Tuesday 13 March 2018

I am concerned that the government’s new laws to enable Revenue NSW to use its extensive powers, including to garnish a debtor’s account, to collect debts on behalf of councils and government agencies could cause some people hardship.

In response to my concerns, the government promised to withdraw powers to suspend certain occupational licences – this would only have made it harder for debtors to repay their debt. I asked for grace provisions, like the courts have, so that accounts are not garnished when a debt notice was sent to an old address.

Work and Development Orders should also be available for debtors with no viable option to clear their debt.  Government agencies need to recover debts but the system needs to protect the vulnerable from serious hardship. My speech: HERE