Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move Greens amendment (1) on sheet 6120:

(1)    Page 3 (after line 27), at the end of the bill, add:

Part 1—Amendments

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999

1  Subdivision A of Division 4A of Part 4 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

2  Bulk amendments

The provisions listed in the table are amended by omitting “quarter” (wherever occurring) and substituting “CCR period”.

Note 1:             The heading to section 57EA is altered by omitting “quarter” and substituting “CCR period”.

Note 2:             The heading to section 84AA is altered by omitting “quarter” and substituting “CCR period”.

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999

3  Subsection 3(1) (after the definition of CCB %)

Insert:

CCR period has the meaning given by section 65EAD.

4  Subdivision AA of Division 4AA of Part 3 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

5  At the end of Subdivision AA of Division 4AA of Part 3

Add:

        (1)    Subject to subsection (2), the CCR period for an individual in respect of a child is a fortnight.

        (2)    The Secretary may determine, on application by an individual in the prescribed form, that the CCR period for the individual in respect of a child is a quarter.

        (3)    A determination under subsection (2) remains in force until the Secretary determines otherwise.

6  Paragraph 66(2)(ab)

Omit “quarterly”, substitute “periodic”.

7  Bulk amendments

The provisions listed in the table are amended by omitting “quarter” (wherever occurring) and substituting “CCR period”.

Note 1: The heading to section 65EAA is altered by omitting “quarterly” and substituting “periodic”.

Note 2: The heading to subsection 65EAA(1) is altered by omitting “quarterly” and substituting “periodic”.

Note 3: The heading to section 65EAB is altered by omitting “quarterly” and substituting “periodic”.

Note 4: The heading to section 65EAC is altered by omitting “quarterly” and substituting “periodic”.

Note 5: The heading to section 175AA is altered by omitting “quarter” and substituting “period”.

Part 2—Application and transitional

8  Application

The amendments made by this Schedule apply in relation to care provided by an approved child care service to a child on or after 1 July 2010.

9  Transitional

The regulations may provide that the provisions of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 and the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 apply in a modified form for the purpose of the transition from a regime of quarterly payments to a regime of periodic payments (fortnightly, by default) as provided for by the amendments in this Schedule.

I spoke about this amendment in my speech in the second reading debate. This amendment will effectively allow parents to access the rebate in fortnightly payments, as opposed to having to wait until the end of every quarter, which of course is every three months. It is a way of trying to help them manage the increasing costs of child care. Other parenting payments and income support that the government pays is generally paid fortnightly. Of course, parents who use childcare do not have to wait until the end of every quarter until their fees are due. The fees have to be paid on a weekly or fortnightly basis. This is a way of helping parents budget for the increasing costs of child care. The government is not being asked to put more money into the childcare rebate. It is simply about the way it is administered.