Ombudsman Act 1989
- Number
- A1989-45
- Status
- In Force
- Current law
- Regulations & instruments
- Point-in-time versions
- Law history
Current version
Notes
- Proposed amendments by Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026.
- Proposed amendments by Firearms (Firearm Prohibition Orders) Amendment Bill 2026.
| Effective | Files/Formats | Version | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 March 2026 | HTMLPDFWord | R49 | 9 March 2026 | Republication for amendments by A2026-3 |
Administering Minister and Directorate
- Chief Minister - Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
Legislative instruments
Legislative instruments under the Act and its subordinate laws
| Name | Status | Classifier | Type | Under | Effective | Year and No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ombudsman Regulation 1989 | None | Subordinate laws | s 38 | 24 October 2025 | SL1989-9 | |
| Ombudsman Regulations (Amendment)(Repealed) | Repealed | Subordinate laws | s 38 | 13 February 1991 - 29 March 2001 | SL1991-4 | |
| Ombudsman Amendment Regulation 2025 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Subordinate laws | s 38 | 24 October 2025 - 25 October 2025 | SL2025-21 |
Point-in-time versions
| Effective | Files/Formats | Version | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 March 2026 | HTMLPDFWord | R49 | 9 March 2026 | Republication for amendments by A2026-3 |
| 18 September 2024 - 8 March 2026 | HTMLPDFWord | R48 | 18 September 2024 | Republication for amendments by A2024-41 |
| 30 September 2023 - 17 September 2024 | HTMLPDFWord | R47 | 30 September 2023 | Republication for amendments by A2023-37 |
| 6 April 2022 - 29 September 2023 | HTMLPDFWord | R46 | 6 April 2022 | Republication for amendments by A2022-4 |
| 4 March 2021 - 5 April 2022 | HTMLPDFWord | R45 | 4 March 2021 | Republication for amendments by A2020-46 |
| 2 September 2019 - 3 March 2021 | HTMLPDFWord | R44 | 2 September 2019 | Republication for expiry of transitional provisions (pt 11) |
| 1 September 2019 - 1 September 2019 | HTMLPDFWord | R43 | 1 September 2019 | Republication for amendments by A2019-6 |
| 28 March 2019 - 31 August 2019 | HTMLPDFWord | R42 | 28 March 2019 | Republication for amendments by A2019-6 |
| 22 November 2018 - 27 March 2019 | HTMLPDFWord | R41 | 22 November 2018 | Republication for amendments by A2018-42 |
| 1 July 2018 - 21 November 2018 | HTMLPDFWord | R40 | 1 July 2018 | Republication for amendments by A2018-22 |
| 1 January 2018 - 30 June 2018 | HTMLPDFWord | R39 | 1 January 2018 | Republication for amendments by A2016-55 as amended by A2017-14 |
| 13 December 2017 - 31 December 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R38 | 13 December 2017 | Republication for amendments by A2017-48 |
| 8 December 2017 - 12 December 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R37 | 8 December 2017 | Republication for amendments by A2017-47 |
| 14 November 2017 - 7 December 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R36 | 14 November 2017 | Republication for amendments by A2017-41 |
| 1 July 2017 - 13 November 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R35 | 1 July 2017 | Republication for amendments by A2016-39 |
| 1 February 2017 - 30 June 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R34 | 1 February 2017 | Republication for amendments by A2015-1 as amended by A2015-52 |
| 1 September 2016 - 31 January 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R33 | 1 September 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-52 |
| 1 April 2016 - 31 August 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R32 | 1 April 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-13 |
| 10 December 2015 - 31 March 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R31 | 10 December 2015 | Republication for updated endnotes as amended by A2015-52 |
| 9 December 2015 - 9 December 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R30 | 9 December 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-50 |
| 2 October 2015 - 8 December 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R29 | 2 October 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-35 |
| 2 July 2015 - 1 October 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R28 | 2 July 2015 | Republication for expiry of transitional provisions (pt 10) |
| 21 April 2015 - 1 July 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R27 | 21 April 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-10 |
| 1 July 2014 - 20 April 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R26 | 1 July 2014 | Republication for amendments by A2013-41 |
| 14 June 2013 - 30 June 2014 | HTMLPDFWord | R25 | 14 June 2013 | Republication for amendments by A2013-19 |
| 1 February 2013 - 13 June 2013 | HTMLPDFWord | R24 | 1 February 2013 | Republication for amendments by A2012-43 |
| 5 June 2012 - 31 January 2013 | HTMLPDFWord | R23 | 5 June 2012 | Republication for amendments by A2012-21 |
