Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

I have addressed that on a number of occasions now. Firstly, the Prime Minister was right. Youth allowance (other), as it's called, has been part of the coronavirus supplement payment arrangements from the outset. But, as we have indicated, the government has decided to move an amendment, which I will move now, given I'm on my feet. I move government amendment (1) on sheet ZA510:

(1) Schedule 11, Part 1, page 66 (after line 9), at the end of the Part, add:

40A Modifications of qualifications and payments under the social security law

(1) For any provision of the social security law relating to the qualification of persons for a social security payment, or to the rate of a social security payment, the Minister may by, legislative instrument, determine:

(a) for a provision that relates to the qualification of persons for a social security payment:

(i) that the provision is varied as specified in the determination; or

(ii) that the provision does not apply; or

(iii) that the provision does not apply and that another provision specified in the determination applies instead; or

(b) for a provision that relates to the rate of a social security payment:

(i) that the provision is varied as specified in the determination; or

(ii) that the provision does not apply and that a rate of payment specified in the determination applies instead.

(2) The Minister must be satisfied that the determination is in response to circumstances relating to the coronavirus known as COVID-19.

(3) A determination under this item has effect accordingly.

(4) In this item:

social security law has the same meaning as in the Social Security Act 1991 .

social security payment has the same meaning as in the Social Security Act 1991 .

That amendment gives the Minister for Families and Social Services the regulation-making power to alter settings associated with payment rates, means-testing arrangements, eligibility criteria, waiting periods and residency requirements to respond to the evolving situation in a scalable, measured and timely manner. What the government and the minister have made clear is that we intend to use this power immediately on passage of this legislation, and after royal assent has been received, to make student payments—Abstudy, Austudy and youth allowance (student)—eligible for the coronavirus supplement on the same basis as the other jobseeker payment. Sorry, I thought I'd made that clear before.

The CHAIR: It is moved, but it hasn't yet been circulated. Senator Siewert, I think you were seeking the call.