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2019-2020-2021
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SOCIAL SERVICES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (STRENGTHENING INCOME
SUPPORT) BILL 2021
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
(Circulated by the authority of the
Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston)
SOCIAL SERVICES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (STRENGTHENING INCOME
SUPPORT) BILL 2021
OUTLINE
This Bill:
Increases the maximum basic rates of working age social security payments
by $50 per fortnight;
Extends until 30 June 2021 the criteria for a person to qualify for youth
allowance (other) or jobseeker payment in circumstances where the person is
in quarantine or self-isolation or caring for a family member or household
member in quarantine or self-isolation due to COVID-19;
Extends until 30 June 2021 the waiver of the ordinary waiting period for
jobseeker payment and youth allowance (other);
Extends until 30 June 2021 the portability period for certain age pensioners
and recipients of the disability support pension (for severely disabled persons)
unable to return to, or depart from, Australia within 26 weeks due to the
impact of COVID-19; and
Permanently increases the ordinary income-free area for jobseeker payment,
youth allowance (other), parenting payment partnered and related payments
to $150 per fortnight.
Financial impact statement
The financial impact of this Bill is approximately $9 billion.
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SOCIAL SERVICES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT
(STRENGTHENING INCOME SUPPORT) BILL 2021
NOTES ON CLAUSES
Clause 1 sets out how the new Act is to be cited - that is, as the Social Services and
Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Act 2021 (the Act).
Clause 2 provides a table setting out the commencement dates of the various
sections in, and Schedules to, the Act.
Clause 3 provides that each Act that is specified in a Schedule is amended or
repealed as set out in that Schedule, and any other item in a Schedule to the Bill has
effect according to its terms.
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Schedule 1 - Amendments
Part 1 - Increasing working age payments
This Part effects a $50 increase to the base rate of working age social security
payments, with effect from 1 April 2021 when the current social security coronavirus
supplements cease. The increase is added to the current rate of these payments
when most recently indexed, in most cases on 20 March 2021, and future
indexations will apply to the rates as increased.
Payments covered are:
Jobseeker payment
Youth allowance and youth disability support pension
Parenting payment
Austudy
Recipients of partner allowance and widow allowance will receive the same
increases to their rate of jobseeker, before these payments cease on 1 January
2022. Equivalent changes will also be made to ABSTUDY living allowance by
changes to the ABSTUDY manual, and to special benefit, which is paid at a
discretionary rate.
The increases will flow through to the farm household allowance and various
veterans' student programs.
Social Security Act 1991
Items 1 and 2 increase the maximum basic fortnightly rate of disability support
pension paid to persons under 21 years of age in various circumstances, by
repealing and substituting the tables which set the basic rates within the rate
calculator at sections 1066A and 1066B.
Items 3, 4 and 5 increase the maximum basic fortnightly rate of youth allowance
paid in various circumstances, by repealing and substituting the tables which set the
basic rates within the rate calculator at section 1067G.
Item 3 repeals and substitutes the table (Table BA) at point 1067G-B2 with
increased fortnightly rates of payment in the rate calculator at point 1067G-B2 for the
various circumstances in which the payment is payable.
Item 4 repeals and substitutes the table (Table BB) at point 1067G-B3 with
increased fortnightly rates of payment in the rate calculator at point 1067G-B3 for the
various circumstances in which the payment is payable.
Item 5 repeals and substitutes the table (Table BC) at point 1067G-B4 with
increased fortnightly rates of payment in the rate calculator at section 1067G-B4 for
the various circumstances in which the payment is payable.
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Items 6 and 7 repeals and substitutes the tables (Tables BA and BB) at subpoint
1067L-B2(1) and point 1067L-B3 with increased fortnightly rates of austudy payment
in the rate calculator at section 1067L for the various circumstances in which austudy
payment is payable.
Item 8 repeals and substitutes the table (table B) at point 1068-B1 in the rate
calculator at section 1068 which provides for the fortnightly rate of jobseeker
payment for the various circumstances in which jobseeker is payable. The
substituted annual rate is the equivalent of an increase by $50 per fortnight to the
rate of austudy payable on 20 March 2021 after indexation.
Item 9 repeals and substitutes point 1068A-B1 in the rate calculator in section 1068A
which provides for an annual rate of parenting payment (single). The substituted
annual rate is the equivalent of an increase by $50 per fortnight to the rate of
parenting payment (single) payable on 20 March 2021 after indexation.
Item 10 repeals and substitutes the table (Table C) at point 1068B-C2 for the rate
calculator at section 1068B providing for the fortnightly rate of parenting payment
(partnered), for the various circumstances in which parenting payment (partnered)
is payable.
