Peter Cantwell
Assistant Ombudsman, Administrative Improvement Unit, Office of the Queensland Ombudsman

He leads the Administrative Improvement Unit, a cross-agency specialist work unit responsible for the conduct of complex and sensitive investigations that require significant dedicated time and resources and which may involve the use of coercive powers. In recent times, he has managed both the Brooke Brennan and Baby Kate child death investigations, and is a leading authority on the review of child deaths in Australia. He also managed the Workplace Electrocution Project, the largest investigative project ever undertaken by the Queensland Ombudsman’s Office. In December 2006, he completed a major review of the coronial system in Queensland called the Coronial Riders Project. All of these investigations were the subject of public reports tabled in the Queensland Parliament.

He has recently overseen the investigative audits of a number of significant Queensland regulators. These audits led to the production of Tips & Traps for Regulators in November 2007,the first in a series of Ombudsman publications using a tips & traps theme. In December 2007, his Unit produced the Councillor Code of Conduct Report for the guidance of local governments in Queensland. Last year, his Unit undertook a review of the Queensland Mines Inspectorate and the contracting practices of the Department of Premier and Cabinet in relation to the engagement of an author to write a history of Queensland. These investigations culminated in public reports to Parliament.

Before he joined the Ombudsman’s Office, Mr Cantwell was a Solicitor in private practice for nearly 20 years. For most of this period he was a partner in the Brisbane office of a major Australasian law firm and practiced in the areas of commercial and administrative law.

He holds an Honours Degree in Law from the Queensland University of Technology. He is an experienced workplace trainer and regularly provides training to public sector officers in the areas of good decisionmaking, complaints management, administrative law, investigative and regulatory practice.

In September 2005, he received the Queensland Ombudsman’s inaugural Award for Excellence.