Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

Of course, there is a very significant effort going on here to implement what I call the machinery of government but what are the ICT systems, the processes, the way that Services Australia engages with Australians who are eligible for these measures. That is why 20 September has been identified as—what do they say in management speak?—a stretch target, but it's an achievable date. That commitment has been made.

The ICT changes encompass the suite of changes to be delivered, not just the changes to the parenting payment. It's not just a simple rate change, and it can't be implemented simply by entering a new program into the system or hitting a switch. The parenting payment single, until the new measure is legislated, will continue to be administered according to the existing legislation. Services Australia, I'm advised, is implementing a range of measures to support recipients in this cohort, including communication with affected individuals to ensure that they are aware of the impact of changes on their circumstances and that they're supported to automatically transfer between payments. From 20 September 2023, Services Australia will automatically transition single parents who are principal carers, whose youngest child is under 14 and who are on the JobSeeker payment to parenting payment single. So, if the information is there in the system, they will be automatically transferred.