Senate debates

Monday, 23 March 2020

Bills

Assistance for Severely Affected Regions (Special Appropriation) (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Bill 2020, Structured Finance Support (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Bill 2020, Appropriation (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Bill (No. 1) 2019-2020, Appropriation (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Bill (No. 2) 2019-2020, Boosting Cash Flow for Employers (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Bill 2020; In Committee

9:19 pm

Photo of Mathias CormannMathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

I might just—

The CHAIR: Minister, I believe it has been circulated. Indeed, I have a copy.

An honourable senator: You have a copy?

The CHAIR: Yes.

I thought it had been circulated. I've spoken on a number of occasions now about the purpose of this amendment in giving the minister the flexibility and the regulation-making power to deal with the various items that are listed in the amendment that deal with payment rates, means-testing arrangements, eligibility criteria, waiting periods and residency requirements to respond in a scalable, measured and timely manner. This power will cease at the end of 2020. You will be able to see paragraphs (5) and (6) which provide that an instrument made under this item has no operation after 31 December 2020 and the power that it provides to the minister is repealed on 31 December 2020. I move:

(1) Schedule 11, Part 1, page 66 (after line 9), at the end of the Part, add:

40A Modifications of qualifications and payments under the social security law

(1) For any provision of the social security law relating to the qualification of persons for a social security payment, or to the rate of a social security payment, the Minister may by, legislative instrument, determine:

(a) for a provision that relates to the qualification of persons for a social security payment:

  (i) that the provision is varied as specified in the determination; or

  (ii) that the provision does not apply; or

  (iii) that the provision does not apply and that another provision specified in the determination applies instead; or

(b) for a provision that relates to the rate of a social security payment:

  (i) that the provision is varied as specified in the determination; or

  (ii) that the provision does not apply and that a rate of payment specified in the determination applies instead.

(2) The Minister must be satisfied that the determination is in response to circumstances relating to the coronavirus known as COVID-19.

(3) A determination under this item has effect accordingly.

(4) In this item:

social security law has the same meaning as in the Social Security Act 1991.

social security payment has the same meaning as in the Social Security Act 1991.

(5) An instrument made under this item has no operation after 31 December 2020.

(6) This item is repealed on 31 December 2020.

The CHAIR: I just draw to the attention of the committee that we are dealing with the amended amendment ZA510, which has got 9.06 pm at the bottom of the document.

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