David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I move amendment (1) on sheet 2049, as circulated in my name:

(1) Page 33 (after line 26), at the end of the Bill, add:

Schedule 4 — Removing the activity test

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999

1 Subsection 3(1) (definition of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child )

Repeal the definition.

2 Subsection 3(1) (definition of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child result )

Repeal the definition.

3 Subsection 3(1) (definition of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person )

Repeal the definition.

4 Subsection 3(1) (definition of activity test result )

Repeal the definition.

5 Subsection 3(1) (definition of child wellbeing result )

Repeal the definition.

6 Subsection 3(1)

Insert:

circumstances test result has the meaning given by clause 11 of Schedule 2.

7 Subsection 3(1) (definition of deemed activity test result )

Repeal the definition.

8 Subsection 3(1)

Insert:

deemed circumstances test result has the meaning given by clause 16 of Schedule 2.

9 Subsection 3(1) (definition of extended child wellbeing period )

Repeal the definition.

10 Subsection 3(1) (definition of low income result )

Repeal the definition.

11 Subsection 3(1) (definition of paid work )

Omit "(other than in paragraph 12(2)(a) of Schedule 2)".

12 Subsection 3(1) (definition of recognised activity )

Repeal the definition.

13 Subsection 3(1) definition of recognised activity result )

Repeal the definition.

14 Subsection 3B(1)

Omit "(other than in paragraph 12(2)(a) of Schedule 2)".

15 Subsection 3B(1) (note)

Repeal the note.

16 Clause 1 of Schedule 2 (method statement, step 1)

Repeal the step.

17 Clause 1 of Schedule 2 (method statement, step 5, paragraph (a))

Omit "activity-tested", substitute "circumstances-tested".

18 Clause 1 of Schedule 2 (method statement, step 5, paragraph (b))

Omit "activity-tested", substitute "circumstances-tested".

19 Clause 1 of Schedule 2 (method statement, step 6)

Omit "activity-tested", substitute "circumstances-tested".

20 Clause 1 of Schedule 2 (method statement, step 7)

Omit "activity-tested", substitute "circumstances-tested".

21 Clause 4 of Schedule 2 (heading)

Omit "Activity-tested", substitute "Circumstances-tested".

22 Subclause 4(1) of Schedule 2

Omit "activity-tested amount", substitute "circumstances-tested amount".

23 Subparagraph 4(1)(a)(i) of Schedule 2

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

24 Subclause 4(2) of Schedule 2

Omit "activity test" (wherever occurring), substitute "circumstances test".

25 Clause 4A of Schedule 2 (heading)

Omit "activity-tested", substitute "circumstances-tested".

26 Paragraph 4A(1)(a) of Schedule 2

Omit "activity-tested", substitute "circumstances-tested".

27 Subclause 4A(2) of Schedule 2

Omit "adjustedactivity-tested amount", substitute "adjustedcircumstances-tested amount".

28 Paragraphs 4A(2)(a) and (b) of Schedule 2

Omit "activity-tested", substitute "circumstances-tested".

29 Clause 8 of Schedule 2 (method statement, step 1)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

30 Clause 8 of Schedule 2 (method statement, step 4)

Omit "activity-tested", substitute "circumstances-tested".

31 Clause 8 of Schedule 2 (method statement, step 5)

Omit "activity-tested", substitute "circumstances-tested".

32 Clause 10 of Schedule 2 (heading)

Omit "Activity-tested", substitute "Circumstances-tested".

33 Subclause 10(1)

Omit "activity-tested amount", substitute "circumstances-tested amount".

34 Paragraph 10(1)(a) of Schedule 2

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

35 Subclause 10(2) of Schedule 2

Omit "activity test" (wherever occurring), substitute "circumstances test".

36 Part 5 of Schedule 2 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Part 5 — Circumstances test

37 Division 1 of Part 5 of Schedule 2 (heading)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

38 Clause 11 of Schedule 2 (heading)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

39 Subclause 11(1) of Schedule 2

Omit "activity test result", substitute "circumstances test result".

40 Subparagraph 11(1)(b)(ii) of Schedule 2

Repeal the subparagraph, substitute:

(ii) the result worked out in accordance with paragraph (a) for the individual's partner in relation to the child.

41 Subclause 11(1) of Schedule 2 (table heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Individual's circumstances test result

42 Subclause 11(1) of Schedule 2 (table items 1 and 2)

Repeal the items, substitute:

43 Subclause 11(1) of Schedule 2 (table item 4)

Repeal the item.

44 Subclause 11(1) of Schedule 2 (table item 6)

Repeal the item.

45 Subclause 11(5) of Schedule 2

Omit "activity test" (wherever occurring), substitute "circumstances test".

46 Clauses 12, 13, 15 and 15A of Schedule 2

Repeal the clauses.

47 Division 2 of Part 5 of Schedule 2 (heading)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

48 Clause 16 of Schedule 2 (heading)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

49 Subclause 16(1) of Schedule 2

Omit "deemed activity test result", substitute "deemed circumstances test result".

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999

50 Subparagraph 67CE(1)(b)(ii)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

51 Subsection 67FB(4)

Repeal the subsection.

52 Paragraph 105C(1)(b)

Omit "one", substitute "either".

53 Subparagraph 105C(1)(b)(ia)

Repeal the subparagraph.

54 Subparagraph 105D(2)(a)(ii)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

55 Subparagraph 105E(1)(c)(ii)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

56 Subparagraph 105E(3)(c)(ii)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

57 Subparagraph 108(5)(b)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

58 Paragraph 111(2A)(b)

Omit "activity test", substitute "circumstances test".

59 Paragraph 157(2)(k)

Repeal the paragraph.

60 Application of amendments

The amendments of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 and A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 made by this Schedule apply in relation to sessions of care provided to a child in a CCS fortnight that starts after the commencement of this item.

This amendment would remove the activity test, which is a longstanding source of pain for parents, as multiple reviews, including those conducted by IEIAC and the Women's Economic Equality Taskforce, have recognised. There is evidence to suggest the activity test discourages parents from working more hours, especially in casual jobs with variable hours. As IEIAC said, 'The activity test is a poor piece of public policy that should be reformed.' We have an opportunity now to do that. I do not intend to force a division on this given the time.