Fair Entitlements Guarantee Act 2012

If, apart from this subsection, the Commonwealth does not have power under this Act or a regulation made for the purposes of section 50 to pay an amount (the relevant amount) to a person (the recipient) purportedly as an advance or as financial assistance under such a regulation, then the Commonwealth may pay the relevant amount to the recipient.

If a payment is made under subsection (1) to the recipient, the relevant amount:

is a debt due to the Commonwealth by the recipient; and

may be recovered by the Secretary, on behalf of the Commonwealth, in a court of competent jurisdiction.