Waive-debt call in limbo
Will Jackson
07May08
Dawn Rowan is clinging to the hope the Federal Government will waive her debt. Picture: MARK FRECKER N45DV303.
A LOCAL federal MP has been accused of ducking responsibility for the plight of bankrupt St Andrews counsellor Dawn Rowan.
Ms Rowan wants the Federal Government to waive a $397,000 debt incurred in a defamation battle.
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Minister and Jagajaga MP Jenny Macklin says her department is legally required to recover the debt and take Ms Rowan's home.
But Ms Rowan's legal-aid lawyer, Michael Wighton, said the minister might have misunderstood Ms Rowan's request.
"Dawn has not asked for the secretary of the department not to pursue her for the legal costs she owes," Mr Wighton said.
"Rather, what Dawn asks is that the minister intervenes and uses the powers the Government has under Section 34 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act to now waive that debt.
"Dawn's supporters have been advised by the Government that the Finance Minister would only act on a recommendation from the relevant minister, Jenny Macklin.
"This is a source of enormous frustration for Dawn, because both the former and present governments have not even acknowledged they have the power in their hands to assist her."
Ms Macklin refused to explain why Ms Rowan's debt could not be waived.
"I understand this is a very difficult situation for Dawn," Ms Macklin said. "We are looking at what other options may be available to the Federal Government."
Ms Rowan was named in a damning 1980s government report into a South Australian crisis shelter she helped run.
The allegations were proved false and Ms Rowan successfully sued two television stations and the federal and South Australian governments in 2002.
All but the state government appealed successfully, but the Federal Government has been the only party to pursue her for costs.
It won a bankruptcy order against her on September 28.
We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Please provide your full name. We also require a working email address - not for publication, but for verification. The location field is optional. Read our publication guidelines.
