❓ Mr. Love questions the high cost ($11M) of administering a $100 fuel support payment via the ServiceWA app. Ms. Saffioti defends the cost, citing technology changes, hard-copy options for those unable to use the app, and proactive outreach to regional/remote communities.
AnsweredQoN 257Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Fuel support payment
257. Mr Shane Love to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the
government's $100 fuel support payment delivered through the ServiceWA app and
the $11 million in implementation and administration costs that are
contained in the state budget papers. Why does it cost taxpayers $11 million
to administer a one-off $100 payment through an app the government already owns
and operates?
257. Mr Shane Love to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the
government's $100 fuel support payment delivered through the ServiceWA app and
the $11 million in implementation and administration costs that are
contained in the state budget papers. Why does it cost taxpayers $11 million
to administer a one-off $100 payment through an app the government already owns
and operates?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for that question. Member, do you
support the payment?
Mr Shane Love: You'll have to answer the
question first!
Ms Rita Saffioti: It is very unclear, because I do not
know where this opposition is standing. We just heard the contribution from the
shadow Treasurer—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: —who said, "You're spending too
much, but you need to spend less". That is what the shadow Treasurer said.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: In relation to that question, of
course, there have to be some technology changes, and we know that some people
will not be able or want to use the ServiceWA app, so we are also going to make
it easier for them—
Mr Shane Love: It's $11 million!
The Speaker: Member, you have asked the question. Let
the Treasurer respond.
Ms Rita Saffioti: —in relation to people not using the
app and submitting hard-copy forms, so that is why that money is there—to make
sure that everyone in WA gets to access it. There are many Western Australians
who live in regional remote areas—the member may be aware—who will need to make
sure that they have all the right access to the technology or to the hard paper
forms so they can fill in their details. It happened with the student
assistance payments, too, Minister for Education, where we had to proactively
go out into regional remote communities in particular to ensure that not only
they were aware of it, but also they had access to it, because just because
someone lives in regional remote WA does not mean they should not have access
to those payments. That is what we did for the student assistance payment. The
first time, I think our take-up rates in areas of the Kimberley were not as
high as we wanted. The second time, we invested more so that we could go out
into parts throughout the Kimberley, the Pilbara and the Goldfields and into
more regional remote areas to ensure that members of the public—at that time
the school students and the schools—were fully aware of it, and we actually
sent people out to help them access that money. Member, sometimes it costs more
to deliver things in regional WA. As I said, we are not only making sure that they
are aware of it, but also we are out there proactively working with communities
around the state to support their applications. The member may not believe that
someone should have access to those funds just because they are in a remote
town, but we do, and that is why we will invest to make sure everyone in
Western Australia is aware of the payment and also gets access to it.
support the payment?
Mr Shane Love: You'll have to answer the
question first!
Ms Rita Saffioti: It is very unclear, because I do not
know where this opposition is standing. We just heard the contribution from the
shadow Treasurer—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: —who said, "You're spending too
much, but you need to spend less". That is what the shadow Treasurer said.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: In relation to that question, of
course, there have to be some technology changes, and we know that some people
will not be able or want to use the ServiceWA app, so we are also going to make
it easier for them—
Mr Shane Love: It's $11 million!
The Speaker: Member, you have asked the question. Let
the Treasurer respond.
Ms Rita Saffioti: —in relation to people not using the
app and submitting hard-copy forms, so that is why that money is there—to make
sure that everyone in WA gets to access it. There are many Western Australians
who live in regional remote areas—the member may be aware—who will need to make
sure that they have all the right access to the technology or to the hard paper
forms so they can fill in their details. It happened with the student
assistance payments, too, Minister for Education, where we had to proactively
go out into regional remote communities in particular to ensure that not only
they were aware of it, but also they had access to it, because just because
someone lives in regional remote WA does not mean they should not have access
to those payments. That is what we did for the student assistance payment. The
first time, I think our take-up rates in areas of the Kimberley were not as
high as we wanted. The second time, we invested more so that we could go out
into parts throughout the Kimberley, the Pilbara and the Goldfields and into
more regional remote areas to ensure that members of the public—at that time
the school students and the schools—were fully aware of it, and we actually
sent people out to help them access that money. Member, sometimes it costs more
to deliver things in regional WA. As I said, we are not only making sure that they
are aware of it, but also we are out there proactively working with communities
around the state to support their applications. The member may not believe that
someone should have access to those funds just because they are in a remote
town, but we do, and that is why we will invest to make sure everyone in
Western Australia is aware of the payment and also gets access to it.
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