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NSW Ombudsman asked to do more with less
Friday 21 August 2009
Greens MP and justice spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on the government to provide a significant funding boost to the NSW Ombudsman, following news the office plans to cut complaints handling to cope with a revenue crisis. She says without additional revenue the public will suffer because this key watchdog will be unable to properly expose how government agencies are performing (p. 7, Sydney Morning Herald today).
The Ombudsman Mr Bruce Barbour has taken the unusual step of writing to Greens MPs warning them of an increase in complaints from constituents because he plans to cut back on complaint handling due to a long running funding squeeze (letter below).
"The Ombudsman's letter suggests he has given up on the government and has been forced to politicise the issue to get some traction, in a similar way to the NSW DPP Nicholas Cowdery.
"The Labor government has been tightening the belt of the NSW Ombudsman for years, reducing its energy and ability to scrutinise government agencies and legislation.
"While the government has been ignoring the Ombudsman's calls for more funding it has also been loading the office up with more functions, creating a massive agency now at risk of falling over.
"Over the last seven years the Ombudsman's functions have grown significantly. For example in 2002 and 2003 the government closed down the Community Services Commission and Inspector-General of Prisons, which were causing it grief, and gave these functions to Mr Barbour.
"The Ombudsman's budget has been affected by the government's efficiency dividend which impacts disproportionately on small agencies, unfunded pay increases and his ever increasing workload.
"In May this year Mr Barbour told his parliamentary oversight committee that his financial situation will mean 20 fewer investigators by 2010 and less significant projects undertaken.
"The Rees government is an expert in delivering funding cuts by stealth, reducing the potency of agencies such as the Ombudsman which it feels threatens its authority," Ms Rhiannon said.
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