❓ Opposition asks the Minister for Indigenous Affairs to extend the Stolen Wages Reparation Scheme due to concerns that many eligible applicants will miss the deadline. The Minister declines, stating sufficient opportunity has been provided.
AnsweredQoN 995Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
STOLEN
WAGES REPARATION SCHEME
995. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister for Indigenous
Affairs:
I refer to the stolen wages reparation scheme due to close on
Friday, 30 November 2012. In spite of numerous requests for an extension from
various community legal organisations, Indigenous associations and human rights
groups —
(1) Is the
minister aware it is estimated that 1 000 people will miss out on applying for
the scheme if it closes on 30 November?
(2) Does the
minister consider this to be an acceptable resolution to the stolen wages
reparation scheme?
(3) Will the
minister consider a request from the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western
Australia for the scheme to be extended to March 2017, bringing it in line with
similar schemes in Queensland and New South Wales?
WAGES REPARATION SCHEME
995. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister for Indigenous
Affairs:
I refer to the stolen wages reparation scheme due to close on
Friday, 30 November 2012. In spite of numerous requests for an extension from
various community legal organisations, Indigenous associations and human rights
groups —
(1) Is the
minister aware it is estimated that 1 000 people will miss out on applying for
the scheme if it closes on 30 November?
(2) Does the
minister consider this to be an acceptable resolution to the stolen wages
reparation scheme?
(3) Will the
minister consider a request from the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western
Australia for the scheme to be extended to March 2017, bringing it in line with
similar schemes in Queensland and New South Wales?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1)–(2) The
number of expected applications—approximately 1 500—was based
on information from the Redress program. By 30 November 2012, the stolen wages
reparation scheme is likely to have received more than the estimated number of
applications; being around 1 850. With the number of Australia-wide
applications already received, the state government is of the view that all
potential eligible applicants will have had the opportunity to submit an
application by the 30 November 2012 close date.
(3) No. The close
date of the scheme has already been extended once to address these types of
concerns. The scheme's application process was intentionally designed
to be as simple as possible and is the reason the scheme can run over a shorter
time in comparison with other states.
question.
(1)–(2) The
number of expected applications—approximately 1 500—was based
on information from the Redress program. By 30 November 2012, the stolen wages
reparation scheme is likely to have received more than the estimated number of
applications; being around 1 850. With the number of Australia-wide
applications already received, the state government is of the view that all
potential eligible applicants will have had the opportunity to submit an
application by the 30 November 2012 close date.
(3) No. The close
date of the scheme has already been extended once to address these types of
concerns. The scheme's application process was intentionally designed
to be as simple as possible and is the reason the scheme can run over a shorter
time in comparison with other states.
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