New database gave payouts to dead people

Dead people and expats received $900 cash handouts because the tax office had to set
up a complex new database at short notice to administer the government's stimulus
program, a Senate estimates hearing has heard.
The Australian Tax Office has confirmed that tax bonus payments were made to 16,000
dead people, at a cost of $14 million, while another $25 million has been sent to
about 25,000 Australians living overseas.
Taxation Commissioner Michael D'Ascenzo said the ATO did not previously have a
system in place to deliver the stimulus payments, and had to act quickly.
"The advice was that additional layers of detail would delay delivery of that
measure and reduce the macroeconomic effectiveness of it," Mr D'Ascenzo said.
"This was a massive effort on the part of the tax office to build a new system to do
this.
"There was no existing system in place ... it was very complex."
Veteran Liberal senator Bill Heffernan said it was unfair that farmers missed out on
stimulus payments as dead people were paid.
"Hardworking farmers who have been making a loss are told to go to hell," Senator
Heffernan said.
Cash handouts of up to $900 for people earning less $100,000 added up to $23 billion
as part of the government's second stimulus package.
Labor senator Stephen Conroy said the payments to dead people made up 0.2 per cent
of the government's stimulus package, and delaying the payments would defeat the
purpose of the economic program.
"That's a policy we took and we stand by it," Senator Conroy said.