Our Freedom of Information disclosure log

File EF18/47804 Social Welfare Services – Grant Administration- Funding (Non-government Organisations NGO) - 018-2583 - Support for Trafficked People Program Trial for Forced Marriage Victims - Agreement Creation - Final Documents.

Item 1: the most recent breakdown of customer spending, by category and amount; and

Item 2: the most recent analysis of spending habits in relation to the Cashless Debit Card.

…all correspondence between the department and Minister Ruston’s office related to the timing of release of the DSS Payment Demographic Data.

"…modelling since May 18, 2019 relating to options to make the deeming rate more generous. I am particularly interested in any material that shows the distribution of the winners under the reforms. That is which proportion of retirees get over $500 and what is average benefit eligible retirees receive."

- any minutes from any meetings between NOW Australia and DSS
- any communication NOW Australia has had with DSS
- any communication between Tracey Spicer and DSS since 2017

All email correspondence between the minister's office and the department and internally within the department regarding Samantha Maiden's media inquiry relating to the deeming rate.

I am seeking:

1. The parts and/or sections and/or chapters of 2019 incoming ministerial and/or government briefing documents and/or packages and/or blue book(s) about and/or relating to the Cashless Debit Card and/or Basics Card and/or BasicsCard and/or income management.
2. Any briefs to the Minister (excluding any and/or all covered by part A above) produced on and/or after May 18 2019 about and/or relating to the Cashless Debit Card and/or Basics Card and/or BasicsCard and/or income management.

Portions of the incoming government brief prepared for the Minister for Families and Social Services following the 2019 federal election that relate to:

1. the Community Development Program

2. the Cashless Debit Card

3. Income Management in the Northern Territory

4. the Targeted Compliance Framework

5. the Parentsnext Program

‘…the number of annual bookings made for the National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS) in South Australia only. NABS is currently contracted out to Wesley Mission Queensland.

I require statistics going back 5 years.

I also require statistics to be broken down into NDIS-funded assignments and non-NDIS-funded assignments.

Documents containing the data compilation of interest rates from the various sources included in continuous monitoring of the financial markets and the application of a mathematical procedure to determine the appropriate deeming rate. Please limit these documents to those relating to the previous four changes in deeming rates.

Herewith I request the final report, or a similar document which ISS made regarding the $516,000 AUD received from the Department.

1. Any documents of the analysis conducted or commissioned by the Department of Social Service to inform the design of, or in relation to the impact of, the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Defined Benefit Income Streams) Act 2015;

2. Any correspondence or memos between the Department of Social Service and the Office of the Minister for Social Service in 2014 and 2015 relating to the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Defined Benefit Income Streams) Act 2015; and

3. Any documents that have analysed the impact of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Defined Benefit Income Streams) Act 2015 since it came into force.

1. How many applications for Redress has the Scheme received between the starting date for applications and 30 May 2019?

2. How many applications for Redress have been successfully completed and actioned by the Scheme since it began accepting applications?

3. What is the average time taken, across all successfully completed and actioned applications to date, from receipt of an application until its successful completion and actioning?

I am seeking access to the incoming government brief prepared for the social services minister following the 2019 federal election. I am only seek access to those parts of the brief that relate to welfare debt recovery, drug testing of welfare recipients, the cashless welfare card, welfare fraud prevention, and the ParentsNext program.

1. At 30 April 2019, the number of staff employed by the Department in Redress Policy and Legislation Branch and Redress Implementation Branch) to administer the National Redress Scheme.

2. Between 1 July 2018 and 30 April 2019, the amount spent on salaries (plus superannuation, allowances, etc) for staff employed by the Department in Redress Policy and Legislation Branch and Redress Implementation Branch to administer the National Redress Scheme.

3. Between 1 July 2018 and 30 April 2019, the direct costs associated with implementing the National Redress Scheme, including salaries, entitlements, contractors, travel, and consultancies for the Department.

Documents produced in the last 12 months containing information about trans-generational welfare dependence.

I am specifically looking for data and/or statistics about the extent and/or incidence of trans-generational welfare dependence and analysis and/or assessment about, but not limited to, its causes and possible policy responses.

Documents used by the Complaints team to respond to incoming correspondence from members of the public, including processing instructions, standard operating procedures or task cards.

1. The Departmental decision minutes prepared for the refusal of the transfer from Ethan Affordable Housing Ltd to Quantum Housing Group Pty Ltd;
2. The Departmental decision minutes prepared for the approval of the transfer from Ethan Affordable Housing Ltd to Questus Fund Management Ltd; and
3. Reports on NRAS applications to transfer prepared by Deloitte which are related to Ethan Affordable Housing Ltd.

Item 1. Any statistical information about the number of interviews being conducted via alternative mode as per clause 93.6 of the Disability Employment Services Grant Agreement effective 1 July 2018

Documents produced in the last 12 months containing information analysis and/or advice and/or briefings about whether (a) recipients of the Newstart Allowance are below the standard relative income poverty possible line and (b) whether the Newstart Allowance is capable of meeting rental, food, clothing and other living costs for recipients. Information about the extent of any shortfall is also within scope.