Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 11 March 2011:

With reference to a letter dated 26 October from Ms Fiona Codd, Director of Governance, Systems and Organisational Reporting, Australian Electoral Commission, to Mr Frederick Humphrey of Freemans Beach, New South Wales, claiming that a 'system issue' meant that extra employees hired for the 2010 federal election had their superannuation monies paid into Australian Government Employees Superannuation Trust (AGEST) rather than the fund they had nominated:

(1) How many employees were in this situation.

(2) What proportion of electoral staff hired for the 2010 federal election does this amount to.

(3) In plain English, what was the 'system issue' that caused the misdirections.

(4) Have the misdirected amounts now been transferred to the superannuation funds the employees had specified.

(5) Has the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) enquired of AGEST whether any fees were charged by any parties involved in the transfer that would have rendered employees worse off; if so, has the ATO acted to compensate such employees.

(6) Ms Codd's letter also states employees are paid a 'total package' that 'is constructed to represent all work undertaken and recognise the length of polling day hours, that is, it includes hours expected to be worked in excess of what would be classed an ordinary working day. It also encompasses some allowances rather than paying these separately,' therefore in relation to temporary electoral staff employed for the 2010 federal election, what components of pay attract a superannuation guarantee payment.

(7) What comprises a typical 'total package' in the context of the temporary staff employed in the 2010 federal election.

(8) Is it clear from material presented to prospective and current Australian Electoral Commission employees what components of their pay attract superannuation and those that do not.