- $13 million over two years for fee relief announced for Public Trustee’s vulnerable clients
- Revised fees and funding model to be developed to improve transparency and equity
- An interim advisory board to provide independent and strategic oversight
Attorney General John Quigley has announced $13 million towards fee relief for vulnerable clients of the Public Trustee while a Department of Treasury review into the independent statutory authority’s fees and funding model is ongoing.
The former Liberal-National Barnett Government put in place the Public Trustee’s current self-funding model and fee structure, where some clients subsidise the costs of providing services to others that cannot afford to pay.
The McGowan Government will provide fee relief while an interim advisory board is established to oversee the development of a revised fee model and fee waiver policy with the Public Trustee that is simple, transparent and equitable.
An independent governing board will be established in the future to strengthen oversight of the Public Trustee and promote public confidence in its operations.
Fee relief announced today includes abolishing the $35 minimum monthly fee for those under an administration order and a 50 per cent reduction in selected trust fees from 1 July 2023, with all other fee increases in line with the CPI.
Treasury’s review is underway following a recent Performance Audit by the Office of the Auditor General that found while the self-funded Public Trustee operated within its gazetted fee schedule, some fees charged did not reflect the level of work undertaken for clients.
Treasury’s review of the Public Trustee’s fees and self-funding model, including accountability and transparency mechanisms, will be finalised later this year.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
“The $13 million towards fee relief ahead of a comprehensive structural review is a recognition of the impacts of the Public Trustee’s current model.
“The Barnett Liberal Government failed to consider the impact of cross-subsidisation on clients of the Public Trustee.
“At the recommendation of Treasury, an interim oversight body will be established.
“The interim advisory board will work with the Public Trustee to look at how its fee structure and fee waiver policy can be more transparent and equitable, to meet the community’s needs and expectations.
“These changes will deliver enhanced fairness for all trust clients and bolster public confidence in the valuable services the Public Trustee provides to the community.”
“I look forward to the final report from Treasury that will provide recommendations into the Public Trustee’s self-funding model and its governance arrangements.”
Attorney General’s office – 6552 6800
