Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1580 ..

MINISTER FOR BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

Question No. 406

Industry Assistance Program

MR CORBELL - Asked the Minister upon notice on 8 April 1997:

What processes does the Government have in place to ensure that businesses receiving assistance from the Industry Assistance Program comply with the criteria they were required to address in applying for assistance under the scheme.

MRS CARNELL - The answer to the Member's question is as follows:

To obtain funding under the Industry Assistance Program, the same processes as the Business Incentive Scheme were undertaken. The major difference between the Industry Assistance Program and the Business Incentive Scheme is that the Industry Assistance Program had no process for providing the scope of incentives which are provided now under the Business Incentive Scheme.

The processes for compliance have been similar for both programs. The Department of Business, the Arts, Sport and Tourism is presently implementing a formal process to ensure that businesses provided with assistance, under both the Industry Assistance program and the ACT Business Incentive Scheme, report regularly as agreed in the assistance agreements signed with the Territory.

Prior to instituting the formal process, the project officer involved in assessing and processing the initial assistance application, was responsible for ensuring that progress reports were received from those businesses which received assistance. The Department is now focussing resources to comprehensively monitor businesses approved for assistance through a regular system of follow-up.

The new process will involve each business being sent a reminder notice prior to the date that a report is due. If the report is not received within two weeks of it being due, a further reminder notice will be issued. If still not received within four weeks of it being due, the responsible project officer will telephone the business to ascertain when the report will be received.

Failure to comply with this requirement is a failure to fulfil the obligations undertaken by an applicant, and under the terms of the agreement can result in the Territory terminating the agreement and any obligation by the Territory to provide any part of the assistance which has not yet been given to the applicant.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .