Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 2076

❓ Hon Nick Goiran asks about the costs associated with independent lawyers handling claims for the Department of Communities, including the number of firms involved and recoupment from Riskcover. The Minister provides the requested financial information and explains the lack of recoupment.

AnsweredQoN 2076Legislative Council

Asked

9 April 2019

Member

Hon Nick Goiran

Portfolio

Child Protection; Women's Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Minister’s answers to the 2017 Estimates provided under cover of a letter received by the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations on 10 October 2017 in which the Minister informed the Committee of the cost for claims handled by independent lawyers for the two financial years 2015-16 and 2016-17, and I ask: (a) what were the costs for 2017-18; (b) how many independent lawyers incurred the costs of claims in: (i) 2015-16; (ii) 2016-17; and (iii) 2017-18; and (c) further to (b), of those costs how much was recouped from Riskcover in each of the three financial years?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

4 June 2019

Responded by

Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection; Women's Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services

Response time

12 days

(a) $217,916.30
(b)
(i) two firms
(ii) five firms
(iii) five firms
(c) No costs have been recouped from RiskCover yet as all but one of the claims are still active. Costs were not recouped for the one non-active claim due to the death of the Plaintiff. Riskcover generally reimburses the Department of Communities at settlement.

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