Greens pleased to be working with the Ombudsman

Following a request from the Senate's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has released extensive documentation about the Ombudsman's role, activities and outcomes, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Immigration spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

The documentation includes the release of information on immigration issues as well as the role of Defence Force Ombudsman and Taxation Ombudsman, following questions posed to the Ombudsman by Senators Hanson-Young and Brown at the Ombudsman's request.

"As with best media practice, the Greens are concerned to protect reliable sources seeking confidentiality. Nevertheless, in the public sector, this can always be overridden by Freedom of Information," Senator Brown said.

"The request by the Ombudsman to have their questions put to his office was considered by the Greens to be an important release of information into the public arena which might otherwise not have occurred," Senator Hanson-Young said.

The Commonwealth Ombudsman is a statutory authority, independent of government.