Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move Greens amendments (1) to (8) on sheet 8911 together:

(1) Schedule 4, item 1, page 17 (before line 10), before the definition of first 2020 economic support payment , insert:

families 2020 economic support payment means a payment to which an individual is entitled under Division 2A of Part 9.

(2) Schedule 4, item 2, page 19 (after line 20), after Division 2, insert:

Division 2A — Families 2020 economic support payment

115A When is an individual entitled to a families 2020 economic support payment?

An individual is entitled to a families 2020 economic support payment if subsection 117(2) and subsection 117(3), (4) or (5) applies to the individual on a day in the period:

(a) starting on 12 March 2020; and

(b) ending on 13 April 2020.

115B What is the amount of the payment?

The amount of an individual's families 2020 economic support payment under this Division is $750 per FTB child.

(3) Schedule 4, item 2, page 19 (line 22) after " for ", insert " first and second ".

(4) Schedule 4, item 2, page 20 (after line 23), after section 116, insert:

117 Eligibility for families 2020 economic support payment

(1) This section applies for the purposes of section 115A.

(2) Subject to subsection (6) of this section, this subsection applies to an individual on a day if, in relation to that day, the person receives a social security benefit.

(3) Subject to subsection (6) of this section, this subsection applies to an individual on a day if:

(a) in relation to that day, a determination under section 16 of the Family Assistance Administration Act is in force in respect of the individual as a claimant; and

(b) the rate of family tax benefit payable under the determination in relation to that day consists of or includes a Part A rate greater than nil.

(4) Subject to subsection (6) of this section, this subsection applies to an individual on a day if:

(a) in relation to that day, a determination under section 17 of the Family Assistance Administration Act is in force in respect of the individual as a claimant; and

(b) the rate of family tax benefit payable under the determination in relation to that day consists of or includes a Part A rate greater than nil; and

(c) the determination is made as a result of a claim made in:

(i) the income year in which that day occurs; or

(ii) either of the next 2 income years.

(5) Subject to subsection (6) of this section, this subsection applies to an individual on a day if:

(a) in relation to that day, a determination under section 18 of the Family Assistance Administration Act is in force in respect of the individual as a claimant; and

(b) the rate of family tax benefit payable under the determination in relation to that day consists of or includes a Part A rate greater than nil; and

(c) the determination is made as a result of a claim made in:

(i) the income year in which that day occurs; or

(ii) a later income year.

Residence requirement

(6) Subsection (2), (3), (4) or (5) does not apply to an individual on a day if the individual does not reside in Australia on that day.

(5) Schedule 4, item 3, page 21 (after line 22), after section 65JB, insert:

65JC Payment of families 2020 economic support payment

(1) If an individual is entitled to a families 2020 economic support payment, the Secretary must, subject to subsection (2), pay the payment to the individual in a single lump sum:

(a) on the date that the Secretary considers the earliest date on which it is reasonably practicable for the payment to be paid; and

(b) in such manner as the Secretary considers appropriate.

Note: The individual does not have to make a claim for the payment.

(2) The Secretary must not pay the payment on or after 1 July 2022 if the individual is entitled to the payment because subsection 117(3) or (5) of the Family Assistance Act applies to the individual on a day.

[additional payment to FTB Part A families]

(6) Schedule 4, item 6, page 22 (lines 2 to 5), omit subsection 72(1), substitute:

(1) This section applies in relation to an individual who has been paid a 2020 economic support payment because the following subsections of the Family Assistance Act applied to the individual on a day:

(a) subsection 116(2), (3) or (4);

(b) subsection 117(2) and subsection 117(3), (4) or (5).

[additional payment to FTB Part A families]

(7) Schedule 4, item 12, page 23 (line 8), after "payment,", insert "families,".

[additional payment to FTB Part A families]

(8) Schedule 4, item 22, page 25 (lines 7 and 8), omit the item, substitute:

Omit "or ETR payment", substitute ", ETR payment, families 2020 economic support payment, first 2020 economic support payment or second 2020 economic support payment".

Statement pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendments (2) and (4)

Amendments (2) and (4) are framed as requests because they would amend Schedule 4 of the bill in a way that would increase expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 233 of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999.

The effect of the amendments would be to create an additional economic support payment for families who meet certain eligibility criteria. As such, the amendments would expand the 2020 economic support payment and would therefore increase the amount of expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 233 of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999.

Amendments (1), (3), (5) to (7) and (8)

Amendments (1), (3), (5) to (7) and (8) are consequential on amendments (2) and (4).

Statement by the Clerk of the Senate pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendments (2) and (4)

If the effect of the amendments is to increase expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 233 of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 then it is in accordance with the precedents of the Senate that the amendment be moved as a request.

Amendments (1), (3), (5) to (7) and (8)

These amendments are consequential on the request. It is the practice of the Senate that amendments that are consequential on an amendment framed as a request may also be framed as requests.

These relate to—and I touched on this in my second reading contribution—an additional $750 for families that have children, because it's absolutely inevitable that families with children need extra support for those children during this time of crisis. I've articulated that during my second reading speech. I know that people want to deal with this expeditiously, so, other than urging the government and the opposition to look at the impact this crisis is having on families and to make sure that they are supported, as the minister said, to get to the other side of this crisis, I'll leave my comments at that.