Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senators who have contributed to this debate. The Social Security Amendment (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Bill 2023 will amend the Social Security Act 1991 to ensure we can continue to support Australians when times are tough. The Australian government Disaster Recovery Payment offers a helping hand in the immediate aftermath of a major disaster and has assisted tens of thousands of impacted Australians in recent years. Ensuring that individuals across Australia are supported in the aftermath of these disasters is critical to the recovery of communities. The amendments proposed by this bill will provide the government with greater ability to quickly and efficiently support communities affected by disasters when the scale of the disaster requires Australian government assistance beyond that provided by the state or territory governments.

It is important that we get these changes in place before the next higher-risk weather season, which formally starts on 1 October 2023. Services Australia needs to be able to process claims quickly during disaster responses. The amendments proposed by the bill will help achieve that for Australian citizens and certain visa holders who have spent a period of time in Australia before the major disaster, and who care for a child or children who are adversely affected by major disasters. This bill deserves support, and I thank both the coalition and the Greens party, who have indicated support of this bill. I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.