| 29 May 2012 - 4 June 2012 | HTMLPDFWord | R22 | 29 May 2012 | Republication for amendments by A2012-25 |
| 12 December 2011 - 28 May 2012 | HTMLPDFWord | R21 | 12 December 2011 | Republication for amendments by A2011-52 |
| 1 July 2011 - 11 December 2011 | HTMLPDFWord | R20 | 1 July 2011 | Republication for amendments by A2011-22 |
| 28 September 2010 - 30 June 2011 | HTMLPDFWord | R19 | 28 September 2010 | Republication for amendments by A2010-30 |
| 2 February 2009 - 27 September 2010 | HTMLPDFWord | R18* | 2 February 2009 | Republication for amendments by A2008-37 |
| 26 August 2008 - 1 February 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R17 | 26 August 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2008-28 |
| 29 July 2008 - 25 August 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R16 | 29 July 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2008-22 |
| 12 April 2007 - 28 July 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R15 | 12 April 2007 | Republication for amendments by A2007-3 |
| 1 November 2006 - 11 April 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R14 | 1 November 2006 | Republication for amendments by A2005-41 and A2005-46 as amended by A2006-3 |
| 1 March 2006 - 31 October 2006 | HTMLPDFWord | R13 | 1 March 2006 | Republication for amendments by A2005-47 as amended by A2006-3 |
| 23 February 2006 - 28 February 2006 | HTMLPDFWord | R12 | 23 February 2006 | Republication for updated endnotes as amended by A2006-3 |
| 11 January 2006 - 22 February 2006 | HTMLPDFWord | R11 | 11 January 2006 | Republication for amendments by A2005-62 |
| 29 December 2005 - 10 January 2006 | HTMLPDFWord | R10 | 29 December 2005 | Republication for amendments by A2005-30 |
| 24 September 2005 - 28 December 2005 | HTMLPDFWord | R9 | 24 September 2005 | Republication for amendments by A2005-14 |
| 13 July 2004 - 23 September 2005 | HTMLPDFWord | R8 | 13 July 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-32 |
| 13 April 2004 - 12 July 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R7 | 13 April 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-9 |
| 9 April 2004 - 12 April 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R6 | 9 April 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-15 |
| 12 September 2001 - 8 April 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R5 (RI) | 13 February 2003 | Republication for amendments by A2000-71 and A2001-44 Reissue for retrospective amendment by A2002-49 |
| 12 September 2001 - 8 April 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R5 | 16 November 2001 | Republication for amendments by A2000-71 and A2001-44 Does not include retrospective amendments by A2002-49 (see reissued republication). |
| 1 January 2001 - 20 June 2001 | HTMLPDFWord | R4A | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A2000-66 |
| 28 February 1999 - 31 December 2000 | HTMLPDFWord | R4 (RI) | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1997-80 Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 3 October 1997 - 12 December 1998 | HTMLPDFWord | R3B | 29 October 2024 | |
| 1 May 1996 - 22 September 1997 | HTMLPDFWord | R3A | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1996-17 |
| 5 September 1995 - 30 April 1996 | HTMLPDFWord | R3 (RI) | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1995-25 Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 1 July 1995 - 4 September 1995 | HTMLPDFWord | R2G | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1995-7 |
| 21 June 1995 - 30 June 1995 | HTMLPDFWord | R2F | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1994-108 |
| 29 November 1994 - 20 June 1995 | HTMLPDFWord | R2E | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1994-81 |
| 14 November 1994 - 28 November 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R2D | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1994-60 |
| 1 July 1994 - 13 November 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R2C | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1994-38 |
| 24 June 1994 - 30 June 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R2B | 29 October 2024 | |
| 14 March 1994 - 30 May 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R2A | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1994-10 |
| 1 July 1993 - 13 March 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R2 (RI) | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1993-38 Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 1 May 1991 - 30 June 1993 | HTMLPDFWord | R1 (RI) | 29 October 2024 | Republication for amendments by A1989-38 and A1991-3 Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 11 May 1989 | HTMLPDFWord | As notified | 10 May 1989 | This ordinance became an ACT Act on 11 May 1989 (see Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth) s 34 (4)) |
Notification statement
The Ombudsman Ordinance 1989 was notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 10 May 1989 (Cwlth Gaz 1989 No S160).
