STATE GOVERNMENT CONCESSIONS

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. Does the government have a policy of claiming back overpayment of concessions and is it the government's intention to claim back overpayment of concessions in the future?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:03): The question there is that the government has a policy to claim any liability to the government right across the board; anything owed to the government the government has a policy to claim. If, as an agency, we make a decision that the cost of recovery would exceed the amount recovered, we would then go to the Treasurer and seek approval to not recover that money.

The short answer is: yes, we do have a policy in place right across government, as I understand it; secondly, in the case of concessions, if we make a judgement, when we have the final figure, that the amount outstanding is so small that the administrative costs of collecting it are greater, we may make the decision not to collect. I will be happy to tell you what we do when I have the figures.