Contents
- Part 1 Executive Summary
- Part 2 Performance reporting
- Part 3 Corporate governance and accountability
- Part 4 Appendices
- Part 5 Financial Management
Annual Report 2008–2009
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Annual Report 2008–2009
Annual Report 2008–2009 » Chapter 14: Our accountability
The Department has a comprehensive suite of mechanisms to meet our accountability obligations. These mechanisms assure stakeholders of our compliance with statutory and other obligations and include a fraud control plan, ensuring the right payments are made to the right people, appearing before parliamentary committees and transparently submitting to external reviews.
In 2008–09 the Department participated in a number of external scrutiny activities, including appearing before Senate Estimates on three occasions. The portfolio also gave evidence and/or made submissions to a number of parliamentary committee inquiries and participated in external audits. There have been four judicial decisions of major significance to the Department.
FaHCSIA works closely with other Australian Government agencies responsible for fraud prevention and investigation by sharing information and developing knowledge of identified fraud risks, fraud intelligence and trends that have an impact on the Department's program areas.
FaHCSIA has broad risk-based internal audit coverage. We ensure that we action all audit recommendations appropriately. Audits promote better practice and generate advice on legislative and regulatory compliance as well as operational efficiency and effectiveness.
FaHCSIA and Centrelink work closely together to ensure that payments made to programs and individuals are correctly assigned, paid on time and go only to properly identified and eligible parties. With Centrelink, we have developed a control framework that samples customers in order to estimate payment accuracy and emerging trends and addresses fraudulent activity. Follow-on processes are used to recover outstanding debts or, where necessary, to pursue prosecutions.
The portfolio appeared before the Senate Community Affairs Committee (Senate Estimates) on three occasions during 2008–09. The portfolio also gave evidence and/or made submissions to a number of parliamentary committee inquiries. These are set out below.
The committee is inquiring into the operation of local community stores in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, with a particular focus on:
FaHCSIA provided a submission and appeared before the committee on 12 March 2009. The committee is yet to table its report.
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The committee released its report on 1 May 2009 into the role and contribution of carers in society and how this should be recognised, the barriers to social and economic participation for carers, and practical measures required to better support carers, including key priorities for action.
On 28 November 2008, FaHCSIA led a presentation to the committee on a joint submission with the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Veterans' Affairs following a presentation to the committee in the previous financial year.
The report of the inquiry was tabled on 1 May 2009. Immediate financial relief for carers is a key recommendation of the report, as well as an urgent increase in respite and in-home assistance for carers, with current demand far exceeding supply. Better coordination of support services is also needed, with the committee recommending a one-stop-shop for information on community care services, as well as support systems that are nationally consistent and more streamlined.
The committee is inquiring into issues related to climate change and environmental pressures experienced by Australian coastal areas, particularly in the context of coastal population growth.
The Department provided a submission to the inquiry dated 5 August 2008 and officers from Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Branch and the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination gave evidence at a public hearing on 19 March 2009. The committee is yet to table its report.
This committee reviews and reports on all treaty actions proposed by the Government before action is taken that binds Australia to the terms of the treaty.
The Department appeared at a public hearing on 10 November 2008 to review the proposed agreement between Australia and the Republic of Finland on social security.
In July 2008, the Department provided information for a response to a petition referred to the Minister for Housing on funding for housing and accommodation services 2008. Two group managers, two branch managers and two section managers attended a public hearing on 24 September 2008.
The Department also provided evidence at a public hearing on 25 February 2009, at which five branch managers and a section manager were in attendance. The hearing was to examine a petition on the issue of disability and the Age Pension.
At the request of the then Acting Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon. Brendan O'Connor, MP, in June 2008, the House of Representatives Standing Committee for Employment and Workplace Relations is conducting an inquiry into pay equity and associated issues related to increasing female participation in the workforce. The Office for Women made a submission to the inquiry in September 2008 and also appeared before the committee to discuss the submission. The committee is expected to report on its findings in late 2009.