(Parliamentary Counsel)
Ordinance as notified
| Date notified | Effective | Files/Formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1989 | 11 May 1989 | HTMLPDFWord | This ordinance became an ACT Act on 11 May 1989 (see Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth) s 34 (4)) |
Explanatory statement
| Version | Published | Files/Formats |
|---|---|---|
| As presented | 10 May 1989 | PDFPDF |
Commencement
| Provision | Commencement date | Commencement method |
|---|---|---|
| all provisions | 11 May 1989 | s 2 and see Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), s 2 (2) and Cwlth Gaz 1989 No S164 |
Expiries
| Provision | Expiry date | Expiry method |
|---|---|---|
| pt 11 | 1 September 2019 (midnight) | s 53 |
| pt 10 | 1 July 2015 (midnight) | s 51 |
Amendments
For section-by-section amendment annotations, see the amendment history in the endnotes in the current version of this law.
| Year and number | Amending law | Amending provision | Commencement date |
|---|---|---|---|
| A2020-46 | Public Interest Disclosure Amendment Act 2020 | sch 1 pt 1.3 | 4 March 2021 |
| A2022-4 | Legislation (Legislative Assembly Committees) Amendment Act 2022 | sch 1 pt 1.17 | 6 April 2022 |
| A1989-38 | Self-Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 1989 | sch 1 | 11 May 1989 |
| A1991-3 | Royal Commissions and Inquiries (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 | sch | 1 May 1991 |
| A1993-38 | Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 1993 | ss 4-6 | 1 July 1993 |
| A1993-97 | Ombudsman (Amendment) Act (No 2) 1993 | ss 4-6 | 24 June 1994 |
| A1994-10 | Judicial Commissions (Consequential Amendments) Act 1994 | s 8 | 14 March 1994 |
| A1994-26 | Statute Law Revision Act 1994 | sch | 31 May 1994 |
| A1994-38 | Public Sector Management (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 1994 | sch 1 pt 63 | 1 July 1994 |
| A1994-60 | Administrative Appeals (Consequential Amendments) Act 1994 | sch 1 | 14 November 1994 |
| A1994-81 | Statute Law Revision (Penalties) Act 1994 | sch | 29 November 1994 |
| A1994-108 | Public Interest Disclosure Act 1994 | s 39 | 21 June 1995 |
| A1995-7 | Electricity and Water (Corporatisation) (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995 | sch | 1 July 1995 |
| A1995-25 | Annual Reports (Government Agencies) (Consequential Provisions) Act 1995 | sch | 5 September 1995 |
| A1996-17 | Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 1996 | ss 4-10 | 1 May 1996 |
| A1997-41 | Remuneration Tribunal (Consequential Amendments) Act 1997 | sch 1 | 24 September 1997 |
| A1997-50 | Community and Health Services Complaints (Amendment) Act 1997 | sch 2 | 3 October 1997 |
| A1997-80 | Electricity (National Scheme) (Consequential Amendments) Act 1997 | sch | 13 December 1998 |
| A2000-66 | Utilities (Consequential Provisions) Act 2000 | sch 1 pt 11 | 1 January 2001 |
| A2000-71 | Subordinate Laws Amendment Act 2000 | sch 2 | 21 June 2001 |
| A2001-44 | Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 | pt 269 | 12 September 2001 |
| A2004-9 | Annual Reports Legislation Amendment Act 2004 | sch 1 pt 1.25 | 13 April 2004 |
| A2004-15 | Criminal Code (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Amendment Act 2004 | sch 2 pt 2.61 | 9 April 2004 |
| A2004-32 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2004 (No 2) | pt 14 | 13 July 2004 |
| A2005-14 | Utilities Amendment Act 2005 | s 20 | 24 September 2005 |
