Acting Commonwealth Ombudsman Alison Larkins has asked professional services firm Ernst & Young to review the office's procedures to ensure any perceived lack of impartiality by her senior staff can be countered.
As part of her role as acting Ombudsman Ms Larkins is responsible for maintaining a watchdog role over Australia's immigration responsibilities.
Before taking the role of deputy Ombudsman in March, Ms Larkins was first assistant secretary in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Ms Larkins joined DIAC in 2006, working on the extensive reforms to the department after the crises sparked by the cases of deportee Vivian Alvarez and detainee Cornelia Rau.
Former Ombudsman Allan Asher resigned from the office in October after coming under sustained pressure from parliamentarians over revelations he scripted questions for Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to ask him in a committee.
Mr Asher was highly critical of the Government's immigration detention policies.
But he said yesterday any perception of conflict ''remains to be seen''.
''I believe she got the position after a public recruitment process and she's obviously got a sound public service background - personally I wouldn't make any criticism of Alison.''
Ms Larkins' office said she had put procedures in place to manage any perceived conflict of interest by senior staff in the office arising from their previous relationships with Commonwealth agencies.
''These procedures include delegating or escalating decision-making where necessary and possible,'' a spokeswoman said.
It was not uncommon for senior public sector staff to move between agencies.
The Government advertised for a new Ombudsman on the weekend, with a salary package of $380,000.
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