Opposition asks if the Treasurer instructed the removal of specific identification of a dividend requirement for the Insurance Commission of WA in the 2012-13 financial projections. The Treasurer denies direct instruction, stating the process followed usual practice.

AnsweredQoN 994Legislative Council
Asked
10 December 2013
Portfolio
Minister representing the Treasurer

QuestionView source ↗

DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY — INSURANCE
COMMISSION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA — TREASURER'S INSTRUCTIONS
994. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Minister representing the Treasurer:
I refer to the 2012–13 Government Mid-year Financial Projections Statement .
(1) Did the Treasurer instruct any person
within the Department of Treasury to remove specific identification of the
government's intention to require the Insurance Commission of Western
Australia to pay a dividend?
(2) Did the Treasurer ask any person within
the Department of Treasury whether it would be possible to remove specific
identification of the government's intention to require the Insurance
Commission of WA to pay a dividend?
(3) Did any person in the Treasurer's
office instruct any person within the Department of Treasury to remove specific
identification of the government's intention to require the Insurance
Commission of WA to pay a dividend?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1)–(3) The Treasurer did not instruct
or ask any person to remove a reference to the Insurance Commission of Western
Australia. In line with usual and longstanding practice, the drafting of the
2012–13 midyear review was finalised by the Department of Treasury in
consultation with the Treasurer's office. The government's
decision to subject the Insurance Commission of Western Australia to a dividend
was reflected in the 2012–13 midyear review aggregates, as is
appropriate under the Government Financial Responsibility Act 2000.
The draft document obtained by the opposition is just that, a draft.
Changes about how decisions are presented are often, appropriately, made across
agencies and government when producing these financial documents. The inclusion
and presentation of the Insurance Commission of Western Australia's
dividend is compliant with the legislation.

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