The Commonwealth Ombudsman has urged the Federal Government to be
more cooperative with the victims of bureaucratic mistakes.
The report on the compensation scheme for people who have suffered as a
result of a government mistake has found agencies are defensive and legalistic
in the approach to assessing claims.
Ombudsman John McMillan says his office receives about 200 complaints
each year about government errors.
He says the worst situations usually involve incorrect verbal advice.
"It's that closed-minded attitude that our staff would never give advice of that
kind," he said. "That is the single biggest recurring problem we see.
"In some instances the complainant to our office has kept a record that can
be corroborated by others which indicates that that advice was given and the
person's actions seem to confirm that."
Professor McMillan has urged government agencies to promote the compensation
scheme more openly and to finalise cases more quickly.
Ref: ABC News
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