Hardship Review Board

About

The Hardship Review Board is seeking applications from appropriately experienced members of the community to fill 2 recently created roles for non-government members.

The government has recently expanded the membership and scope of the Hardship Review Board to include 2 non-government members, with the Board’s role now also to provide policy advice to the Minister on hardship in respect of fines, state debts and taxes.

The new members will bring the benefits of their lived experience and expertise in the community to strengthen the Board’s decision-making capabilities and enable it to provide informed advice to the Minister on matters related to the Board’s remit.

The Hardship Review Board

Revenue NSW has multiple options available to individuals experiencing hardship to help them resolve their fines, fees or taxes. These include allowing more time to pay, reducing the amount of the debt, writing off or waiving the amount completely or undertaking activities as an alternative to payment.
When an application to access one of these options is declined by Revenue NSW individuals can apply to the Hardship Review Board to have that decision reviewed.
The 2 new non-government members will join delegated representatives from each of the Department of Customer Service, Department of Communities and Justice and the Treasury.

Individuals can apply to the Board if Revenue NSW has declined an application:

·         To write off an overdue fine, fee or tax

·         For more time to pay a fine, for or tax

·         To approve a work and development order for a fine

The Board will consider an application based on the individual’s financial, medical and/or domestic circumstances to determine whether repaying the debt will place the individual in hardship.

Individuals apply in writing to the Board, providing evidence in support of their application. The Board is empowered by legislation to alter the decisions made by Revenue NSW and direct it to, in full or in part, write off or waive an amount, extend the time to pay the debt or (for fines) permit the applicant to resolve the debt through completion of a Work and Development Order.

The Board does not, however, consider the validity of a fine, fee or tax as there are separate pathways available for individuals to lodge an objection, have the matter reviewed or heard in an appropriate court.

The Roles

The Board meets regularly to consider applications from individuals who have had certain decisions made by Revenue NSW about their fines, fees or taxes reviewed.  Meetings are generally virtual and applications are considered in the absence of the applicant.

A Board member’s role is to review the information provided by the individual to determine if payment of the fine, fee or tax would place them or their immediate family in unreasonable hardship. 

Decisions are made based on the consensus of all Board members.

The new non-government members will also provide input into the formation of policy advice to the Minister on reform relating to fines, state debt and taxation laws.

The Hardship Review Board is classified as a D5 level Board under the Classification and Remuneration Framework for NSW Government Boards and Committees.  In line with this framework, remuneration for the non-government members has been set at $1,000 per meeting with board members being appointed for a term of up to two (2) years.

About you

Non-Government Board members must have qualifications or experience in one or more of the following areas

·         Experience of having worked in the community welfare or social services sector assisting individuals in relation to financial hardship matters

o   NOTE: This is a mandatory requirement for at least one of the non-government board members. 

·         An understanding of the fines, debts and taxes administered by Revenue NSW.

·         In depth knowledge of issues related the various types of hardship that may be experienced by people dealing with Revenue NSW.

·         A demonstrated understanding of the community members who deal with Revenue NSW across the fines, debt and taxation business streams.

·         Experience in supporting people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

·         Experience in the development of social and financial hardship policy advice.

Submit your application via I Work for NSW https://iworkfor.nsw.gov.au/job/hardship-review-board-member-non-government-579751 including  details of your claims against the above selection criteria.

Applications close Friday 12 June 2026