The Attorney-General's Department, supported by the Office for Women, conducted an assessment of the likely impact on Australia of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and prepared a national interest analysis. A copy of the analysis was provided to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, which conducted a public hearing on 15 September 2008. The Office for Women, the Attorney-General's Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade appeared at the hearing. The committee reported to Parliament in favour of acceding. A special meeting of the Executive Council considered this matter on 24 November 2008 and accepted this recommendation. The instruments for accession to the Optional Protocol were formally lodged on 4 December 2008.
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The Committee held a public hearing on 12 November 2008 to review the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) Audit Report No. 42 of 2007–08, Management of Customer Debt—Follow-up Audit.
Two departmental officers provided answers to questions as well as providing information on request from committee members. The Department also provided a written response to questions on notice arising from the hearing. Overall, the committee is satisfied with the progress made in the management of customer debt, but has recommended that Centrelink, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and FaHCSIA conduct an analysis to determine a cost-effective debt waiver, and that this figure be reported to the committee within six months of the tabling of its report. The committee tabled its report on 22 May 2009. The Department also provided a submission to the committee on Report No. 412, Audit reports reviewed during the 41st Parliament.
On 17 June 2009 the Senate, on the recommendation of the Selection of Bills Committee, referred these provisions for inquiry and report by 23 June 2009. The short timeframe imposed by the Senate was to ensure that the Bill passed Parliament in time to enable the pension changes to commence by the indicated dates. The committee examined only a small number of the issues in the Bill—tapering, indexation, pension age, restrictions on who receives the increase and impact on single parents.
Departmental officers appeared at public hearings on 19 June 2009. The committee report was completed on 24 June 2009. The committee recommended that the Bill be passed.
The committee was requested to examine the provisions of the Bill to ensure that they adequately met the needs of carers.
The Department provided a submission to the inquiry. Two departmental officers gave evidence at a public hearing on 28 April 2009 and the Department provided responses to questions on notice arising from the hearing. The final report was completed on 7 May 2009. Overall, the committee welcomed the proposed amendments because they ensure that more carers who are unable to support themselves, because of the demands of caring for children with disability or medical conditions, are receiving financial support.
Provisions in the Bill enable review of NT income management regime decisions and implements reforms to the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program.
The Department sent six departmental officers to a public hearing on 28 April 2009 and provided responses to questions on notice arising from the hearing.
The report of the inquiry was completed on 7 May 2009. The committee noted that the measures in the Bill were an initial step in the expansion of appeal opportunities in relation to the Northern Territory Emergency Response income management regime, that further reforms of the income management regime to bring it into line with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 are a matter of urgency and that the Government has committed to this work. The committee also acknowledged that transitional issues in relation to the CDEP program are difficult. The committee shared the concerns regarding potential problems for those CDEP participants who transfer to income support and the associated compliance processes. This will be an area the committee will continue to monitor.
Representatives from the four partner agencies to the Petrol Sniffing Strategy (FaHCSIA, the Department of Health and Ageing, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Attorney-General's Department) appeared at a public hearing on 12 March 2009 and presented a statement on behalf of the four agencies. A formal joint submission was also provided to the inquiry in August 2008.The report was tabled on 19 March 2009.
The committee inquired into:
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Three officers of the Department attended a public hearing on 10 February 2009 and tabled information on the state-by-state breakdown of the Social Housing Initiative at that hearing. The inquiry was completed on 10 February 2009.
The committee was to inquire into the levels of federal and Northern Territory Government expenditure on Indigenous affairs and social services in the Northern Territory, including expenditure on services for families, children and people with disability in the Northern Territory. Two departmental officers presented evidence at a public hearing on 11 November 2008. The inquiry reported on 4 December 2008.
The principal issues for consideration in this inquiry were the effectiveness of the proposed measures and the impact on children and families. FaHCSIA and Centrelink provided input into a submission by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and an officer attended the public hearing on 3 November 2008. The report was tabled on 13 November 2008.
Reasons provided for referral of the Bills to the committee and principal issues for consideration are:
A submission was made to the inquiry and officers appeared at a public hearing on 6 November 2008. The report of the inquiry was tabled on 12 November 2008.
