The Land Access Ombudsman (LAO) is an independent body established under the Land Access Ombudsman Act 2017. The LAO operates independently of government and is not subject to direction by anyone.
We:
- support parties through mediation and dispute resolution during the negotiation and re-negotiation of agreements, including Conduct and Compensation Agreements (CCAs), Make Good Agreements (MGAs), Access Agreements (AAs) and compensation agreements
- investigate disputes about alleged breaches of CCAs, MGAs, and AAs
- provide an independent view in investigation matters and make practical recommendations to help resolve disputes
- refer or recommend possible offences and breaches to the government departments responsible for regulation
- provide advice to government about systemic issues arising from land access disputes
Our goal is to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently. We aim to support parties to work together to find practical and sustainable solutions to their land access issues.
Our office is founded on the principles of:
- independence
- fairness
- accessibility
- accountability
- efficiency
- effectiveness.
Read more about how we can help.
Last updated: 08 Jul 2026