Page 1943 - Week 05 - Thursday, 3 May 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The strategy also considers the importance of sharing information and makes a number of recommendations about how the government can work better and communicate better with the sector, and vice versa, and how we can share information between our existing networks.
Some of the recommendations will require government action and funding, whilst others seek the support of the community and business, such as identifying ways to encourage pro bono work from private dentists, and industry fact sheets to alert tenants to avenues of assistance should they find themselves in financial hardship.
Another important aspect of the strategy is the recommendations around flexible payment options for government fees and fines. Prior to the commissioning of the expert panel, I had already announced the government’s decision to develop flexible payment options, acknowledging the impact that one large fee or fine can have on the financial stability of householders already living pay to pay. We have already moved to implement these changes through legislation, giving motorists an opportunity to apply for an extra six months to pay. That passed this morning.
There are also various recommendations about how to define financial hardship; what flexible payment options could exist for those to demonstrate financial hardship, including volunteer work to pay off fees and fines; creating incentives for people to pay off their debts; and the appropriate use of debt waiver and write-off to assist those in severe financial hardship.
Another recommendation is to develop flexible payment options for car registration that do not incur additional administration costs, for those who demonstrate financial hardship.
We know that those opposite would like to think that this validates their untargeted commitment around registration fees. However, the targeted assistance panel has made a very sensible suggestion to ensure that if we are going to provide a concession, that concession is targeted to those people who genuinely need that extra support and we do not just accept that everybody needs that assistance—because at the same time the money raised from government fees and charges actually goes back into providing more and more services to people across the community, whether it be in health, education, looking after our trees or emptying our rubbish. There are a whole lot of reasons why governments have to raise money, but there are also good reasons why we would seek to ensure that those who are doing it a bit tough pay less than those that can afford to pay.
MS PORTER: Supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Chief Minister, what steps has the government already taken, ahead of the government’s formal response, to assist those in our community struggling with their daily expenses?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video