Nola Marino (Forrest, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories) Share this | Hansard source

The Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Extension of Coronavirus Support) Bill 2020 introduces a new, diminished and time-limited instrument-making power, allowing the government to respond flexibly to any changes in circumstances that might arise as a result of COVID-19 in the first quarter of next year while parliament may not be sitting. The temporary power will be available until 31 March 2021 and until 16 April 2021 for the nil-rate period. The current powers in social security law that enable the minister to set the rate and duration of the coronavirus supplement and the related exemptions from the waiting and preclusion periods will remain in place until 31 March 2021.

Together these powers will enable the minister to determine the rate of coronavirus supplement and the cohorts it is paid to; the personal income test for recipients of JobSeeker payment, excluding single principal carer recipients, and youth allowance (other); the partner income test for JobSeeker payment recipients only; eligibility criteria for JobSeeker payment and youth allowance (other); the waiver of certain waiting periods; the waiver of the 104-week qualifying residence period for parenting payment; the period in which income support recipients can maintain eligibility for payment and retain their concession card while receiving a nil rate of payment due to employment income; the period self-declarations could continue to be used for a member of a couple assessments with a modified test for JobSeeker payment; pension portability arrangements; and extensions to mobility allowance two- and 12-week grace periods.

The bill also introduces a new discretionary power under the social security and veterans' entitlements assets tests to extend the principal home temporary absence provisions. This will prevent the inclusion of the principal home in the assets test while a person is unable to return to Australia within the allowable absence period due to circumstances beyond their control.

The bill permanently repeals the temporary exemptions from the liquid assets test waiting period and assets tests which were in place in the early stages of the government's economic response but are now no longer needed.

Finally, the bill clarifies that after 28 March 2021 Services Australia and the Department of Social Services will be able to continue to use information captured by the Australian Taxation Office in relation to the JobKeeper measure for planning, policy development and compliance purposes.

The legislative framework in this bill will allow the government to extend temporary measures in the income support system to provide additional support to Australians impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The instrument-making power will deliver the policies at a cost of $3.2 billion to 2024-25. I commend this bill.

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