Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

We have probably already had the debate on the matter of my proposed amendments in the broader debate about making sure that not only singles and veterans are covered but also those couples on pensions are covered. Those couples are also worthy of an increase. As I said before, there are 2.4 million pensioners that will not get anything out of this bill. They are the ones that are going to be forgotten. I seek leave to move the amendments standing in my name together.

Leave granted.

I move Family First amendments (1) to (8) on sheet 5594:

(1)    Schedule 1, item 2, page 3 (line 11), omit “single”.

(2)    Schedule 1, item 2, page 3 (line 15), omit paragraph (1)(c).

(3)    Schedule 1, page 3 (after line 24), after item 2, insert:

2A  Section 117

Omit “A person’s disability support pension rate”, substitute “Subject to section 117A, a person’s disability support pension rate”.

2B  After section 117

Insert:

117A Increased pension rate for disability support pensioners

        (1)    If:

             (a)    a person is qualified for the disability support pension under this Part; and

             (b)    the disability support pension is payable to that person under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Division 4 of Part 3 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1991, the person’s disability support pension rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the person’s disability support pension rate calculated under section 117.

        (2)    To avoid doubt, the disability support pension rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

2C  Section 159

Omit “A woman’s wife pension rate”, substitute “Subject to section 160, a woman’s wife pension rate”.

2D  After section 159

Insert:

160 Increased wife pension rate

        (1)    If:

             (a)    a woman is qualified for the wife pension under this Part; and

             (b)    the wife pension is payable to that woman under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Division 4 of Part 3 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1991, the woman’s wife pension rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the woman’s wife pension rate calculated under section 159.

        (2)    To avoid doubt, the wife pension rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

2E  Section 210

Omit “A person’s carer payment”, substitute “Subject to section 211, a person’s carer payment rate”.

2F  After section 210

Insert:

211 Increased carer payment rate

        (1)    If:

             (a)    a person is qualified for the carer payment under this Part; and

             (b)    the carer payment is payable to that person under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Division 4 of Part 3 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1991, the person’s carer payment rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the person’s carer payment rate calculated under section 210.

        (2)    To avoid doubt, the carer payment rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

(4)    Schedule 1, page 4 (after line 15), after item 4, insert:

4A  Section 503

Omit “A person’s parenting payment rate”, substitute “Subject to section 503AAA, a person’s parenting payment rate”.

4B  After section 503

Insert:

503AAA Increased parenting payment

        (1)    If:

             (a)    a person is qualified for the parenting payment under this Part; and

             (b)    the parenting payment is payable to that person under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Division 4 of Part 3 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1991, the person’s parenting payment rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the person’s parenting payment rate calculated under section 503.

        (2)    To avoid doubt, the parenting payment rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

(5)    Schedule 1, page 4 (before line 17), before item 5, insert:

4C  Subsection 22(3)

Omit “$338.94”, substitute “$398.94”.

4D  Subsection 22(4)

Omit “$510.40”, substitute “$570.40”.

4E  Subsection 23(4)

Omit $619.80”, substitute “$679.80”.

4F  Subsection 24(4)

Omit “$919.40”, substitute “$979.40”.

4G  Paragraph 30(1)(a)

Omit “$312.10”, substitute “$372.10”.

(6)    Schedule 1, item 6, page 4 (line 22), omit “single”.

(7)    Schedule 1, item 6, page 4 (line 28), omit paragraph (1)(c).

(8)    Schedule 1, page 5 (after line 4), at the end of the Schedule, add:

7  Section 37N

Omit “A veteran’s invalidity service pension rate”, substitute “Subject to section 37P, a veteran’s invalidity service pension rate”.

8  After section 37N

Insert:

37P Increased pension rate for invalidity service pensioners

        (1)    If:

             (a)    a veteran is qualified for the invalidity service pension under this Part; and

             (b)    the invalidity service pension is payable to that veteran under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Part VIII, the veteran’s invalidity service pension rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the veteran’s invalidity service pension rate calculated under section 37N.

        (2)    To avoid doubt, the invalidity service pension rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

9  Section 38N

Omit “A person’s partner service pension rate”, substitute “Subject to section 38P, a person’s partner service pension rate”.

10  After section 38N

Insert:

38P Increased pension rate for partner service pensioners

        (1)    If:

             (a)    a person is qualified for the partner service pension under this Part; and

             (b)    the partner service pension is payable to that person under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Part VIII, the person’s partner service pension rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the person’s partner service pension rate calculated under section 38N.

        (2)    To avoid doubt, the partner service pension rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

11  Section 45S

Omit “The rate of income support supplement”, substitute “Subject to section 45SA, the rate of income support supplement”.

12  After section 45

Insert:

45SA Increased income support supplement

        (1)    If:

             (a)    a person is qualified for the income support supplement under this Part; and

             (b)    the income support supplement is payable to that person under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Part VIII the person’s income support supplement rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the person’s income support supplement rate calculated under section 503.

        (2)    To avoid doubt, the income support supplement rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.