Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda[Index] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]
2004-2005-2006-2007
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SOCIAL SECURITY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (2007 BUDGET MEASURES FOR
STUDENTS) BILL 2007
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Education, Science and Training the Hon Julie
Bishop MP)
SOCIAL SECURITY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (2007
BUDGET MEASURES FOR STUDENTS) BILL 2007
OUTLINE
The Social Security Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget Measures for Students) Bill 2007
amends the Student Assistance Act 1973 and the Social Security Act 1991 to give effect to
measures announced in the 2007-08 Budget that concern the income support for students
programmes and updates aspects of the administration of ABSTUDY and the Assistance for
Isolated Children (AIC) schemes, in line with similar provisions under the Social Security Act
1991.
Amendments to the Student Assistance Act 1973 provide legislative support for the provision of
services to ABSTUDY and AIC.
The first amendment aims to simplify the processes currently used by the Australian Government
(as represented by Centrelink) to recover payment(s) made under the ABSTUDY and AIC
schemes that have been deposited into an incorrect financial institution account. This is
consistent with the provisions of the Social Security Act 1991.
The second amendment will allow notices issued under section(s) 343, 344 or 345 to be issued
electronically. This amendment is required to incorporate current technologies and data transfer
processes used by Centrelink for other student income support payments into the administration
of the ABSTUDY and AIC schemes.
Amendments to the Social Security Act 1991 insert a new category of Level of Course to the
levels of eligible study, which specifies Masters degrees as eligible courses. From 1 January
2008, students enrolled in an approved Masters by course-work programme, which is required
for entry to a profession or is the fastest pathway to professional entry, will be eligible for Youth
Allowance and Austudy payments. This provision will also extend support to students enrolled
in a Masters course-work programme where a university has diversified by restructuring its
course delivery.
To maintain consistency with student income support policy, as defined by the Act, and the new
amendments which extends income support to Masters courses, an additional amendment is
required to remove the current restriction on the provision of income support to students who
have already attained a Masters degree. This amendment has no effect on the existing allowable
time and progress rules, which are maintained. It also does not apply to students who have
attained a doctorate.
From 1 January 2008, Indigenous students in receipt of the ABSTUDY Living Allowance will
be able to access Crisis payment under the ABSTUDY Scheme. Amendments to the Social
Security Act 1991 will clarify that a social security Crisis payment is not payable if the person is
qualified for an ABSTUDY Crisis Payment in respect of the same circumstance.
The amendments also attach Rent Assistance payments to the Austudy payment to increase the
support for mature age people to participate in education. From 1 January 2008, students aged
25 years and over who receive Austudy will be able, if eligible, to receive assistance with their
rental accommodation expenses.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Extending Rent Assistance to Austudy
Year Expense
2007 - 2008 $13.2 m
2008 - 2009 $24.0 m
2009 - 2010 $24.5 m
2010 - 2011 $25.1 m
Total $86.9 m
Youth Allowance and Austudy for Masters Courses
Year Expense
2007 - 2008 $5.5 m
2008 - 2009 $11.2 m
2009 - 2010 $12.5 m
2010 - 2011 $14.1 m
Total $43.3 m
SOCIAL SECURITY AMENDMENT (2007 BUDGET MEASURES
FOR STUDENTS) BILL 2007
NOTES ON CLAUSES
Clause 1 - Short title
Provides for the Act to be cited as the Social Security Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget
Measures for Students) Act 2007.
Clause 2 - Commencement
Subclause 2(1) inserts a three column table setting out commencement information for various
provisions in the Act. Each provision of the Act specified in column 1 of the table commences
(or is taken to have commenced) in accordance with column 2 of the table and any other
statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
The table has the effect of providing for items 1 to 11 of Schedule 2 to commence on 1 January
2008, for item 12 of Schedule 2 to commence immediately after the commencement of Schedule
3 to the Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment (Further
2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007 and for sections 1-3, Schedule 1 and items 13 to 18 of
Schedule 2 of the Act to commence on Royal Assent.
Subclause 2(2) provides that column 3 of the table is for additional information which may be
added to or edited in any published version of the Act but that information in this column is not
part of the Act.
Clause 3 - Schedule(s)
Provides that each Act that is specified in a Schedule is amended or repealed as set out in the
applicable items in the Schedule and that any other item in a Schedule has effect according to its
terms.
Schedule 1 - Amendment of the Student Assistance Act 1973
Student Assistance Act 1973
Item 1 Subsection 3(1)
Inserts a new definition of financial institution in subsection 3(1).
Item 2 After section 42
Inserts a new section 42A dealing with the recovery of amounts from financial institutions to
recover payments made under the ABSTUDY and AIC schemes that have been deposited into an
incorrect financial institution account.
Proposed subsection 42A(1) has the effect of providing that, if an amount (or amounts) of
student assistance benefit are paid to a financial institution for the credit of an account kept with
the institution and the Secretary is satisfied that the amount (or the amounts) were intended to be
paid for the benefit of someone who was not the person (or one of the persons) in whose name
(or names) the account was kept; then the Secretary may give a written notice to the institution
setting out those matters and requiring the institution to pay to the Commonwealth, within a
reasonable period stated in the notice, the lesser of the following amounts:
· an amount specified in the notice, being the amount, or the sum of the amounts, of
the student assistance benefit;
· the amount standing to the credit of the account when the notice is received by the
institution.