Referral of the Bill and the issues for consideration by the committee related to amendments to child support legislation in Schedule 3 of the Bill. On 23 October 2008 the committee decided that, in light of the correspondence it has received, it would also accept submissions relating to Schedule 2 of the Bill regarding the partner service pension.
No submission was made by the Department; however, three officers appeared before the committee at a public hearing on 3 November 2008 and the inquiry report was completed on 10 November 2008.
The Senate Committee released its report on 16 October 2008, making 14 recommendations in relation to:
The Government tabled its response to this report in Parliament on 14 May 2009.
The following two tax measures to benefit Special Disability Trusts were announced in the 2009–10 Budget.
The Government has agreed to consider further those recommendations with significant budgetary and legislative implications. The consideration of these recommendations will take into account work being undertaken within the broader carer and disability policy environment.
The Department has commenced a revision of the guidelines setting out what are, and what are not, reasonable care and accommodation needs for principal beneficiaries of Special Disability Trusts.
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The Department provided evidence to the committee through a combined submission with Attorney-General's Department and attended a public hearing on 16 April 2009. The report was tabled on 13 May 2009.
Six officers gave evidence at public hearings on 22 May 2009, 9 June 2009 and 14 November 2008. The Department also provided responses to a series of questions on notice from the committee. The first report on this inquiry was tabled on 30 September 2008.
This inquiry was to consider the implementation of the recommendations in the Community Affairs References Committee's Lost Innocents and Forgotten Australians reports. The Department provided evidence to the committee through a written submission and attended a public hearing on 8 April 2009.
Following this hearing, the Department provided additional written information. The report was tabled on 25 June 2009 and recommended improving responses in several areas of Commonwealth responsibility.
The committee considered three Bills that aim to reduce the harm caused by problem gambling through:
FaHCSIA appeared before the committee on 25 September 2008. The committee tabled its report on 10 November 2008 and recommended that the Bills not be passed at that time, acknowledging that findings from the Productivity Commission's inquiry into Australia's gambling industries would be available in 2009.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman received 200 approaches about the Department in 2008–09, an increase from 165 (21.2 per cent) approaches received in 2007–08.
Of the 200 complaints received, 146 were in relation to the Emergency Response or other Indigenous programs in the Northern Territory.
During 2008–09, 164 approaches were finalised. Of these, the Ombudsman investigated 88 and exercised discretion not to investigate 76. Of the 88 approaches investigated by the Ombudsman, there was one finding of administrative deficiency.
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The Auditor-General tabled five audit reports in Parliament relevant to departmental operations. The objectives of the engagements are below.
This audit assessed how effectively FaHCSIA and the Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations undertook their roles and responsibilities for specialist disability employment services under the current (third) Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement.
This audit assessed how effectively government agencies managed aspects of their websites. The audit involved a survey of 40 agencies and visits to some of those agencies.
The annual Financial Statements audit has been conducted as an independent external examination of the financial accounting and reporting of public sector entities.
This audit assessed the progress of government agencies in achieving better practice in green office procurement and sustainable office management.
This audit assessed the arrangements for overseeing the Australian Government's Action Plan to Eradicate Trafficking in Persons and to identify whether the plan's new measures had been administered effectively to deliver the intended results.
The annual Financial Statements audit has been conducted as an independent external examination of the financial accounting and reporting of public sector entities.
The Office of Evaluation and Audit provides objective advice to the Australian Government about the management and performance of its programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It makes recommendations about how Indigenous-specific programs can be improved and how the Australian Government can deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
During 2008–09, the Director of the Office of Evaluation and Audit tabled four audit reports in Parliament in relation to which FaHCSIA was a key stakeholder. The objectives of the engagements have been outlined below.
This engagement examined the efficiency, effectiveness and economy of the Aboriginals Benefit Account, and its overall management.
This engagement examined Centrecorp, Yeperenye Nominees and Central Australian Aboriginal Motor Vehicles (CAAMV) Pty Ltd's corporate governance arrangements, the sourcing and application of Australian Government funds and benefits that accrue for Aboriginal people in Central Australia.
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This engagement was a recommendation of the Office of Evaluation and Audit's 2006–07 audit of the operation of the Indigenous Land Corporation. The audit examined the costs, benefits, risks and long-term viability of the National Indigenous Development Centre.
