Consultation Questions

The consultation paper includes questions that are designed to guide your written submission and ensure we capture a comprehensive range of perspectives. For the full context of each question, please refer to the corresponding section reference provided alongside each question.

Issues statement

• What are your views on the objectives underpinning the proposed reform? (Section 4.2)
• Do you support the Queensland Public Trustee (QPT) increasing cost recovery, i.e. increasing fees for services that can be obtained from private sector providers? (Section 4.2)
• What are your views on QPT’s current funding arrangement? (Section 4.5)
• How can the current funding arrangement be improved to enhance sustainable service delivery while fostering equitable outcomes for QPT’s customers? (Section 4.5)

Financial management services

• What are your views on the preferred option for financial management fees? (Section 6.8)
• Given current cost-of-living challenges, do you support QPT keeping the financial management fee below cost for personal financial administration (PFA) level 1 and PFA level 2? (Section 6.8)
• What are the benefits and challenges that the government should consider when reviewing the appropriateness of fee rebates for financial management customers? (Section 6.9.1)
• What level of subsidy do you think the government should provide to financial management customers? (Section 6.9.2)
• How can governments ensure that there are enough resources to meet the growing demand for financial management services? (Section 6.9.2)
• What is your view on how QPT can improve its assessment of financial capability to ensure that community service obligations (CSOs) are targeted to those in need? (Section 6.9.3)
• Are there examples of other services that are means or asset tested that could inform changes to the CSO? (Section 6.9.3)
• What are your views on QPT's current CSO arrangement? (Section 6.9.4)
• How would you suggest it be changed to ensure that vulnerable customers have access to affordable financial management services? (Section 6.9.4)

Will-making services

• What are your views on the benefits and costs of QPT providing free universal will-making services to all Queenslanders? (Section 7.4)
• Should the subsidisation of will-making services be restricted to certain groups? If so, who should qualify and why? (Section 7.4)

Deceased estate administration services

• What are your views on QPT’s proposal to increase fees for deceased estate services, which aims to increase cost recovery from approximately 60% to 90%? (Section 8.7)
• Do you believe there is a need for QPT to have a structured CSO policy in relation to deceased estate services? (Section 8.7)

Trust administration services

• QPT manages a substantial number of small trusts for minors. A significant number of these trusts stem from small bequests in Wills. For example, grandparents opting to leave a legacy for their grandchildren, gifting $5,000 each to multiple beneficiaries. These modest amounts must be held separately on behalf of each minor, sometimes for extended periods. The costs associated with managing these small sums often outweigh any potential income or growth over the trust's lifespan. Consequently, without substantial CSO rebates from QPT, the intended legacy may not materialise as anticipated. While QPT strives to protect these funds from erosion, financial markets and ongoing costs can lead to grievances and dissatisfaction among the families and beneficiaries involved. What do you believe should be QPT's role in managing small trusts, particularly those from small bequests in Wills? (Section 9.2)