❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding discrepancies between referrals to Synergy for hardship utility grants and the number of approved grants in March 2012. The Minister clarifies the difference between referrals and applications, explaining why some referrals did not result in grants.
AnsweredQoN 359Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HARDSHIP UTILITY GRANT SCHEME —
SYNERGY
359. Hon ADELE
FARINA to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to answers to questions without notice 283 and 344
and the difference between the number of people referred to Synergy for
hardship utility grant scheme assistance for March 2012 and the number of
approved grants. Why did 149 people referred for assistance not receive grants?
SYNERGY
359. Hon ADELE
FARINA to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to answers to questions without notice 283 and 344
and the difference between the number of people referred to Synergy for
hardship utility grant scheme assistance for March 2012 and the number of
approved grants. Why did 149 people referred for assistance not receive grants?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. It is not possible to compare the figures in questions without notice
283 and 344 to reach a figure of 149 applicants who did not receive grants.
Question without notice 283 relates to approved HUGs, whereas question without
notice 344 to the Minister for Energy relates to referrals to financial
counsellors made by Synergy. Referrals to financial counsellors do not equate
to applications to the department for HUGs. In March 2012 a total of 1 399
applications for hardship utility grants were submitted for Synergy customers
and of these 1 375 were approved. A total of 24 applications were not approved
due to the applicants not meeting the eligibility criteria for receiving a
grant. In March 2012 Synergy referred 1 525 customers to a financial
counselling service. When clients are referred by Synergy to a financial
counsellor, the onus is on the client to follow up with the appointment to be
assisted by a financial counsellor. This is to determine the best possible
outcome to meet their financial crisis and their suitability for receiving
assistance such as a hardship utility grant.
question. It is not possible to compare the figures in questions without notice
283 and 344 to reach a figure of 149 applicants who did not receive grants.
Question without notice 283 relates to approved HUGs, whereas question without
notice 344 to the Minister for Energy relates to referrals to financial
counsellors made by Synergy. Referrals to financial counsellors do not equate
to applications to the department for HUGs. In March 2012 a total of 1 399
applications for hardship utility grants were submitted for Synergy customers
and of these 1 375 were approved. A total of 24 applications were not approved
due to the applicants not meeting the eligibility criteria for receiving a
grant. In March 2012 Synergy referred 1 525 customers to a financial
counselling service. When clients are referred by Synergy to a financial
counsellor, the onus is on the client to follow up with the appointment to be
assisted by a financial counsellor. This is to determine the best possible
outcome to meet their financial crisis and their suitability for receiving
assistance such as a hardship utility grant.
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