Operator loses business, now home is on the line

“You can’t call it a comedy of errors. It is a bloody farce.”

Operator loses business, now home is on the line waiting for govt to process compensation claim

Coalition Fisheries spokesman Richard Colbeck has lambasted the Government’s handling of a compensation claim which has cost an operator his business and will possibly claim his home as well.

The operator was invited by AFMA in March 2012 to submit a claim under the Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration (CDDA) scheme.

Since that time his claim had been handled by eight people over nine months and there was no indication about when the matter would be resolved.

“You can’t call it a comedy of errors,” Senator Colbeck said. “It is a bloody farce.

“This almost gives rise to another claim, I would have thought.

“The fact that there are eight people appointed to deal with the one case within that period of time and nothing comes out the other end.”

Senator Colbeck used Senate estimates this week to examine the claim process and ask about reasonable performance standards in processing compensation claims against the Government.

He also highlighted long delays with seemingly simple processes within Government, including Fisheries Minister Joe Ludwig’s office.

“The applicant sent an email to your office and was told by your office it would be two weeks before they could acknowledge that they’d actually received an email,” Senator Colbeck put to the Minister.

“I would have thought it would be something that could have been tracked down pretty quickly.”

Senator Colbeck said he accepted assurances senior department officials would be instructed to resolve the issue, but indicated he would maintain a close watching brief on the matter.

“This is something that should be sorted out promptly – a family home is riding on it,” he said.
SENATOR THE HON RICHARD COLBECK Senator for Tasmania Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, Industry and Science