Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move opposition amendments (1) and (2) together:

(1) Schedule 2, item 1, page 11 (lines 5 and 6), to be opposed.

(2) Schedule 2, item 4, page 11 (lines 16 to 21), to be opposed.

Schedule 2 of the bill seeks to amend section 42S of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999, by increasing from 12 weeks to 26 weeks the unemployment non-payment period during which a participation payment is not payable in circumstances where a person who has been paid relocation assistance becomes unemployed as a result of a voluntary act of the person or as a result of the person's misconduct as an employee.

The opposition amendment has the effect of retaining the unemployment non-payment period at 12 weeks, which is the status quo. The opposition is obviously concerned about the extreme nature of extending this to 26 weeks and we will seek support to have the status quo provision prevail.