This engagement examined whether the governance and management structures and processes of the Northern Land Council were appropriate, efficient and effective for a statutory authority established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.
There have been four judicial decisions of major significance to the Department in the 2008–09 financial year.
In Wurridjal & Ors v The Commonwealth of Australia & Anor [2009] HCA 2, the High Court rejected a challenge to the constitutional validity of parts of the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 and the Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Act 2007. In particular, a majority of the High Court rejected the plaintiffs' arguments that the grant of five-year leases of Aboriginal land to the Commonwealth and the modifications to the so-called 'permit system' effected an acquisition of property other than on just terms.
In Northern Territory of Australia v Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust [2008] HCA 29 ('the Blue Mud Bay case'), the High Court held that fishing licences issued under Northern Territory fishing legislation do not negate the need for the holders of those licences to obtain the further permission of the relevant Land Trust or traditional Aboriginal owners where the holder of the licence wishes to take fish from the inter-tidal zone, tidal rivers or estuaries within the boundaries of Aboriginal land granted under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.
In Commonwealth v David Leigh as Liquidator of Durahrwa Training & Development Aboriginal Corporation (In Liquidation) [2008] FCA 1513, the Federal Court held that real property purchased with a grant provided by the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was charged, pursuant to a purposes agreement, to secure repayment of the grant amount and the Commonwealth's claim for costs and expenses incurred in enforcing repayment was secured upon the property by virtue of item 201 of Schedule 1 to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Act 2005 (Amendment Act). The Court also found that the fact that the property was vacant and not being used for any purpose was enough to find a breach of the designated use clause of the purposes agreement, and hence to support the validity of a notice seeking repayment issued under item 199 of Schedule 1 to the Amendment Act.
In Elliot v Secretary, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations [2009] FCAFC 37, beneficiaries under a testamentary life discretionary trust had been assessed as having 'beneficial interests in the corpus or income of the trust' under paragraph 1207V(2 (d) of the Social Security Act 1991. The Court found that this was not, in fact, the case, as beneficiaries of a discretionary trust cannot be described as having a 'beneficial interest' in respect of the trust. The Department is considering the impact of the decision.
FaHCSIA has a strong framework of measures in place to protect the privacy of individuals. This framework includes secrecy legislation, privacy legislation, arrangements with the service delivery agencies and a number of detailed measures, such as confidentiality deeds and declarations with providers and staff.
In addition to the obligations imposed by the Privacy Act 1988, legislation administered by FaHCSIA contains broad secrecy provisions that expressly prohibit the release of customer information, except in limited circumstances. Those provisions include criminal offences that may result in a term of imprisonment.
FaHCSIA's business partnership agreements with its partner agencies include mechanisms that allow FaHCSIA to monitor and contribute to the protection of customer privacy and enables all parties to cooperate on handling matters related to privacy. (See also 'Fraud control' below.)
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FaHCSIA liaises with the Privacy Commissioner on policy development related to privacy issues relating to social security, family assistance, Indigenous affairs and the handling of personal information.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner may investigate a privacy issue whether or not a complaint has been made and issue a report or determination following that investigation. During 2008–09 the Office of the Privacy Commissioner did not investigate a privacy issue or issue any report or determinations in relation to FaHCSIA.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman received one complaint regarding the handling of personal information by FaHCSIA. An internal investigation found that a breach of privacy had occurred and the matter was resolved between the Department and the complainant with the assistance of the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
The improper use and disclosure of personal information by staff, or the collection of personal information from staff, are matters treated seriously by the Department. FaHCSIA ensures that investigations are carried out in relation to any complaints or allegations of breaches of privacy or confidentiality.
FaHCSIA handles all Freedom of Information (FOI) requests in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982. Supplementary materials, such as the FOI Guidelines, are used to inform the handling of FOI requests where necessary. These guidelines are available at www.pmc.gov.au.
The FOI Coordinator in FaHCSIA provides advice on FOI matters to any interested parties and liaises with applicants.
