Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

The answer to the senator's questions are as follows:

(1) When a company is in administration and sold as a going concern, all debts of the company, including monies owed to the Commonwealth, are transferred to the new owners.

(2) The department has a responsibility under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 to collect debts owed to the Commonwealth. When the department is made aware that a company has entered into administration a proof of debt is provided to the administrators.

(3) The department has advised me of such accusations and that it denies the accusations.

(4) No. The department has advised the relevant parties of outstanding debt.

(5) No. The department has advised the relevant parties of outstanding debt.

(6) Any monies owed by registered export establishments become a direct cost to the other registered establishments, if not recovered. The department advises me that it is administering its responsibilities under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and other relevant legislation.

I am comfortable that the department has processes in place to respond to complaints, including internal review and well established external review processes which apply to administrative decisions across Government.

(7) The department has the authority to remit debt under the Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) Orders 2005 but remissions are generally only granted due to exceptional circumstances affecting production at an establishment (such as natural disaster) and not on debt incurred for the provision of services.

(8) Refer part (2) of this response.