Item 11 provides for the application and transitional effects of the amendments made
by this Part. Subitem 11(1) provides that the amendment apply in relation to working
out the rate of a social security payment for days on or after commencement
(proposed to be 1 April 2021). Where an instalment period includes 1 April 2021,
the daily rate for days on or after 1 April 2021 will be calculated using the rates as
increased by these amendments.
Subitem 11(2) provides that for the purposes of indexing an amount on the first
indexation day that occurs after the commencement of this item, the point or
subpoint amended or repealed by an item of this Part is taken to be the current figure
for the amount. This ensures that these rates will continue to be indexed under usual
arrangements in future.
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Part 2 - Qualification for youth allowance or jobseeker payment -
coronavirus
Qualification for youth allowance and jobseeker payment recipients to continue
to receive payment even if affected by COVID-19 is set out under various provisions
of the social security law, which will be repealed on 1 April 2021 by Division 2, Part
2, of Schedule 1 to the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Extension
of Coronavirus Support) Act 2020 (the Extension of Coronavirus Support Act).
The Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response - 2020 Measures No. 16)
Determination 2020, made under the Social Security Act, currently sets out the
criteria a person must meet in order to qualify for youth allowance (other) payment
or jobseeker payment in circumstances relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The determination is made under subsections 540BA(2) and 593(6) of the Social
Security Act and will cease to operate from 1 April 2021 when those empowering
provisions are repealed by the Extension of Coronavirus Support Act.
Part 2 of Schedule 1 temporarily modifies the Social Security Act to temporarily
expand, for the period 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021, the criteria a person may meet
in order to qualify for youth allowance (other) or jobseeker payment in circumstances
relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. The requirements take into consideration the
loss of, or reduced, employment and wages including where this is the result of
quarantine or self-isolation requirements, or the result of carer responsibilities within
families or households arising from quarantine or self-isolation requirements.
The provisions are beneficial in nature.
Social Security Act 1991
Item 12 is a technical amendment to subsection 7(7) to expand the circumstances
in which a person is exempt from the residence requirement by reference to new
paragraph 540BA(f)(ii) inserted by item 13 below and new subparagraph 593(5)(e)(ii)
inserted by item 14 below.
Item 13 inserts new section 540BA into the Social Security Act after section 540B.
Section 540BA sets out the requirements a person must satisfy in order to meet the
youth allowance qualification criteria in circumstances relating to the effects
of quarantine and self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during the period
1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021 ('the relevant period').
Under section 540BA, a person will meet the requirements if the Secretary
is satisfied that, throughout the relevant period, the person is in quarantine
or self-isolation as a result of advice from the Commonwealth, a State or Territory
or from a health professional regarding the coronavirus, or is caring for an immediate
family member or a member of the person's household who is in quarantine
or self-isolation in accordance with paragraph 540BA(a), and:
- as a result, the person's working hours were reduced (including reduced
to zero) in accordance with paragraph 540BA(b); and
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- the person meets, or is not required to meet, the activity test for the relevant
period in accordance with Subdivisions B or C in accordance with paragraph
540BA(c); and
- the person meets, or is not required to meet, the requirements relating
to leave payments for the relevant period in accordance with paragraph
540(d).
Paragraph 540BA(d) covers a person if the Secretary is satisfied that during the
relevant period the person needs to isolate or quarantine, the person:
(i) is not entitled to receive a leave payment; or
(ii) has taken reasonable steps to access any leave payment to which the
person may be entitled; or
(iii) is receiving a leave payment but as a result of the adverse economic
effects of the coronavirus the payment is less than it otherwise would
have been; or
(iv) is receiving a leave payment but the total amount is less than the
amount of youth allowance that would be payable to the person in the
relevant period if the person's claim were granted.
Under paragraph 540BA(e), the person must for the period be of youth allowance
age.
Under paragraph 540BA(f), throughout the period, the person must be an Australian
resident, or exempt from the residence requirement (under subsection 7(7)).
Health alert information relevant to coronavirus and quarantine or self-isolation
is available from the Commonwealth Department of Health website,
www.health.gov.au, and from state and territory government websites.
Item 14 inserts new subsection 593(5) into the Social Security Act after subsection
593(4).
Subsection 593(5) sets out additional bases on which a person may meet the
jobseeker qualification criteria in circumstances relating to the effects of quarantine
and self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during the period 1 April 2021
to 30 June 2021 ('the relevant period').
