RI ombudsman for Australia's help

CANBERRA: The National Ombudsman Commission is reviewing the possibility of working with its Australian counterpart to develop an ombudsman commission program in provinces across Indonesia.

"We will learn from the Ombudsman Commonwealth of Australia, which is experienced in developing independent institutions in all of Australia's states -- Indonesia needs such a model in view of regional autonomy," commission chief Antonius Sujata said here on Friday.

Antonius and two members of the commission were in Canberra this weekend at the invitation of the Ombudsman Commonwealth of Australia.

"Ombudsman Australia was formed 25 years ago, while our commission was established only two years ago. Many of Australia's experiences could be applied to Indonesia," he added.

In particular, Sujata said that the commission would study the relations between the ombudsman commission of the central government, and those of local governments. -- Antara