Image of Bevan Warner, Ombudsman of Western Australia

Bevan Warner has been appointed as the Ombudsman for Western Australia, commencing 9 June 2025.

For the last seven years, Bevan has been the Chief Executive Officer of Launch Housing in Melbourne, a community housing organisation dedicated to ending homelessness. At the same time, he was director of a number of housing and homelessness organisations. Prior to this, Bevan was the Managing Director of Victoria Legal Aid from 2008 to 2018 and General Manager of Legal Aid WA for 11 years.

A Western Australian with 35 years’ experience in the public sector in two states and a leader in the for-purpose charity sector delivering services to vulnerable people, Bevan brings a new focus to this vitally important independent office.

Deputy Ombudsman, David Robinson, has been acting in Ombudsman’s role since February 2024.

“I congratulate Bevan Warner on his appointment as Ombudsman and am very pleased to welcome him to the office of the Ombudsman,” said Mr Robinson.

“Bevan’s considerable experience leading organisations and pursuing social equity for some of the most vulnerable people in our community will bring great value to the important work of the office. I look forward to working with Bevan to deliver meaningful outcomes for the Western Australia community and Parliament,” said Mr Robinson.

Bevan is the eighth Ombudsman (officially titled Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations) in the 53-year history of the role in Western Australia.

The Ombudsman is an independent officer of the Western Australian Parliament, with a broad range of responsibilities keeping public authorities and other organisations to account:

  • Receives, investigates and resolves complaints about State Government agencies and local governments;

  • Reviews child deaths and family and domestic violence fatalities;

  • Undertakes own motion investigations;

  • Undertakes the Reportable Conduct Scheme; and

  • Undertakes a range of additional functions, including statutory inspection and monitoring functions.

The Ombudsman is also the Energy and Water Ombudsman Western Australia. The Energy and Water Ombudsman investigates and resolves complaints about electricity, gas and water providers.