Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pursuant to the order agreed to on Monday, the time allotted for debate on the 13 bills has now expired. I will now put the questions on the remaining stages of these bills. I'll begin with the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026, starting with the request for an amendment moved by Senator Allman-Payne.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the request for an amendment on sheet 3733 be agreed to.

Australian Greens' circulated amendment—

(1) Schedule 2, item 9, page 12 (lines 15 and 16), omit "an amount between $20 and $200", substitute "an amount that is equal to or greater than $20".

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will now deal with the remaining Australian Greens amendments. The question is that the amendments on sheet 3702 and 3734 be agreed to.

Australian Greens' circulated amendments

SHEET 3702

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 4), omit "Schedule 3", substitute "Schedules 3 and 4".

(2) Page 23 (after line 31), at the end of the Bill, add:

Schedule 4 — Time limit on debt recovery

Part 1 — Amendments

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

1 Section 93B

Repeal the section, substitute:

93B Time limit on debt recovery

For the purposes of this Part, legal proceedings, or any action under a provision of this Part, for the recovery of a debt may not be commenced after the period of 6 years starting on the day that the circumstances that gave rise to the debt first existed.

Paid Parental Leave Act 2010

2 Section 192A

Repeal the section, substitute:

192A Time limit on debt recovery

For the purposes of this Part, legal proceedings, or any action under a provision of this Part, for the recovery of a debt may not be commenced after the period of 6 years starting on the day that the circumstances that gave rise to the debt first existed.

Social Security Act 1991

3 Section 1234B

Repeal the section, substitute:

1234B Time limit on debt recovery

For the purposes of this Chapter, legal proceedings, or any action under a provision of this Chapter, for the recovery of a debt or overpayment may not be commenced after the period of 6 years starting on the day that the circumstances that gave rise to the debt or overpayment first existed.

Student Assistance Act 1973

4 Section 42B

Repeal the section, substitute:

42B Time limit on debt recovery

For the purposes of this Part, legal proceedings, or any action under a provision of this Part, for the recovery of a debt may not be commenced after the period of 6 years starting on the day that the circumstances that gave rise to the debt first existed.

Part 2 — Application of amendments

5 Application of amendments

The amendments made by this Schedule apply in relation to a debt that is raised or an overpayment that is made, before, on or after this item commences.

_____

SHEET 3734

(1) Schedule 2, item 10, page 14 (after line 29), after section 43A, insert:

43B Indexation of urgent payment request upper limit

(1) On the first 1 July to occur after the commencement of this section and each later 1 July (an indexation day), the amount of $200 mentioned in paragraph 43(3DB)(a) (the indexable amount) is replaced by the amount worked out using the following formula:

The indexable amount immediately before the indexation day x Indexation factor for the indexation day

(2) The amount worked out under subsection (1) is to be rounded to the nearest whole dollar (rounding 50 cents upwards).

Indexation factor

(3) The indexation factor for an indexation day is the number worked out using the following formula:

Index number for the reference quarter / Index number for the base quarter

where:

base quarter means the last March quarter before the reference quarter.

index number, for a quarter, means the All Groups Consumer Price Index number (being the weighted average of the 8 capital cities) published by the Australian Statistician for that quarter.

March quarter means a period of 3 months starting on 1 January.

reference quarter means the last March quarter before the indexation day.

(4) The indexation factor is to be worked out to 3 decimal places (rounding up if the fourth decimal place is 5 or more).

Changes to CPI index reference period and publication of substituted index numbers

(5) Amounts are to be worked out under this section:

(a) using only the index numbers published in terms of the most recently published index reference period for the Consumer Price Index; and

(b) disregarding index numbers published in substitution for previously published index numbers (except where the substitution is to transition to a new index reference period).

Publication of indexable amount

(6) The Minister must, by notifiable instrument, publish the replacement indexable amount as soon as practicable after the indexation day. However, a failure by the Minister to do so does not invalidate the indexation.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will now deal with the requests for amendments circulated by Senator David Pocock. In accordance with the usual practice, the statements accompanying the requests circulated to this bill will be incorporated in the Hansard. The question is that the requests for amendments on sheet 3744 be agreed to.

Senator David Pocock's circulated amendments—

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 4), omit "Schedule 3", substitute "Schedules 3 and 4".

(2) Page 23 (after line 31), at the end of the Bill, add:

Schedule 4 — Increasing, indexing and reviewing remote area allowance

Social Security Act 1991

1 Point 1064-H2

Repeal the point, substitute:

Rate of remote area allowance

1064-H2 The rate of remote area allowance payable to a person is worked out using Table H. Work out which family situation in the Table applies to the person. The rate of remote area allowance is the corresponding amount in column 3 plus an additional corresponding amount in column 5 for each FTB child, and each regular care child, of the person.

Note: For member of couple, partnered, illness separated couple, respite care couple and partnered (partner in gaol) see section 4.

