On 26 June 2013, the Australian Parliament passed the Public Interest Disclosure Bill, legislation which establishes the first stand-alone whistleblower protection scheme for federal public servants, contractors and employees of contractors who report wrongdoing within the Commonwealth public sector.

The Pacific Ombudsman Alliance issued its latest Newsletter in June 2013. This edition includes reports on the POA’s activities in Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, as well as visits to Australia by the Cook Islands and Vanuatu Ombudsmen.

Mr. Peter Hourihan, Ombudsman for the Canadian province of Alberta, was recently appointed the province’s first Public Interest Commissioner. The office was formally launched 1 June, 2013 after new legislation, the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower) Act, came into force. 

Arlene Brock, Ombudsman for Bermuda, issued an Annual Report for the 2012 calendar year. This report comments on the ongoing denial of the government that the UK Environmental Charter constitutes a legal obligation, issues such as whistle-blowing and public access to information.

Peter Kostelka’s role as Secretary General of the IOI ends as his term as a member of the Austrian Ombudsman Board expires. On behalf of the IOI family IOI President Dame Beverley A. Wakem expressed her thanks for his immense contribution.

A thematic workshop was held on the important subject theme of employment opportunities for the youth. Several scholars and representatives of the civil society and the private sector held their presentations on the one-day event which took place in the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights.

The Ombudsman Appointments Committee of Papua New Guinea (PNG) appointed a new Chief Ombudsman on 20 June 2013.

In May 2013, the Québec National Assembly adopted the Act to amend the Police Act as concerns independent investigations. This Act was the result of the recommendations of the Ombudsperson, Raymonde Saint-Germain, in her special report on the investigation procedure applied in Québec for incidents involving police officers.