Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

The question is that amendments be considered immediately.

A division having been called and the bells having been rung—

As there are fewer than seven members on the side of the noes in this division, I declare the question resolved in the affirmative, in accordance with standing order 127. The names of those members who are in the minority will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.

Question agreed to.

Senate's amendments—

(1) Schedule 2, item 6, page 26 (line 8), before "The Secretary", insert "(1)".

(2) Schedule 2, item 6, page 26 (after line 17), at the end of section 99, add:

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the debt could be recovered by setting off under section 87A against a payment referred to in paragraph 82(1)(c) (child care service payments).

(3) Schedule 2, page 27 (after line 15), after item 10, insert:

10A At the end of Part 5.2

Add:

1230D Non-recovery of certain amounts

If a record of an amount less than the amount referred to in section 1237AAA is entered into the records of the Human Services Department, the Secretary must waive the Commonwealth's right to raise a debt in respect of the whole or a part of the amount if, were the Commonwealth to exercise that right, the resulting debt would be a debt within the meaning of Part 5.4.

Note 1: The amount referred to in section 1237AAA is indexed on each 1 July (see sections 1191 to 1194). Immediately before 1 July 2026, the amount was $250.

Note 2: See also section 1237AAA (waiver of small debt).

Note 3: A waiver under this section of the Commonwealth's right to raise a debt in respect of an amount does not prevent the Secretary from considering whether any person may have engaged in fraud or serious non-compliance in relation to the amount and taking further appropriate action.

(4) Schedule 2, item 11, page 28 (after line 11), at the end of section 1237AAA, add:

Note 4: See also section 1230D (non-recovery of certain amounts).

(5) Schedule 2, item 12, page 28 (after line 25), at the end of section 43D, add:

Note 3: See also section 44 (non-recovery of certain amounts).

(6) Schedule 2, page 28 (after line 25), after item 12, insert:

12A At the end of Part 6

Add:

Division 5 — Other matters

44 Non-recovery of certain amounts

If a record of an amount less than the amount referred to in section 1237AAA of the Social Security Act 1991 is entered into the records of the Human Services Department, the Secretary must waive the Commonwealth's right to raise a debt in respect of the whole or a part of the amount if, were the Commonwealth to exercise that right, the resulting debt would be a debt to which this Part applies.

Note 1: The amount referred to in section 1237AAA of the Social Security Act 1991 is indexed on each 1 July (see sections 1191 to 1194 of that Act). Immediately before 1 July 2026, the amount was $250.

Note 2: See also section 43D (waiver of small debt).

Note 3: A waiver under this section of the Commonwealth's right to raise a debt in respect of an amount does not prevent the Secretary from considering whether any person may have engaged in fraud or serious non-compliance in relation to the amount and taking further appropriate action.

44A Secretary may arrange for use of computer programs to make decisions

(1) The Secretary may arrange for the use, under the Secretary's control, of computer programs for any purposes for which an officer may make a decision that is the doing of a thing under section 43D (waiver of small debt) or section 44 (non-recovery of certain amounts).

(2) A decision made by the operation of a computer program under an arrangement made under subsection (1) is taken to be a decision made by the Secretary.

(7) Schedule 2, item 13, page 28 (before line 28), insert:

Debts

(8) Schedule 2, item 13, page 28 (after line 32), at the end of the item, add:

Non-recovery of certain amounts

(3) The amendments made by this Part apply in relation to a record that is entered into the records of the Human Services Department after the commencement of this item.

(9) Schedule 2, item 14, page 29 (line 3), after "amount", insert "(other than an amount of child care subsidy or additional child care subsidy)".

(10) Schedule 2, item 14, page 29 (after line 23), at the end of the item, add:

(5) In this item:

additional child care subsidy has the same meaning as in the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999.

child care subsidy has the same meaning as in the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999

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