Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency Directions 2001 (Cth)

Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency Directions 2001

I, AMANDA VANSTONE, Minister for Family and Community Services, issue the following Directions under paragraph 8(1)(c) of the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency Act 1997.

Dated       Fourteenth December     2001.

A Vanstone

Minister for Family and Community Services

Name of Directions

1. .         These Directions may be cited as the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency Directions 2001.

Commencement

2.         These Directions commence on 1 January 2002.

Definitions

1. In these Directions, unless the contrary intention appears:

Act means the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency Act 1997.

Centrelink means the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency.

Summary reports means:

(a) monthly reports on payments made;

(b) reports on telephone compliance reviews; and

(c)  reports on each field review conducted.

Purpose of the Directions

1. The purpose of these Directions is to enable Centrelink to deliver payments on behalf of the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development to people who are victims of domestic violence and to people who are subject to the New Zealand Police’s Witness Protection Program where those people are relocated to Australia so as to avoid serious harm.

Directions to Centrelink to perform certain functions

Directions

5. (1) Centrelink is directed to perform the functions specified in subsection (2) on behalf of the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development as requested by the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development.

Functions

1. Subject to subsection (4), Centrelink is directed to perform the functions of:

(a)   providing either:

(i)    a direct credit payment to a person and to a nominated bank account each fortnight; or

(ii)   a payment to a person in a manner other than by direct credit payment as specified in subsection (3);

(b)   compliance reviews to be conducted by telephone to confirm payment details and current status;

(c)   conduct field reviews when requested by the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development to do so; and

(d) provide summary reports to the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development;

in relation to each person specified by the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development as requiring the functions specified in paragraphs (a) to (d) to be performed by Centrelink.

Payment other than by direct credit

1. A payment made under subparagraph (2)(a)(ii) is not to be made to the person unless:

(a)   no direct credit payment is available; or

(b)   if a direct credit payment facility is available, it is inappropriate to utilise that facility because the person would suffer financial hardship or some other difficulty if the payment was not made in a manner different to a direct credit.

Protocol/Memorandum of Understanding etc.

1. The functions specified in subsection (2) to be performed by Centrelink are not to be provided until after Centrelink and the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development enter into a Protocol or Memorandum of Understanding or other binding arrangement that provides for the provision of these functions.