Page 4260 - Week 13 - Thursday, 14 December 2006
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Business—mortgage brokers
(Question No 1381)
Mr Stefaniak asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 14 November 2006:
(1) How many complaints did the Office of Fair Trading receive about mortgage brokers during 2005-06;
(2) How many of these complaints were investigated and what was the outcome of those investigations;
(3) What capacity does the ACT have to act against unscrupulous mortgage brokers.
Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) For the period 2005-06 the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) received six complaints in relation to finance brokers, commonly known as mortgage brokers.
(2) All six matters were investigated. The OFT liaised with the Australian Securities Investments Commission (ASIC) in relation to three of those matters. Subsequently, legal proceedings have been taken against two persons by ASIC. In addition, OFT investigation has resulted in two persons charged for several breaches of the Consumer Credit (Administration) Act 1996. Those matters were last before the ACT Magistrates Court on 30 November 2006.
(3) The ACT has a variety of compliance and enforcement tools in this field. The Commissioner for Fair Trading may investigate, issue notices including penalties of up to $5,000, and apply to suspend or cancel registration. Depending upon the nature of the conduct, the Commissioner may commence civil or criminal proceedings under the Consumer Credit (Administration) Act 1996, the Consumer Credit Code (ACT) and the Fair Trading Act 1992.
ACT Corrective Services
(Question No 1382)
Mr Stefaniak asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 14 November 2006:
(1) How many staff were working in the Probation and Parole Unit in ACT Corrective Services as at (a) October 2006 and (b) the end of the 2004-05 financial year;
(2) Have there been any cuts to key programs in the rehabilitations Programs unit in ACT Corrective Services in the financial years (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07;
(3) Is the senior psychologist position in the Rehabilitation Programs Unit in ACT Corrective Services currently filled;
(4) For how long was the senior psychologist position in the Rehabilitations Program Unit in ACT Corrective Services left vacant this calendar year;
(5) Have there been any cuts made to the Sex Offenders Program in ACT Corrective Services over the last 18 months; if so, what is the extent of those cuts to that program.
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