Dear Department of Human Services,

In this article:
"http://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-...

Refers to a debt recovery system which has reclaimed "$300 million of tax payers money", my query is into this process.

The Minister (Mr Tudge) has stated that the main concern of this 'system' is to ensure the all claiments receive the correct amount: to quote his words "no more and no less".

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national...

This statement indicates that as well as identifying over payments ("no more"- the value of $300m has been publically quoted) the system must also identify occasions when there have been underpayments (no less).

I request that you provide me with details as to:

what value of underpayments have been identified by the process?

Additionally, what value of reimbursements have been sent out to correct this?

It would seem to be highly unlikely, if not bizarre, that Centrelink would have only ever make 'errors' in favour of claimants! Hence underpayments must exist, accepting the Minister's public statements regarding the importance of 'integrity' in the system and the importance that "no more and no less" will be paid, efforts must be being made to recify errors made in relation to underpayment of claimants.

You will appreciate that, having already quantified overpayments at over $300 million, it will be essential to quantify underpayments to enable a comparison of the two figures and thus identify the total savings made to the 'system' by this process. Presumably, if a figure for overpayments can be calculated, a similar figure for underpayments can be identified.

I look forward to a prompt response.

Yours faithfully,
Graeme Smith

Dear Department of Human Services,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Human Services's handling of my FOI request 'Value of underpayments identified in the Centrelink Debt Recovery Process (wrt quoted overpayment figure of $300million)'.

The Minister (Mr Tudge) has publically stated that his main concern is to ensure the all claiments receive the correct amount: to quote his words "no more and no less".
He has publically quoted a figure ($300 million) relating to overpayments detected, this indicates that a process exists for its calculation. (Actual payment - due payment)

There are only three possible states for such a calculation:
1. Positive-overpayment ($ figure quoted by Minister Tudge),
2. Zero-Accurate payment made,
3. Negative-underpayment

If the system checks the correct amount is paid 2. (the value of these must be known) and Mr Tudge has quoted a figure for underpayment of 1. as $300million, then logically the figure I seek 3. is the remainder.
Total budget spend less (1. and 2.) will give a figure for underpayments (3.)

I thank you for your further consideration of this matter.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/v...

Yours faithfully,

G.Smith