Department of Ageing and Disability Services mismanagement of funds
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: I direct a question without notice to the Minister for Primary Industries, representing the Minister for Ageing and Disability Services. Is the Minister aware of the Auditor-General’s report to Parliament that found that the Department of Ageing and Disability Services has issued $48 million of grants to non-government organisations without proper agreements, increasing the risk of agreed services not being provided, and unspent money not being returned? Is the Minister aware that the same department had salary overpayments that total $1.6 million, with $1.3 million of that unlikely to be recovered? In particular, is the Minister aware that other examples of poor management of public funds included 180 employees earning more than 30 per cent of their salary from overtime, and that more than 40 staff received in excess of 50 per cent of their salary through overtime? Given that the Auditor-General has addressed these issues for a number of years, how will the Minister efficiently and effectively handle the overtime issue?
The Hon. Tony Kelly: I thank the member for his question and undertake to pass it on to the relevant Minister and get an answer as quickly as possible.
Deferred answer
On 1 December 2009 Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes asked the Minister for Primary Industries, representing the Minister for Ageing and Disability Industries, a question without notice regarding the Department of Ageing and Disability Services. The Minister for Ageing and Disability Services provided the following response:
Payments were made in June 2009 to selected service providers. Each payment had signed funding agreements in place. This action was taken to ensure the continuity of funding and service delivery by non-government organisations. Payments were only made following discussions with service providers, and on the condition that signed documentation would be returned to Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) as soon as possible.
Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) management has increased training for line managers to reduce the incidence of salary overpayments, and has implemented improved recovery actions. ADHC is actively undertaking recovery actions on all overpayments.
Overtime has been required for some employees to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of services. Improved rostering procedures are being developed to minimise the reliance on overtime to fill vacant shifts.