Under subsection 593(5) a person will qualify for jobseeker in respect of the relevant
period if the person is in quarantine or self-isolation as a result of advice from,
or a requirement made by the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory or a health
professional due to the coronavirus, or the person is caring for an immediate family
member or member of the person's household who is in such quarantine or isolation,
and this reduces their working hours (including to zero).
Additionally, the person must either meet or is not required to meet the activity test,
during the relevant period, in accordance with paragraph 593(5)(c). The person must
meet, or is not required to meet, the requirements relating to leave payments for the
relevant period in accordance with subparagraphs 593(5)(d)(i)-(iv).
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Subsection 593(5)(d) provides that a person will be covered by this provision if the
Secretary is satisfied that during the relevant period, the person:
(i) is not entitled to receive a leave payment; or
(ii) has taken reasonable steps to access any leave payment to which the
person may be entitled; or
(iii) is receiving a leave payment but as a result of the adverse economic
effects of the coronavirus the payment is less than it otherwise would
have been; or
(iv) is receiving a leave payment but the total amount is less than the
amount of jobseeker payment that would be payable to the person in
the relevant period if the person's claim were granted.
The person must be at least 22 years of age and have not reached the pension age,
be an Australian resident or exempt from the residence requirements within the
meaning of subsection 7(7) and not in receipt of youth allowance during the period,
under paragraphs 593(5)(e) and (f).
Health alert information relevant to coronavirus and quarantine or self-isolation
is available from the Commonwealth Department of Health website,
www.health.gov.au, and from state and territory government websites.
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Part 3 - Ordinary waiting periods
The Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Extension of Coronavirus
Support) Act 2020 (the Extension of Coronavirus Support Act) inserted section 1262
into the Social Security Act (section 1262) with effect from 1 January 2021. This
section provides the Minister with the power to determine, by disallowable legislative
instrument, temporary modifications of certain provisions of the social security law
in response to circumstances relating to COVID-19.
Generally, a determination under subsection 1262(1) must end at the end
of 31 March 2021. A determination that relates to modifications to subsections
23(4A) or (4AA) of the Social Security Act (regarding the employment income nil rate
period) must end at the end of 16 April 2021. The Social Security (Coronavirus
Economic Response-2020 Measures No. 16) Determination 2020 was made under
section 1262. The determination waived the ordinary waiting period for parenting
payment, jobseeker payment and youth allowance until 31 March 2021.
Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Bill amends the Social Security Act to extend the current
waivers of the ordinary waiting period from 1 April 2021 immediately after the current
waivers end, until 30 June 2021.
Social Security Act 1991
Item 15 amends section 500WA to include reference to new subsection 500WA(4)
when considering whether a person is subject to an ordinary waiting period for
parenting payment.
Item 16 amends section 500WA to add new subsection 500WA(4) to extend the
waiver of the ordinary waiting period for parenting payment in respect of a claim
made in the period 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021. In this case, the whole of the
ordinary waiting period does not apply.
Item 17 amends subsection 549CA(2) to insert reference to new subsection
549CA(6) inserted by item 18 below.
Item 18 amends section 549CA to insert new subsection 549CA(6) relating to the
ordinary waiting period for youth allowance (other).
Item 19 amends subsection 620(1) to insert reference to new subsection 620(5)
inserted by item 46 relating to the ordinary waiting period for jobseeker payment.
Item 20 inserts new subsection 620(5) providing that if a person makes a claim for
jobseeker payment during the period 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021 they are not
subject to the whole of the ordinary waiting period.
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Part 4 - Income free areas and taper rates
The Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response-2020 Measures No. 4)
Determination 2020, Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response-2020
Measures No. 14) Determination 2020 and Social Security (Coronavirus Economic
Response-2020 Measures No. 16) Determination 2020 set concessional income
free areas and taper rates until 31 March 2021 for recipients of jobseeker payment
(except single principal carers) and youth allowance (other) (that is, recipients of
youth allowance who are not undertaking full-time study and are not a new
apprentice).
A payment recipient's income is disregarded to the extent it does not exceed the
income free area. Income above this rate affects the rate of payment, by lower
reduction rate, generally of 50 per cent. The amount of this excess income, which
exceeds the upper range reduction amount, then affects their payment at the upper
range reduction amount, generally of 60 per cent.
Part 4 of Schedule 1 to this Bill permanently applies concessional income free areas
from 1 April 2021. The jobseeker income free area will no longer be indexed.
Social Security Act 1991
Items 21-22 relate to the rate of youth allowance in section 1067G. Module H29 of
the rate calculator at 1067G provides for the calculation of a person's ordinary
income free area.
Item 21 amends point 1067G-H29 ordinary income free area to substitute the
amount of $150 as the new income free area amount for recipients who are not full-
time students or new apprentices.
