Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Prime Minister for Social Inclusion) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time.

Question agreed to.

Bills read a first time.

I move:

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to these bills.

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

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows—

SOCIAL SECURITY AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (ECONOMIC SECURITY STRATEGY) BILL

APPROPRIATION (ECONOMIC SECURITY STRATEGY) BILL (No. 1) 2008-2009

APPROPRIATION (ECONOMIC SECURITY STRATEGY) BILL (No. 2) 2008-2009

Purpose of the Bills

The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Economic Security Strategy) Bill amends the social security law, the family assistance law, the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 and the tax law to provide for payments to pensioners, seniors, people with disability, carers, veterans and families with dependent children, as announced by the Government on 14 October 2008 as a key part of its $10.4 billion Economic Security Strategy.

The Appropriation (Economic Security Strategy) Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009 and the Appropriation (Economic Security Strategy) Bill (No. 2) 2008-2009 are supplementary annual appropriation bills which request legislative authority for further expenses to be incurred in 2008-2009 in relation to the Economic Security Strategy.  The bills allow funds to be made available to departments, thereby ensuring implementation of the programs relating to the Economic Security Strategy.

Further annual appropriation bills are required, in particular, to fund the expansion of the First Home Owners Grants scheme and additional employment training places as announced on 14 October 2008.  The additional funding required exceeds what is currently available to the departments and from the Advance to the Finance Minister.  The 2008-2009 Additional Estimates Bills are not expected to be agreed to by Parliament until the end of the 2009 Autumn Sittings.  Consequently, a set of supplementary bills is required to ensure implementation of the Strategy.

Reasons for Urgency

As announced, payments are to be made to pensioners, seniors, people with disability, carers, veterans and families by Centrelink and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in the fortnight commencing 8 December 2008.  Enactment of the legislation by 5 December 2008 will meet the Centrelink system release date of 6 December 2008.  That system release is essential to making the payments on time and delivering this immediate financial support to pensioners, seniors, carers and families during the global financial crisis.

If timely passage is not granted to the supplementary appropriation bills, payments to the States and Territories for implementation of the boost to the First Home Owners Grants will be delayed, requiring the States and Territories to continue to meet these payments from their own sources.

(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Minister for Finance and Deregulation)

Question agreed to.