Take your money back, Government urges

12/10/06
Someone in Western Australia could be the owner of $611,800 being held by the Department of Treasury and Finance.
The money from a deceased estate is part of $21.5million worth of unclaimed money, which the State Government in keen to give back to its rightful owners.
"The unclaimed money is from a variety of sources, such as the proceeds of unpresented cheques, dividends, real estate bonds and deposits," Acting Treasurer John Kobelke said.
"It is always available and people never lose their entitlement to it, so long as they can establish their ownership."
People who believe they have a claim should check the official register published in today's West Australian (Thursday, October 12) or visit the Department of Treasury and Finance website at http://www.money.dtf.wa.gov.au.
Mr Kobelke said the list published in the West Australian contained amounts of $100 or more received over the past year, while the website listed all amounts back to 1990.
"In all, the website contains details of 170,000 individuals, companies and organisations who are owed money," he said.
"Since the publication of the last register, more than 1,600 amounts totalling $650,000 have been claimed from the Department of Treasury and Finance."
Money from bank accounts, life insurance, company shares and the majority of superannuation is not dealt with by the Department of Treasury and Finance.
Information on Superannuation can be found at the Australian Taxation Office website at http://www.ato.gov.au, where people can search a register of inactive super accounts.
Information regarding bank accounts, matured life insurance policies and some share holdings can be obtained from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission website, at http://www.fido.asic.gov.au.
Treasurer's office - 9222 8788