudsman, Postal Industry Ombudsman and Overseas Students Ombudsman in accordance with sections 19F(3), 19X and 19ZS of the Ombudsman Act, respectively.
In addition, the report includes my first annual report on the operation of the Public Interest Disclosure scheme in accordance with s 76 of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013.
I certify that this report has been prepared in accordance with the Requirements for Annual Reports for 2013–14 as approved by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit under sections 63(2) and 70(2) of the Public Service Act 1999.
Section 19(4) of the Ombudsman Act requires that the report be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of its receipt.
Yours sincerely
Colin Neave
Commonwealth Ombudsman