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50 years pursuing fairness for NSW 1975-2025
This year marks 50 years since the establishment of the NSW Ombudsman.
On 2 April 1975, Kenneth Smithers, a Sydney solicitor, was appointed as the state’s first Ombudsman. He was tasked with establishing an independent body dedicated to ensuring transparency, integrity, and fairness in government decision-making and public services. Since then, we have handled hundreds of thousands of complaints, conducted investigations, and made recommendations that have shaped public administration and improved services for the people of NSW.
As the institution celebrates this milestone, they will be reflecting on their history, sharing stories of impact, and looking ahead to the future of oversight and accountability in NSW.
Read more about the history of the NSW Ombudsman, written by Dr Lisa Murray, public historian.
Source: The Office of the Ombudsman New South Wales, Australia