2 Point 1065-E2

Repeal the point, substitute:

Rate of remote area allowance

1065-E2 The rate of remote area allowance payable to a person is worked out using Table E. Work out which family situation in the Table applies to the person. The rate of remote area allowance is the corresponding amount in column 3 plus an additional corresponding amount in column 5 for each FTB child, and each regular care child, of the person.

Note: For member of couple, partnered, illness separated couple, respite care couple and partnered (partner in gaol) see section 4.

3 Point 1066A-I2

Repeal the point, substitute:

Rate of remote area allowance

1066A-I2 The rate of remote area allowance payable to a person is worked out using Table I. Work out which family situation in the Table applies to the person. The rate of remote area allowance is the corresponding amount in column 3 plus an additional corresponding amount in column 5 for each FTB child, and each regular care child, of the person.

Note: For member of couple, partnered, illness separated couple, respite care couple and partnered (partner in gaol) see section 4.

4 Point 1066B-F2

Repeal the point, substitute:

Rate of remote area allowance

1066B-F2 The rate of remote area allowance payable to a person is worked out using Table F. Work out which family situation in the Table applies to the person. The rate of remote area allowance is the corresponding amount in column 3 plus an additional corresponding amount in column 5 for each FTB child, and each regular care child, of the person.

Note: For member of couple, partnered, illness separated couple, respite care couple and partnered (partner in gaol) see section 4.

5 Point 1067G-K2

Repeal the point, substitute:

Rate of remote area allowance

1067G-K2 A person's rate of remote area allowance is worked out using Table K. Work out which family situation in the table applies to the person. The rate of remote area allowance is the corresponding amount in column 3 plus an additional corresponding amount in column 4 for each FTB child, and each regular care child, of the person.

Note: For member of a couple, partnered, illness separated couple and partnered (partner in gaol) see section 4.

6 Point 1067L-F2

Repeal the point, substitute:

Rate of remote area allowance

1067L-F2 A person's rate of remote area allowance is worked out using Table F. Work out which family situation in the table applies to the person. The rate of remote area allowance is the corresponding amount in column 3 plus the additional corresponding amount in column 4 for each FTB child, and each regular care child, of the person.

Note: For member of a couple, partnered, illness separated couple and partnered (partner in gaol) see section 4.

7 Point 1068-J3

Repeal the point, substitute:

Rate of remote area allowance

1068-J3 The rate of remote area allowance payable to a person is worked out using Table J. Work out which family situation in the Table applies to the person. The rate of remote area allowance is the corresponding amount in column 3 plus an additional corresponding amount in column 4 for each FTB child, and regular care child, of the person.

8 Point 1068A-F2

Repeal the point, substitute:

Rate of remote area allowance

1068A-F2 The rate of remote area allowance payable to a person is worked out using Table F. The rate of remote area allowance is the amount in Column 2 plus the additional corresponding amount in Column 4 for each FTB child, and each regular care child, of the person.

9 Point 1068B-G2

Repeal the point, substitute:

Rate of remote area allowance

1068B-G2 The rate of remote area allowance payable to a person is worked out using Table G. Work out which family situation in the table applies to the person. The rate of remote area allowance is the corresponding amount in Column 3 plus the additional corresponding amount in Column 4 for each FTB child, and each regular care child, of the person.

Note: For illness separated couple, respite care couple and partnered (partner in gaol) see section 4.

10 Section 1190 (at the end of the table)

Add:

11 Subsection 1191(1) (at the end of the table)

Add:

12 After Part 3.18A

Insert:

Part 3.18B — Review of remote area allowance

1209ZF Periodic reviews of remote area allowance

Requirement to conduct reviews

(1) The Minister must cause periodic reviews to be conducted of remote area allowances under this Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), reviews must consider:

(a) the appropriateness of rates of remote area allowances; and

(b) the appropriateness of the definition of remote area in section 14 and the parts of Australia covered by that definition.

Timing of reviews

(3) The first review must be completed before the end of 12 months starting on the day this section commences.

(4) Each later review must be completed before the end of 3 years after the completion of the previous review.

Minister to be given report of review

(5) The persons conducting each review must give the Minister a written report of the review.

Minister to table copy of report of review

(6) The Minister must cause a copy of the report of each review to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report.

Statement pursuant to the order of   .the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendment (2)

Amendment (2) is framed as a request because it amends the bill to increase the rate of remote area allowances payable under the Social Security Act 1991. This will increase expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 242 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.

Amendment (1)

Amendment (2) is consequential to amendment (2).

Statement by the Clerk of the Senate pursuant   .to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendment (2)

If the effect of the amendment is to increase expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 242 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 then it is in accordance with the precedents of the Senate that the amendment be moved as a request.

Amendment (1)

This amendment is consequential on the request. It is the practice of the Senate that an amendment that is consequential on an amendment framed as a request may also be framed as a request.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question now is that the remaining stages of the bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a third time.