Mark Butler (Port Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This is a companion bill to the Homelessness Bill 2013, which is aimed at increasing recognition and awareness of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The Homelessness Bill draws national attention to the experience of homelessness, and records the principles underpinning the Commonwealth’s effort to address homelessness.

The new legislation will replace the Supported Accommodation Assistance Act 1994.

This consequential amendments bill repeals the Supported Accommodation Assistance Act to make way for the new legislation.

A consequential amendment is also made to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. This is to replace the definition of homeless person that applies in the provisions about including itinerant electors on the electoral rolls.

A person in Australia, who is not entitled to be enrolled in any electoral subdivision because he or she does not live in any subdivision or is a homeless person, may nevertheless apply for enrolment and be enrolled in a suitable subdivision. The inclusion of these provisions in 2010 supported a commitment in the Australian government's white paper on homelessness, The Road Home, to increase civic participation and voting by people experiencing homelessness.

At present, the definition of 'homeless person' partly relies on concepts drawn from the Supported Accommodation Assistance Act. That element of the definition needs to be removed because of the repeal of that act.

The new definition of 'homeless person' will ensure that these provisions will continue to apply simply and clearly so that people who are homeless can still effectively participate in electoral activities in the Australian community. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.