The Victorian Ombudsman George Brouwer recently expressed strong concern regarding the Integrity and Accountability Amendment Bill 2012 and the Protected Disclosure Bill 2012, having significant impact on the operation of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Peter Shoyer started his new function as Ombudsman for the Northern Territory in Australia on 20 November 2012.

Patrick Anthony (Tony) McCourt was recently appointed as the new Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. The Ombudsman was selected following an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service.

According to the instructions of the Commissioner for Human Rights Elmira Suleymanova, the members of Guba Regional Office of NPM established in accordance with Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment conducted visit to temporary detention place of Gusar District Police Office Detainees were interviewed; their rights were explained to them.

The IOI held a very successful World Conference in Wellington, New Zealand from 12 to 16 November 2012. As a forum for Ombudsman Institutions, the IOI World Conference once again enabled colleagues from around the world to meet and to share their experience and expertise.

At its Wellington meeting held on 15 November 2012, the IOI Board of Directors held elections to the Executive Committee of the IOI.

The IOI Board of Directors as well as the six world Regions of the IOI took the opportunity of the 10^th IOI World Conference in Wellington, New Zealand to meet and hold elections.

In the course of a three-day research visit a representative of the Norwegian Organisation for Asylum seekers (NOAS) visited the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB) on 8 November 2012.