Proposed subsection 42A(2) has the effect of providing that, if an amount (or amounts) of
student assistance benefit that are intended for the benefit of a person are paid to a financial
institution for the credit of an account that was kept with the institution by the person (or by the
person and one or more other persons) and the person died before the amount (or amounts) were
paid; then the Secretary may give a written notice to the institution setting out those matters and
requiring the institution to pay to the Commonwealth, within a reasonable period stated in the
notice, the lesser of the following amounts:
· an amount specified in the notice, being the amount, or the sum of the amounts, of
the student assistance benefit;
· the amount standing to the credit of the account when the notice is received by the
institution.
Proposed subsection 42A(3) has the effect of providing that, as soon as possible after issuing a
notice under subsection 42A(2), the Secretary must inform the deceased estate in writing of the
amount sought to be recovered from the deceased person's account and the reasons for the
recovery action.
Proposed subsection 42A(4) provides that a financial institution must comply with a notice given
to it under subsection 42A(1) or (2). A penalty of 300 penalty units applies if a financial
institution fails to comply.
Proposed subsection 42A(5) provides that it is a defence to a prosecution of a financial
institution for failing to comply with a notice given to it under subsection 42A(1) or (2) if the
financial institution proves that it was incapable of complying with the notice. The defendant
bears a legal burden in relation to the matter in subsection 42A(4) (see section 13.4 of the
Criminal Code).
Proposed subsection 42A(6) has the effect of providing that, if a notice is given to a financial
institution under subsection 42A(1) (amount paid to wrong account) in respect of an amount or
amounts of student assistance benefit or subsection 42A(2) (death of person in whose name the
account was kept) in respect of an amount or amounts of student assistance benefit; then any
amount recovered by the Commonwealth from the institution in respect of the debt reduces any
debt owed to the Commonwealth by any other person in respect of the amount or amounts of
student assistance benefit.
Item 3 Subsection 347(1) (note)
Subsection 347(1) provides that a requirement to produce information made to a person under
section 343, 344 or 345 must be by written notice given to the person. Item 3 repeals the note to
subsection 347(1) and substitutes a new note to inform the reader that sections 28A and 29 of the
Acts Interpretation Act 1901 and section 9 of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 set out
methods by which a notice for the purposes of section 343, 344 or 345 may be given to a person.
This will reflect that notices under section(s) 343, 344 or 345 may be issued electronically.
Schedule 2 - Amendment of the Social Security Act 1991
Social Security Act 1991
Item 1 Subsection 23(1)
Inserts a definition of VET provider in subsection 23(1). The term has the same meaning as in
the Skilling Australia's Workforce Act 2005.
Item 2 Subparagraphs 569(2)(b)(i) and (ii)
Part 2.11A (ss.568-592E) provides for Austudy payment while Part 3.5A (ss.1067H-1067L)
contains the Austudy Payment Rate Calculator provisions. Subsection 569(2) lists classes of
persons who do not satisfy the activity test for Austudy payment. Paragraph 569(2)(b) currently
has the effect of providing that a person cannot be taken to satisfy the activity test if the person
has completed a course for a degree of Master or Doctor at an educational institution
(subparagraph 569(2)(b)(i)) or a qualification at a foreign institution that is (in the Secretary's
opinion) of the same standing as a degree of Master or Doctor at an educational institution
(subparagraph 569(2)(b)(ii)).
Item 2 amends subparagraphs 569(2)(b)(i) and (ii) to remove those persons who have completed
a course for a degree of Master at an educational institution (or an equivalent qualification at a
foreign institution) from the classes of persons who do not satisfy the activity test. This removes
the current restriction on Austudy recipients which prevents them from receiving payment if they have
already gained a masters' level degree. Such persons will now be able to satisfy the activity test for
Austudy payment.
Item 3 Paragraph 569H(7)(e)
Section 569H sets out the progress rules for tertiary students to remain eligible for Austudy
payment. Subsection 569H(7) sets out matters to be disregarded in determining whether
someone has exceeded the allowable study time and paragraph 569H(7)(e) provides that time
spent undertaking a TAFE course (if the normal length of the course for a full time student is one
year or less) is a matter to be disregarded. Item 3 amends paragraph 569H(7)(e) to have the
effect of providing that a course provided by a VET provider is also a matter to be disregarded in
determining whether someone has exceeded the allowable study time for the purposes of
subsection 569H(7).
Item 4 Subsection 569H(8)
Repeals subsection 569H(8) (not including the heading), and substitutes a new subsection to
provide for 5 levels of tertiary courses to reflect the addition of a degree of Master by item 5.
Item 5 After subsection 569H(8)
Inserts a new subsection 569H(8A) to provide that a course for a degree of Master is a new level
of tertiary course to be known as a "Level M course".