Item 22 amends paragraphs 1067G-H32(c) and 1067G-H33(c) to substitute the
amount of $100 as the amount of excess income, which, if exceeded, results in the
upper range reduction applying.
Item 23 amends point 1068-G12, which applies an income reduction to rate of
jobseeker payment to substitute the amount of $150 as the new income free area
amount.
Item 24 is a technical amendment that repeals note 1 at point 1068-G12, as the
amount will no longer be indexed.
Item 25 is a technical amendment clarifying that the repeal of Note 1 by item 24
above means that note 2 is now the first note.
Item 26 amends points 1068-G15 and 1068-G16 to substitute the amount of $106 as
the amount of excess income that results in the person's upper range reduction
applying.
Item 27 amends point 1068B-D27 to substitute the amount of $150 as the new
income free area amount for the calculation of parenting payment (partnered).
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Item 28 is a technical amendment that repeals note 1 at point 1068B-D27, to remove
reference to indexation.
Item 29 is a technical amendment clarifying that the repeal of Note 1 by item 27
above means that point 1068-D27 is subject to one note.
Item 30 amends point 1068B-D27 in relation to a person's ordinary income-free area
and 1068B-D31 in relation to a person's upper range reduction amount to substitute
the amount of $106 as amount of excess income that results in the upper range
reduction rate applying.
Items 31 and 32 amend sections 1190 and 1191(1) to remove the provisions which
effect indexation of the income free area thresholds (at 1190 table item 20AAA and
1191 table item 14AAA).
Application provision
Item 33 ensures that the changes to the income free areas made by Part 4 apply in
relation to working out the rate of a person's youth allowance, jobseeker payment,
partner allowance, widow allowance or benefit parenting payment (partnered) in
respect of days occurring on or after 1 April 2021.
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Part 5 -Portability
The Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response-2020 Measures No. 10)
Determination 2020 modified the Social Security Act so the Secretary can extend the
portability periods for certain age pensioners and recipients of the disability support
pension (for severely disabled persons) until 31 December 2020. The Social Security
(Coronavirus Economic Response-2020 Measures No. 16) Determination 2020
extended this until 31 March 2021. This has addressed payment portability issues for
pensioners unable to return to, or depart from, Australia within 26 weeks due to
travel restrictions resulting from COVID-19. The extended portability period
maintains their entitlements as if they had been able to return home as planned.
Part 5 of Schedule 1 amends the Social Security Act to introduce a temporary
discretionary power, ending on 30 June 2021, allowing the Secretary to extend the
portability period for age pensioners and certain recipients of the disability support
pension if they are unable to return to, or depart from, Australia within 26 weeks
because of the impact of the coronavirus (subject to the Secretary being satisfied of
certain matters detailed below).
Generally, after 26 weeks overseas, the rate of age pension or disability support
pension for recipients with unlimited portability is recalculated based on their
Australian Working Life Residence and may be reduced. A person also loses access
to certain supplementary payments such as rent assistance. The portability
extensions ensure their pension rate and relevant supplements are unaffected after
26 weeks overseas due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Secretary will have the discretion to extend the pension portability period
beyond 26 weeks if satisfied that the person's absence from Australia or their usual
country of residence is temporary and their inability to return to, or leave, Australia
before the end of the 26-week or extended portability period is a result of the impact
of COVID-19 (including where the person has previously been granted an extension
under the No. 10 and No.16 Determinations). This could include a person being
hospitalised for COVID-19.
Social Security Act 1991
Item 34 is a technical amendment that makes the existing content of section 1216
subsection 1216(1).
Item 35 amends section 1216 of the Social Security Act to insert new subsections
1216(2) and (3) to provide that if a person was temporarily absent from Australia,
and they are unable to return to Australia because of the impact of COVID-19 when
their 26-week absence (or that absence as previously extended) ends, and this
occurs on or after 11 March 2020, then the Secretary may determine that a
reference to 26 weeks is taken to be a reference to a greater number of weeks. This
will enable the addition of various amounts to rate, as though the 26 weeks has not
been exceeded. However, the Secretary must make sure that a determination under
this provision does not result in an extended period that ends after 30 June 2021.
10
Subsection 1216(3) exempts a determination under subsection 1216(2) creating
a retrospective favourable determination from the date of effect limitations otherwise
applied by Subdivision B of Division 9 of the Social Security (Administration) Act
1999. This will allow the full benefit of the determination to be applied to the person's
rate.
