Page 2082 - Week 05 - Thursday, 6 May 2010

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The above figures include GST.

Territory and Municipal Services, Department—accounts
(Question No 943)

Mr Coe asked the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, upon notice, on 25 March 2010:

In relation to the payment of accounts by the Department of Territory and Municipal Services for the 2009-2010 financial year to date, what (a) proportion of accounts payable were not paid within 30 days, (b) proportion of accounts were not paid within 90 days, (c) were the major reasons why accounts were not paid on time and (d) actions is the Minister taking to increase the proportion of accounts paid on time.

Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(a) The information has been extracted based on 35 days from the invoice date. Due to how the ‘due date’ field is used in the system, this methodology provides the most accurate payment data possible. A parameter of 35 days has been used instead of 30 days to allow for the normal time lag that occurs before a department receives invoices from suppliers. The proportion of accounts payable not paid within this period for the 2009-10 financial year to date at 31 March 2010 was 23.6%.

(b) The information has been extracted based on 95 days from the invoice date. Due to how the ‘due date’ field is used in the system, this methodology provides the most accurate payment data possible. A parameter of 95 days has been used instead of 90 days to allow for the normal time lag that occurs before a department receives invoices from suppliers. The proportion of accounts payable not paid within this period for the 2009-10 financial year to date at 31 March 2010 was 3.7%.

(c) Invoices can remain unpaid past the due date for a variety of valid reasons:

- the invoice is being disputed by the agency with the vendor or further documentation is required;

- the invoice received is an invalid tax invoice;

- the invoice details are incorrect resulting in the invoice not being received by the correct agency or area within the agency; or

- the invoice is issued by the vendor well after the date specified on the invoice.

(d) The following actions are being pursued within the Department to minimise delayed payment of accounts:

- encouraging transmission of invoices for payment from suppliers by electronic means, rather than by postal services;

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