❓ Hon Martin Pritchard questions the Attorney General regarding increased wait times for Public Trustee appointments, particularly for elderly clients. The Attorney General acknowledges the issue, attributing it to increased demand and higher diligence standards, and states the situation will be monitored.
AnsweredQoN 1400Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC TRUSTEE — APPOINTMENTS
1400. Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD to
the Attorney General:
(1) Is the
Attorney General or his office aware of any cases in recent months of people,
including an 85-year-old, having to wait until March 2016 for an appointment
with the Public Trustee?
(2) If yes to
(1), what is the reason for such a blowout in wait time, whereas previously
appointments were granted within one or two weeks?
(3) What is the average wait time for an appointment with the
Public Trustee office to —
(a) initiate the drafting of a
will; and
(b) amend a will?
(4) What
action will the Attorney General take to ensure wait times for Public Trustee
appointments are of a reasonable duration, especially for elderly clients?
1400. Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD to
the Attorney General:
(1) Is the
Attorney General or his office aware of any cases in recent months of people,
including an 85-year-old, having to wait until March 2016 for an appointment
with the Public Trustee?
(2) If yes to
(1), what is the reason for such a blowout in wait time, whereas previously
appointments were granted within one or two weeks?
(3) What is the average wait time for an appointment with the
Public Trustee office to —
(a) initiate the drafting of a
will; and
(b) amend a will?
(4) What
action will the Attorney General take to ensure wait times for Public Trustee
appointments are of a reasonable duration, especially for elderly clients?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) Yes.
(2) Increased
demand is due to community education, such as the recent Seniors' Week,
and recent decisions of courts and tribunals requiring higher standards of
diligence in drafting wills. Over the past four years, the average waiting time
has been six to 12 weeks.
(3) (a) For drafting of a will, the wait time is 12 weeks.
� (b) For amending a will, the wait time is 12
weeks. Clients are offered earlier appointments—becoming available in
January—due to cancellations.
(4) The wills service is a non-statutory function and the
wait times will continue to be monitored.
question.
(1) Yes.
(2) Increased
demand is due to community education, such as the recent Seniors' Week,
and recent decisions of courts and tribunals requiring higher standards of
diligence in drafting wills. Over the past four years, the average waiting time
has been six to 12 weeks.
(3) (a) For drafting of a will, the wait time is 12 weeks.
� (b) For amending a will, the wait time is 12
weeks. Clients are offered earlier appointments—becoming available in
January—due to cancellations.
(4) The wills service is a non-statutory function and the
wait times will continue to be monitored.
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