Sue Lines (President) Share this | Hansard source

I will now deal with the Committee of the Whole amendments and requests for amendments to the bill. In accordance with the usual practice, the standard accompanying requests will be incorporated in the Hansard. I will first deal with the request for amendments on sheet 2197 circulated by the opposition.

The opposition's circulated request for amendment s on sheet 2197 read as follows—

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (at the end of the table), add:

(2) Page 10 (after line 17), at the end of the Bill, add:

Schedule 3 — Pensioner work bonus increase from 1 January 2024

Social Security Act 1991

1 Subsection 1073 AA( 2) (examples 1 and 2)

Repeal the examples, substitute:

Example 1: David has $2,600 of work bonus income in an instalment period of 14 days. David's rate of social security pension for that period is greater than nil.

David's work bonus income for that period is reduced by $600, leaving David $2,000 of work bonus income for that period.

Example 2: Amy has $1,300 of work bonus income in an instalment period of 14 days. Amy's rate of social security pension for that period is greater than nil.

Amy's work bonus income for that period is reduced by $600, leaving Amy $700 of work bonus income for that period.

2 Subsection 1073 AA( 4) (example)

Repeal the example, substitute:

Example: Bill has $1,600 of work bonus income in an instalment period of 14 days. Bill's rate of social security pension for that period is greater than nil.

Under subsection (2), Bill's work bonus income for that period is reduced by $600, leaving Bill $1,000 of work bonus income for that period.

Assume Bill's unused concession balance is $800.

Under subsection (4), Bill's work bonus income for that period is further reduced by $800 leaving Bill $200 of work bonus income for that period.

Bill's unused concession balance is now nil.

3 Subsection 1073AA(4A) (example)

Omit "$200", substitute "$500".

4 Paragraph 1073AA(4 C)( a)

Omit "$300", substitute "$600".

5 Paragraph 1073AA(4 C)( b) (formula)

Omit "$300", substitute "$600".

6 Subsection 1073 AB( 2) (example)

Omit "$7,900", substitute "$8,200".

7 Application provision

The amendments of the Social Security Act 1991 made by this Schedule apply in relation to an instalment period that starts on or after 1 January 2024.

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986

8 Subsection 46 AA( 2) (examples 1 and 2)

Repeal the examples, substitute:

Example 1: David has $2,600 of work bonus income in a pension period. David's rate of service pension or income support supplement for that period is greater than nil.

David's work bonus income for that period is reduced by $600, leaving David $2,000 of work bonus income for that period.

Example 2: Amy has $1,300 of work bonus income in a pension period. Amy's rate of service pension or income support supplement for that period is greater than nil.

Amy's work bonus income for that period is reduced by $600, leaving Amy $700 of work bonus income for that period.

9 Subsection 46 AA( 4) (example)

Repeal the example, substitute:

Example: Bill has $1,600 of work bonus income in a pension period. Bill's rate of service pension or income support supplement for that period is greater than nil.

Under subsection (2), Bill's work bonus income for that period is reduced by $600, leaving Bill $1,000 of work bonus income for that period.

Assume Bill's unused concession balance is $800.

Under subsection (4), Bill's work bonus income for that period is further reduced by $800 leaving Bill $200 of work bonus income for that period.

Bill's unused concession balance is now nil.

10 Subsection 46AA(4A) (example)

Omit "$200", substitute "$500".

11 Subsection 46AA(4C)

Omit "$300", substitute "$600".

12 Subsection 46 AC( 2) (example)

Omit "$7,900", substitute "$8,200".

13 Subsection 46 AD( 3) (example)

Omit "$200", substitute "$500".

14 Application provision

The amendments of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 made by this Schedule apply in relation to a pension period that starts on or after 1 January 2024.

15 Annual reviews of income concession amount

(1) The Social Services Minister must cause to be commenced, at least once in each calendar year beginning on or after 1 January 2024, a review of the suitability of:

(a) the income concession amount in subsection 1073AA(4C) of the Social Security Act 1991, as amended by this Schedule; and

(b) the income concession amount in subsection 46AA(4C) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, as amended by this Schedule.

(2) The persons who conduct the review must give the Social Services Minister a written report of the review within 6 months of the commencement of the review.

(3) The Social Services Minister must table a copy of the report in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the report is given to the Minister.

(4) In this item:

Social Services Minister means the Minister administering the Social Security (International Agreements) Act 1999.

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

Amendment (2)

Amendment (2) is framed as a request because it amends the bill to increase the income concession amount under the work bonus scheme. The income concession amount contributes to the amount that certain recipients of a social security pension, a service pension or income support supplement can earn before their payment begins to decrease. This means that increasing the income concession amount would result in recipients receiving a higher payment.

The effect of the amendments would therefore increase the amount of expenditure under the standing appropriations in section 242 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 and section 199 of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

Amendment (1)

Amendment (1) is consequential to amendment (2).

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

Amendment (2)

If the effect of the amendment is to increase expenditure under the standing appropriations in section 242 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 and section 199 of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 then it is in accordance with the precedents of the Senate that the amendment be moved as a request.

Amendment (1)

This amendment is consequential on the request. It is the practice of the Senate that an amendment that is consequential on an amendment framed as a request may also be framed as a request.

The question is that request for amendments on sheet 2197 be agreed to.

Question negatived.