Commonwealth and ACT Ombudsman Allan Asher has apologised to a Senate committee for drafting questions for a Greens senator, describing it as ''an error of judgment'' and a mistake.
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He admitted drafting possible questions for Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to ask at a Senate estimates hearing earlier this year.
The questions related to the funding level of his office in relation to the increased workload arising from his oversight of complaints from the immigration detention network.
Mr Asher last night told the Senate finance and public administration legislation committee he wanted to offer an explanation.
''This was an error of judgment and it was a mistake and I wish to firstly apologise to the committee for that,'' Mr Asher said.
The Ombudsman said he lacked mechanisms in the current system for drawing attention to the capacity of the agency in terms of its budget.
Mr Asher said the complaint handling in relation to the immigration detention network was one of the key priorities of his office.
''My office needs appropriate funds to do that,'' he told the Senate estimates hearing.
The office was statutorily independent and did not have a responsible minister, a role the committee might consider.