A former high-ranking government lawyer and integrity chief will keep tabs on Victoria's public service as the state's next ombudsman.
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Premier Jacinta Allan on Tuesday announced Marlo Baragwanath would take over the post from outgoing ombudsman Deborah Glass.
Ms Baragwanath is the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission's chief executive and was previously the Victorian government solicitor, providing the state with legal advice.
In her role with the anti-corruption watchdog, Ms Baragwanath helped deliver integrity investigations and reports, and undertook a major review of its approach to witnesses' welfare, Ms Allan said.
She has also held a senior role at the Victorian Building Authority, served as WorkSafe's general counsel and with the Victorian Ombudsman in her first public job as a policy officer in the early 2000s.
"With her background in legal and integrity roles across the Victorian public sector, she is well-prepared to take on the responsibilities of the Victorian Ombudsman," Ms Allan said.
Ms Baragwanath will begin her 10-year term in the role on March 30, immediately after Ms Glass finishes up in the job.
Ms Glass put pressure on the Victorian government over the years, including with reports about the COVID-19 lockdown of public housing towers and alleged politicisation of the public service.
In a 2020 review, Ms Glass found the state government breached the human rights of residents by locking down towers without notice and its timing did not follow health advice.
Her office's 2023 report on the alleged politicisation of the state's public sector found it had been infected by a culture that stops many bureaucrats from giving frank, impartial or fearless advice to the government.
Ms Allan acknowledged Ms Glass' 10 years of service in the role and said a selection panel recommended Ms Baragwanath be appointed as her replacement.
Australian Associated Press
