Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the provisions of paragraphs 5 to 8 of standing order 111 not apply to the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures) Bill 2020, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

I also table a statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statement incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows—

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2020 AUTUMN SITTINGS

SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (SIMPLIFIED INCOME REPORTING AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The measure will reform the way 1.2 million income support recipients report their employment income to Services Australia. Instead of estimating the amount of income they have earned each fortnight, recipients will instead report the gross income they have actually been paid.

Reasons for Urgency

The bill provides the legislative basis for implementing a key measure in the 2019-20 Budget, Changing the Social Security Income Assessment Model. The measure will deliver savings of $2.1 billion over four years to 2022-23.

The bill will underpin the substantial implementation process associated with the measure commencing on 1 July 2020. Implementation of the measure will include significant ICT changes by Services Australia, working with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and a coordinated communication strategy to prepare income support recipients for changes in reporting requirements.

Question agreed to.