What do I need to do first?
Before making a complaint to us, please raise your issue with the public authority concerned and try to resolve it directly with them.
Put your concerns in writing and give the authority a chance to respond.
If you would like some tips to help you increase your chances of having your complaint understood and acted upon, please see our page tips for making a complaint. This might help you get the result you want (although it’s not guaranteed).
If you are not satisfied with the authority's answer, or if there is a long delay, you can complain to the Ombudsman.
Usually, we won’t accept your complaint if another means of review is available to you, or was available to you, and you didn’t make use of that. For instance, you may have been able to apply to a court or tribunal.
How to make a complaint
If you can’t resolve the issue by raising it directly with the authority concerned, you can submit a complaint to us.
You can make a complaint to us using our online complaint form, by calling us (on 1800 001 170), or in person at our office. We may ask you to put your complaint in writing before we make any inquiries. Don't wait too long before contacting us. Usually, we won’t accept a complaint if the issue goes back more than two years.
Explain your concerns simply and clearly, and tell us what you hope to achieve by making the complaint. Please include as many relevant details as you can. For example, include the dates of key events, the names of people you've contacted, and copies of letters and other documents.
Make a complaint
See our make a complaint page.
What happens next?
Our first step is to ensure that your complaint is within the Ombudsman's jurisdiction. We can only take complaints about the administrative actions of Tasmanian public authorities. And we can only take complaints from people personally affected by those actions. For more information on what you can complain about, please visit our frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.
If we can't handle your complaint, we'll usually refer you to someone else who can.
If we accept your complaint, an investigation officer will make inquiries to try and resolve the complaint without a formal investigation. We usually ask for a response from the authority. We may also seek other views, inspect documents and interview relevant people.
Most complaints are resolved by these preliminary inquiries. Formal investigations can be complex and time-consuming. We will keep you up to date with progress.