Item 6 Subparagraph 569H(10)(c)(iii)
Subsection 569H(10) sets out what are Level B tertiary courses. Paragraph 569H(10)(c)
currently provides that a diploma course other than a graduate or postgraduate diploma course or
a course for which an entry requirement is successful completion of year 10 of secondary studies
or a TAFE course, is a Level B tertiary course. Item 6 amends subparagraph 569H(10)(c)(iii) to
have the effect of providing that a course provided by a VET provider is also not a Level B
tertiary course.
Item 7 Paragraph 569H(11)(c)
Subsection 569H(11) sets out what are Level C tertiary courses. Paragraph 569H(11)(c)
currently provides that a diploma course at a TAFE institution for which an entry requirement is
successful completion of year 12 of secondary studies is a Level C tertiary course. Item 7
amends paragraph 569H(11)(c) to have the effect of providing that a diploma course provided by
a VET provider for which an entry requirement is successful completion of year 12 of secondary
studies is also a Level C tertiary course.
Items 8 and 9 Paragraph 569H(12)(b)
Subsection 569H(12) sets out what are Level D tertiary courses. Paragraph 569H(12)(b)
currently provides that a TAFE course (unless the course is in Level A, B or C) is a Level D
tertiary course. Items 8 and 9 amend paragraph 569H(12)(b) to have the effect of providing that
a TAFE course or a course provided by a VET provider (unless the course is in Level M, A, B
or C) is a Level D tertiary course.
Item 10 Application
An application provision that provides that the amendments made by items 1 to 9 of this
Schedule apply in respect of a period commencing on or after 1 January 2008.
Item 11 At the end of Division 1 of Part 2.23A
Part 2.23A (ss. 1061JG-1061JU) provides for a crisis payment to a person if they are
experiencing an "extreme circumstance", while Division 1 of Part 2.23A (ss. 1061JG-1061JK)
sets out the qualifications for a crisis payment. Item 11 inserts a new section 1061JL which has
the effect of providing that a person is not qualified for a crisis payment under section 1061JG,
1061JH or 1061JHA in respect of a circumstance if the Secretary is satisfied that the person is
qualified under the ABSTUDY scheme for a crisis payment in respect of that same circumstance
and the crisis payment is payable under that scheme in respect of that circumstance.
Item 12 Section 1061JL
Amends new section 1061JL (inserted by item 11) to reflect the addition of new section 1061JI
by the Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment (Further
2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007, once that Act commences.
Item 13 Point 1067L-A1 (method statement)
Part 3.5A (ss.1067H-1067L) contains the Austudy Payment Rate Calculator provisions. Module
A of the Austudy Payment Rate Calculator sets out the overall rate calculation process while the
method of calculating the rate of Austudy payment is set out in the method statement at point
1067L A1. Item 13 inserts a new Step 2A in the method statement in point 1067L-A1 to have
the effect of adding fortnightly rent assistance payments to a person's Austudy payment to
increase the attraction for mature age people to participate in education. Currently Austudy
recipients are not eligible for rent assistance.
Item 14 Point 1067L-A1 (method statement, step 3)
Amends step 3 of the method statement in point 1067L-A1 to reflect the addition of step 2A by
item 13.
Item 15 After paragraph 1070(d)
Part 3.7 (ss.1070-1070X) makes provision for rent assistance. Section 1070 specifies when Part
3.7 applies. Item 15 inserts a new paragraph 1070(da) which has the effect of providing that
Part 3.7 (i.e. rent assistance) applies if the rate of a person's social security payment is to be
calculated in accordance with the Austudy Payment Rate Calculator in Part 3.5A. In other words
the amendment extends rent assistance to Austudy recipients.
Item 16 Subsection 1070H(1)
Amends subsection 1070H(1) to have the effect of providing that, if the rate of a person's social
security payment is to be calculated in accordance with the Austudy Payment Rate Calculator
or Benefit Rate Calculator B, the specific requirement applicable to the social security payment
is that set out in subsection 1070H(2). This amendment reflects the extension of rent assistance
to Austudy recipients.
Item 17 Subsection 1070Q(1)
Amends subsection 1070Q(1) to have the effect of providing that, if the rate of the person's
social security payment is to be calculated in accordance with the Youth Allowance Rate
Calculator, the Austudy Payment Rate Calculator or Benefit Rate Calculator B, a person's rate
of rent assistance is worked out under section 1070Q. This amendment reflects the extension of
rent assistance to Austudy recipients.
Item 18 Application and transitional
Sub-item 18(1) is an application provision that provides that the amendments made by items 13
to 17 of this Schedule apply in respect of a fortnight that includes 1 January 2008 and later
fortnights.
Sub-item 18(2) is an application provision that provides that the applicable amount per fortnight
of rent assistance for the purposes of step 2A of the method statement in point 1067L-A1 of the
Social Security Act 1991 in respect of the fortnight that includes 1 January 2008 is to be
calculated pro rata in accordance with a formula reflecting the proportion of days in the fortnight
that occur on or after 1 January 2008 (i.e. the number of eligible days).
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