AAT: Reply from Senator Xenaphon

[Banjo]

Message
Dear Senator Xenaphon,

as someone who takes an interest in AAT cases, in particular those affecting DSP applicants and appellants, I would like to suggest that the JCA officers responsible for the decision under appeal be required to defend it at the tribunal.
This would be a considerable saving on Centrelink using lawyers like Sparke Helmore.
It would also add to the informal nature of the proceedings and reduce the stress on appellants who have been refused legal aid for their own lawyer which is often the case,

Thank you for your email to Nick Xenophon and I apologise for the delay in responding. I am responding on his behalf.



Thank you for your suggestion with regards to AAT Tribunals and JCA officers responsible for the decision under appeal be required to defend it – I have passed your comments on to Nick and his senior advisors for their reference and consideration.


In the past Nick has raised the issue of the Department of Human Services spending $500,000 on legal fees fighting a $6000 child support dispute in what Nick referred to as a scandalous waste of taxpayers’ money.



Thanks again for writing to Nick about this.



Kind regards



Anna Gordon
Electorate Officer

Office of Nick Xenophon | Independent Senator for South Australia

(Electorate Office) Lvl 2/31 Ebenezer Place, Adelaide | TEL: [phone]

www.nickxenophon.com.au

[krystal]

You think maybe we can start here and everyone on the forum send the same email message to him?

Post the email address you used ... maybe if we all send one, the bulk of the messages that are "passed on", he might worry about how many trees are being killed about the same thing.

[Banjo]

I used the contact option on his website.

I quite liked the reply, it included the original email.
Often, particularly with ministers, if you use the contact button and the reply takes weeks then you can forget what it was about.

[nomadic]

sorry to be the pessimist but it sounds like the typical political fob off reply. he did the same with me years ago. but bombarding him maybe a good idea and it can't hurt.

[Banjo]

Mr X is the master of a well worded fob off, he wants to be all things to all people.
However if he is not aware of our issues then he cannot consider them in any equation to promote his own interests.
He has to be reminded that we vote.