Red tape reduction in the Office of State Revenue. Submission

In its response to the Office of State Revenue’s (OSR) invitation to make comments to their Red Tape Reduction program, the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service draws attention to the many internal OSR procedures that contribute to red tape and delay. For both HPLS’s lawyers and clients, navigating the fines process and the procedures of the OSR, particularly the State Debt Recovery Office, is an exceedingly complex and frustrating experience. In order to reduce this frustration, HPLS recommends that the State Debt Recovery Office develop effective internal procedures to review applications for fines write-off, write-off fines unconditionally in the case of individuals with special circumstances and produce clear guidelines to assist potential applicants and their advocates in seeking write-off of fines. HPLS also identifies the need for reforms to the system of receiving and processing Authority to Act’ forms and for the SDRO to conduct regular reviews of its processes and staffing levels in order to minimise delay.