Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move:

That the provisions of paragraphs 5 to 8 of standing order 111 not apply to the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Adding Superannuation for a More Secure Retirement) Bill 2024, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

I also table a statement of reasons justifying the need for the bill to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statement incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows—

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2024 SPRING SITTINGS

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE AMENDMENT (ADDING SUPERANNUATION FOR A MORE SECURE RETIREMENT) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The Bill amends the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010, tax and superannuation laws and other legislation to add a superannuation payment on Government-funded Paid Parental Leave scheme for births and adoptions on or after 1 July 2025. This will help to reduce the retirement savings gap and improve economic security for parents who take time out of the workforce to care for their child.

Reasons for Urgency

Passage of the Bill in the 2024 Spring sittings is required to support Services Australia and Australia Tax Office system changes. Services Australia and the Australian Tax Office need to complete data sharing builds to support data transfers from Services Australia to the Australian Tax Office. In addition, Services Australia needs to make ICT changes to forms and communications products. Claimants for Paid Parental Leave can make a pre-birth claim up to 97 days before their expected date of birth or adoption, from 26 March 2025.