Formal applications for access to documents under FOI must be made by letter or written request. It must be accompanied by a $30 application fee, though this may be waived in certain circumstances. The application should be submitted to the FOI Coordinator in National Office or with a state FOI contact officer from any of FaHCSIA's state offices. Further details are provided at Appendix 7 on page 342.
FaHCSIA has a fraud control plan in place that complies with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines 2002.
During the year, the Department addressed its fraud control responsibilities mainly through the Audit and Fraud Branch and the Indigenous Programs Investigation Branch.
The Audit and Fraud Branch provided fraud awareness training and advice on policy, guidelines and procedures to FaHCSIA staff. The branch managed the investigation of fraud allegations against FaHCSIA programs (excluding Indigenous Programs) and allegations of criminal conduct by FaHCSIA employees. The Branch was also responsible for monitoring FaHCSIA's Fraud Control Plan 2007–2009 and reporting on fraud-related matters for the Department.
The Indigenous Programs Investigation Branch investigated fraud committed against FaHCSIA's Indigenous programs and services, and coordinated investigations requiring a whole-of-government response.
In April 2009, the two branches merged to form the Compliance Branch. This move gave us the opportunity to consolidate our fraud control and investigation functions.
Due to additional responsibilities in program areas, and in keeping with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines, FaHCSIA maintained our emphasis on fraud control programs, awareness raising and reporting. In particular, we implemented all recommended action items under our Fraud Control Plan and the addendum to it. The addendum addressed fraud control risks associated with the Northern Territory Emergency Response.
All FaHCSIA investigators have the mandatory qualifications outlined in the Australian Government Investigation Standards and the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines.
FaHCSIA works closely with other Australian Government agencies responsible for fraud prevention and investigation by sharing information and developing knowledge of identified fraud risks, fraud intelligence and trends that have an impact on our program areas.
The Department's fraud control arrangements are certified below.
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FaHCSIA ensures that there is broad risk-based internal audit coverage across the Department and that appropriate action is taken on audit recommendations to reduce our overall risk exposure. The audits also promote better practice and generate advice on legislative and regulatory compliance and operational efficiency and effectiveness.
FaHCSIA continued to build its in-house internal audit function with the assistance and cooperation of the Department's newly contracted primary internal audit service provider, Oakton, and secondary service providers Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Audits were performed either individually by service providers or as a co-sourced arrangement with the in-house capability on matters that included:
The Social Security Appeals Tribunal is a statutory body under the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 that conducts merit reviews of administrative decisions made under a number of enactments, in particular the social security law, family assistance law and child support law. The tribunal's primary objective is to provide a mechanism of review that is fair, just, economical, informal and quick. It submits an annual report to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, which is presented to the Parliament.
FaHCSIA provides advice to the Minister and works with external stakeholders, including the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Department of Human Services and Centrelink, on matters relating to the tribunal.
Activities include:
A memorandum of understanding between FaHCSIA and the tribunal covers the administrative services support FaHCSIA provides to it. FaHCSIA provides financial and personnel management information systems to the tribunal to assist it in performing purchasing, accounts payment, budgeting and staff management functions.
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Generally, act of grace payments are a means of providing compensation to persons who may have been unfairly disadvantaged by the Australian Government, but who have no legal claim against it.
During the 2008–09 financial reporting year, the total amount of act of grace payments was $410,498.94. The total number of act of grace payments during the reporting period was 55.
FaHCSIA and Centrelink work closely together to ensure that payments to programs and individuals are paid on time and only to the properly identified and eligible parties.
The Business Partnership Agreement 2006–10 governs the business relationship between FaHCSIA and Centrelink. The agreement sets out the performance measures and assurance mechanisms for payments and services delivered by Centrelink on behalf of FaHCSIA.
FaHCSIA ensures Centrelink has controls in place to minimise the incidence of incorrect payment and fraud. This in turn leads to a framework that maximises correct payment and the accuracy of program outlays. The success of this approach is measured through a set of performance indicators agreed to by FaHCSIA and Centrelink. For more information on fraud, see pages 282–283.
