11Claims for payment of bounty

11 Claims for payment of bounty

(1) A person who claims to be entitled to be paid an amount of bounty may lodge a claim for payment of the amount. (2) A claim under subsection (1) in respect of the construction or modification of a bountiable vessel shall: (a) be in accordance with the appropriate approved form; (b) include such information as is, and such estimates as are, required by the form; (c) be signed and witnessed as required by section 16; and (d) be lodged with an authorised officer, or with the Secretary, within 12 months after the construction or modification was completed. (3) As soon as practicable after the lodgment of the claim, the Secretary shall, after examining the claim and causing such inquiries as the Secretary considers necessary to be made (including inquiries involving the exercise of powers under sections 21 and 23): (a) if the Secretary is satisfied that the claim complies with subsection (2) and that the claimant is, or, if certain estimates are correct, is, otherwise entitled to be paid an amount of bounty in respect of the construction or modification to which the claim relates: (i) except where subparagraph (ii) applies—approve, in writing, payment of the amount; or (ii) where: (A) the amount is different from the amount for which the claim was made; (B) the difference between those amounts is less than $200; and (C) the Secretary is satisfied that the difference is not attributable to the person who made the claim deliberately overclaiming or underclaiming the amount of bounty; approve, in writing, payment of the amount claimed; or (b) in any other case—refuse, in writing, to approve payment of bounty in respect of the goods to which the claim relates. (4) Where the Secretary makes a decision under subsection (3) in relation to a claim approving, or refusing to approve, payment of bounty, not being a decision approving payment of the amount of bounty claimed that is made within 30 days after the lodging of the claim, the Secretary shall cause to be served on the person who lodged the claim a notice in writing setting out the decision.