Abstract:
Australia is the first jurisdiction in the world to introduce a national private telecommunications industry
ombudsman. Created in 1993. the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) has grown in
jurisdiction and importance, becoming a regulatory cornerstone of the tully competitive post- 1997
Australian telecommunications regime. This paper examines the role of the TIO as a mechanism for dispute
resolution and as an industry regulator, suggesting that it provides an example of an innovatory regulatory
process which transcends the divide between deregulation and proregulation. This raises the question as to
the applicability of the ombudsman institution in terms of the regulation of telecommunications. Through
highlighting the conciliatory nature of the ombudsman, the role of the TIO as a regulator is considered in
its Australian context.