The FaHCSIA control framework focuses on prevention and detection of incorrect payment and fraud, and relies on a risk management approach to optimise compliance. FaHCSIA works with Centrelink to:
Controls are designed to be cost effective, while minimising customer impacts. Customers are promptly notified of determinations resulting from reviews that affect a rate of payment or result in a debt or action to recover a debt.
The FaHCSIA control framework includes:
The Random Sample Survey program provides an estimate of the accuracy and inaccuracies of program outlays and intelligence about emerging outlay risks. The surveys also provide useful information that assists the policy development process.
The program also provides assurance information required under the Business Partnership Agreement. Random samples are a point in time analysis of customers' circumstances.
During 2008–09, on FaHCSIA's behalf, Centrelink undertook random sample surveys of:
The results of these surveys are presented in Table 3.7.
| Payment type | Inaccuracy (95% confidence interval) |
|---|---|
| Age Pension | 1.5% (1.2%–1.8%) |
| Carer Allowance | 1.6% (0.5%–2.7%) |
| Family Tax Benefit | 1.3% (1.2%–1.4%) |
| Special Benefit | 3.7% (1.4%–6%) |
| Disability Support Pension | 2.2% (1.4%–3%) |
| Carer Payment | 2.6% (1.7%–3.5%) |
| Overall rate of inaccuracy | 1.6% (1.4%–1.8%) |
Notes:
Inaccuracy is the ratio of gross inaccurate payment (annualised) to annual outlay (amounts being paid) to the same population. Because this rate is estimated using sample data it is subject to sampling error. The effect of the sampling error is reflected in the width of the confidence interval.
The random sample surveys are designed to measure inaccuracies as a result of negligence, circumstance or error. They do not capture payment errors due to deliberate fraud.
Estimates refer to the 12 months to 30 June 2009 except for Carer Allowance, where the reference period is the 12 months to 31 March 2009.
A small sample results in a wide confidence interval.
The confidence interval reflects the small sample and variability in population.
| Performance indicator | Target | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance and fraud | Savings of $359.19 million | In 2008–09, savings from 241,068 reviews was $305.30 million |
| Profiling reviews | Savings of $43.6 million | In 2008–09, savings from 359,306 reviews was $38.6 million |
| Debt raised | 70% of the undetermined debt base | Total debt determined as percentage of the undetermined debt base for the financial year was 77.4% |
| Debt recovered | 72% of debts recovered as a portion of the debts raised (in dollar terms) | Total debt recovered was 72.0% of debts recovered as a portion of the debts raised (in dollar terms) |
| Debt under management | 65% of debts under recovery as the percentage of the total debt base | Total value of debts under recovery as a percentage of the debt base for the financial year was 74.0% |
| Overall outlay accuracy | Overall outlay accuracy—95% | 98.4% |
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Centrelink raised 740,792 FaHCSIA debts valued at $359.3 million. Of these, debts raised for recovery totalled $335.8 million with a further $23.5 million waived at determination.
Recoveries of FaHCSIA and Family Assistance Office debts by cash and withholdings amounted to $241.6 million. These figures include compensation debts.
Total debt determined as a percentage of the undermined debt base for the financial year was 77.4 per cent.
Total value of debts under recovery, as a percentage of the debt base for the financial year, was 74.0 per cent.
The figures exclude Family Tax Benefit reconciliation and tax return non-lodger debts.
The compensation provisions in the Social Security Act 1991 are structured to encourage people to use private financial resources, such as compensation payments, before accessing the tax-payer funded social security system. The provisions also ensure that people who receive compensation for an injury or illness have those payments considered in the calculation of any social security benefits.
Compensation provisions provide for:
To ensure the community understands the effect of compensation on social security benefits, Centrelink provides information on its website for compensation recipients, compensation authorities, legal, insurance, union and community representatives.
In 2008–09, application of the compensation provisions across all income support payments made under the Social Security Act 1991, administered by FaHCSIA and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, achieved estimated savings to outlays of $558.5 million.
In 2008–09, 905 cases of alleged social security fraud were referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, who prosecuted 544 cases, resulting in 489 convictions (a 98.7 percent conviction rate).
Of the 1,908 reviews conducted in 2008–09, 63 cases of identity fraud were identified, resulting in 581 debts with a value of $8.3 million.
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