Page 1135 - Week 04 - Thursday, 1 April 1993

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TREASURER FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

Question No 570

Ex-Gratia Payments

MR KAINE - Asked the Treasurer upon notice on 23 February 1993:

In relation to ex-gratia payments that have been made by the ACT Government between 1 July 1992 and 31 January 1993

(a) how many have been made;

(b) to whom were the payments made;

(c) for what purposes and

(d) what amount.

MS FOLLETT - The answer to the members question is as follows:

(a) There were six act of grace payments approved between 1 July 1992 and 31 January 1993 totalling $96,900.00.

(b)&(c) Section 43 of the Audit Act 1989 allows an authorised person (the Treasurer or his or her appointee) to approve an act of grace payment when satisfied that, by reason of special circumstances, it is reasonable to do so. Traditionally, act of grace payment provisions exist as a legal means of making a payment that cannot otherwise be made under any existing legislation.

Some of the act of grace payments are of a sensitive nature and the ACT Government has a responsibility to protect the recipients right to privacy. Consequently, it would not be appropriate to divulge publicly details of these cases. However, I am prepared to provide you with a confidential briefing.

Amount Description

(c)&(d) $700 Payment to individual due to special circumstances.

$2500 Payment to individual due to special circumstances.

$200 Payment to individual due to special circumstances.

$9600 Payment to an organisation when application of the law produced an unintended outcome.

$30000 Payment to an organisation after government advice contributed to the claimants acting to its financial detriment.

$53900 Payment to an organisation when application of the law produced an unintended outcome.

Summary details of act of grace payments are also disclosed in Departmental Annual Reports

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