H J AMES J OHNSON

HUMAN RIGHTS § CIVIL RIGHTS § CORRUPTION § MEDIA

D EFA M AT I O N § P R O F E S S I O N A L N E G L I G E N C E L AW
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Monday 5 October 2009 *** IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION

*** OPEN LETTER (NO EMBARGO)

Mr George Brouwer
Victorian State Ombudsman
Level 9, 459 Collins Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
By Hand Delivery

Dear Mr Brouwer

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, THE SUNDAY AGE: A VINDICATION OF VICTORIA'S STATE OMBUDSMAN
1. I was horrified by the Article I read in the Sunday Age (04/10/09) under the Headline and Byline “HAS OUR
GUARD DOG GOT OFF THE LEASH? Mounting criticism of Ombudsman George Brouwer has many
calling for someone to watch the watcher.”
2. As a long-term admirer of your moral courage and integrity, I was appalled to read this nonesense.
3. I attach for your information a copy of my letter to the editor seeking to vindicate you and your office.
4. I believe you shoul draw much personal and public strength from this backlash of criticism.
5. While I know you would not wish to populate the notion of you as a 'caped crusader' against corruption. I
believe that you deserve some kudos in this regard. I don't understand how a seasoned report for a
supposed quality newspaper (certainly one who could afford this journalist months to research and write
this) could fail to realise that the persons who will complain the loudest about a 'caped crusader' are the very
penguins, jokers, riddlers, poison ivys and catwomen that it is your. duty to expose, not with “biff” and
“buffaw” but via civilised reports to the Parliament and citizens of Victoria.
6. I congratulate you on your work and the work of your office. Your 2008-09 Annual Report is without a doubt
one of the most important Governmment publications of this year and it pains me that the media (or at least
this journalist and this Sunday paper) seem incapable at the present time of appreciating your true value to
the peoples and the 'good' elements of Government in this State.

Regards

JAMES JOHNSON

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