| A2005-30 | Crimes (Child Sex Offenders) Act 2005 | sch 3 | 29 December 2005 |
| A2005-41 | Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2005 | sch 1 pt 1.10 | 1 November 2006 |
| A2005-46 | Human Rights Commission (Children and Young People Commissioner) Amendment Act 2005 | sch 1 pt 1.2 | 1 November 2006 |
| A2005-47 | Public Advocate Act 2005 | sch 1 pt 1.8 | 1 March 2006 |
| A2005-62 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2005 (No 2) | sch 3 pt 3.18 | 11 January 2006 |
| A2007-3 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 | sch 3 pt 3.72 | 12 April 2007 |
| A2008-22 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.7 | 29 July 2008 |
| A2008-28 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2008 | sch 3 pt 3.42 | 26 August 2008 |
| A2008-37 | ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.79 | 2 February 2009 |
| A2010-30 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2010 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.16 | 28 September 2010 |
| A2011-22 | Administrative (One ACT Public Service Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2011 | sch 1 pt 1.117 | 1 July 2011 |
| A2011-52 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2011 (No 3) | sch 3 pt 3.40 | 12 December 2011 |
| A2012-21 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2012 | sch 3 pt 3.32 | 5 June 2012 |
| A2012-43 | Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012 | s 105, s 106 | 1 February 2013 |
| A2013-19 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2013 | sch 1 pt 1.2, sch 3 pt 3.31 | 14 June 2013 |
| A2013-41 | Officers of the Assembly Legislation Amendment Act 2013 | pt 4 | 1 July 2014 |
| A2015-1 | Judicial Commissions Amendment Act 2015 | sch 1 pt 1.6 | 1 February 2017 |
| A2015-10 | Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2015 | pt 14 | 21 April 2015 |
| A2015-35 | Crimes (Child Sex Offenders) Amendment Act 2015 | sch 1 pt 1.4 | 2 October 2015 |
| A2015-50 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2015 (No 2) | sch 3 pt 3.25 | 9 December 2015 |
| A2016-13 | Protection of Rights (Services) Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.30 | 1 April 2016 |
| A2016-39 | Reportable Conduct and Information Sharing Legislation Amendment Act 2016 | pt 3 | 1 July 2017 |
| A2016-52 | Public Sector Management Amendment Act 2016 | sch 1 pt 1.52 | 1 September 2016 |
| A2016-55 | Freedom of Information Act 2016 | sch 4 pt 4.19 | 1 January 2018 |
| A2017-41 | Legislative Assembly Legislation Amendment Act 2017 | pt 7 | 14 November 2017 |
| A2017-47 | Custodial Inspector Act 2017 | sch 2 pt 2.4 | 8 December 2017 |
| A2017-48 | Reportable Conduct and Information Sharing Legislation Amendment Act 2017 | pt 3 | 13 December 2017 |
| A2018-22 | Ombudsman Amendment Act 2018 | ss 4-8 | 1 July 2018 |
| A2018-42 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2018 | sch 1 pt 1.4 | 22 November 2018 |
| A2019-6 | Royal Commission Criminal Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2019 | pt 5 (except s 15) | 1 September 2019 |
| A2019-6 | Royal Commission Criminal Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2019 | s 15 | 28 March 2019 |
| A2023-37 | Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2023 | sch 1 pt 1.11 | 30 September 2023 |
| A2024-41 | Monitoring of Places of Detention Legislation Amendment Act 2024 | sch 1 pt 1.6 | 18 September 2024 |
| A2026-3 | Territory Records (Executive Records) Amendment Act 2026 | sch 1 | 9 March 2026 |