Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Pratt, can I just make one thing clear. This measure does not create debt. The debt already exists. Can I just underline that. The debt already exists, whether this measure passes or not. The important thing about this measure is that it provides a mechanism for people to identify the debt early rather than letting it mount while they go through the current lengthy process. So I underline: the debt already exists; this is about the process. This is about a mechanism for identification of that debt early in the piece, rather than letting it, as I said, mount up while you go through the current lengthy process. I add that the measure will allow overpayments or underpayments to be identified and addressed earlier. This means that the overpayment or underpayment would be less than under the current process, where debts can accrue while the lengthy assessment takes place. It will not change how these overpayments or underpayments are settled.