Advocacy Tasmania Inc and Community Legal Centres Tasmania today welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will review fees charged by the Public Trustee.
In our view there is a compelling case for reform of the fee structure and we look forward to being provided with an opportunity to highlight the significant hardship encountered by our clients.
In October 2014 we published a report entitled The Public Trustee and a Fair and Proportionate Fee Structure for Represented Persons.*
The report found that disability support pensioners subject to Guardianship and Administration Orders are charged 7.4% or $1476.45 of their pension in Public Trustee fees and charges. As a result some are required to forego essential items such as food, electricity and safe housing.
The report also found that the overwhelming majority of jurisdictions in Australia provide the same service either free of charge or for a nominal fee.
Whilst the fees charged by the Public Trustee have been a recurring theme for many of our clients for over a decade, this review is a step in the right direction and we are committed to assisting the Government in its review.
*The report can be accessed here:
http://www.clctas.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/PublicTrusteeFeesPaperF.pdf
or here:
http://www.advocacytasmania.org.au/publications/PublicTrusteeFeesPaper.pdf
Ken Hardaker – CEO Advocacy Tasmania Inc Benedict Bartl – CLC Tas Policy Officer