Item 36 amends section 1220A to insert subsections 1220A(6) and (7) to allow age
pensioners who were temporarily absent from Australia and unable to return
to Australia when their 26-week absence ends, and this occurs on or after
11 March 2020, and the Secretary is satisfied they are unable to return because
of the impact of COVID-19, then the Secretary may determine that a reference to 26
weeks is taken to be a reference to a greater number of weeks. This will give the
Secretary the discretion to increase the portable rate of payment for a period if
satisfied that the person's absence from Australia is temporary and their inability to
return before the end of the 26-week portability period where this occurs on or after
11 March 2020 is a result of circumstances beyond the individual's control. The
Secretary must make sure that a determination under this provision does not result
in an extended period that ends after 30 June 2021.
Subsection 1220A(7) exempts a determination under subsection 1220A(6) creating
a retrospective favourable determination from the date of effect limitations otherwise
applied by Subdivision B of Division 9 of the Social Security (Administration) Act
1999.
Item 37 amends sections 1220B to insert subsections 1220B(3) and (4) to allow
disability support pensioners who are temporarily absent from Australia, and they are
unable to return to Australia when their 26 week absence ends, and this occurs
on or after 11 March 2020, and the Secretary is satisfied they are unable to return
because of the impact of COVID-19, then the Secretary may determine that a
reference to 26 weeks is taken to be a reference to a greater number of weeks. This
will give the Secretary the discretion to increase the portable rate of payment for a
period if satisfied that the person's absence from Australia is temporary and their
inability to return before the end of the 26-week portability period where this occurs
on or after 11 March 2020 is a result of COVID-19. The Secretary cannot make a
determination under this provision to extend the period after 30 June 2021.
Subsection 1220B(4) exempts a determination under subsection 1220B(3) creating
a retrospective favourable determination from the date of effect limitations otherwise
applied by Subdivision B of Division 9 of the Social Security (Administration) Act
1999.
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Item 38 amends Part 4.2 to add new section 1221A of the Social Security Act, in
a new Division 4 'Other portability rules' to clarify that the Secretary may determine
a reference to 26 weeks in paragraph 6(3)(6) or (4)(d) or 14(3)(d) or (4)(d) of
Schedule 4 to the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2014 to be
taken as a reference to a greater number of weeks where certain conditions are
satisfied. This will allow pensioners who were grandfathered under previous
portability changes, and normally live overseas, to apply for an extension of the time
for which they are permitted to remain in Australia and remain grandfathered if they
are temporarily in Australia and unable to return to their home country within
26 weeks because of the impact of COVID-19. Where the 26-week period
in Australia ends on or after 11 March 2020, this discretion will apply. The Secretary
must make sure that a determination under this provision does not result in an
extended period that ends after 30 June 2021.
Subsection 1221A(2) exempts a determination under subsection 1220B(3) creating
a retrospective favourable determination from the date of effect limitations otherwise
applied by Subdivision B of Division 9 of the Social Security (Administration) Act
1999.
Item 39 amends clause 128 of Schedule 1A to the Social Security Act to insert new
subclauses 128(4) and (5) to clarify that the saving of rate of pension effected for
persons who have not returned to Australia for a continuous period of 26 weeks
or more may continue to apply, if the Secretary is satisfied that the relevant 26-week
period ends on or after 11 March 2020, the person's return to Australia is temporary,
and the person is unable to leave before the end of that period because of the
impact of COVID-19, that the 26-week period is taken to be a longer period. The
Secretary must make sure that a determination under this provision does not result
in an extended period that ends after 30 June 2021.
Subclause 128(5) exempts a determination under subclause 128(4) creating
a retrospective favourable determination from the date of effect limitations otherwise
applied by Subdivision B of Division 9 of the Social Security (Administration) Act
1999.
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DRAFT STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Increasing Working Age Payments and
Extending Portability) Bill 2021
The Bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognized or declared
in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the Bill
The Bill provides for a $50 per fortnight increase from 1 April 2021 to working age
payments, including jobseeker payment; parenting payment single; parenting
payment partnered; youth allowance (student and apprentice); youth allowance
(other); youth disability support pension; austudy; widow allowance; special benefit;
and farm household allowance.
The Bill also provides for an increase to $150 per fortnight from 1 April 2021 of the
income-free area for jobseeker payment, parenting payment, youth allowance (other)
and related payments.
The Bill extends the following temporary social security measures to 30 June 2021:
(Part 2 of Schedule 1) qualification for recipients of jobseeker payment and
youth allowance (other) payment in circumstances relating to persons being
required to quarantine or self-isolate due to COVID-19; and
(Part 3 of Schedule 1) waivers of the ordinary waiting period for jobseeker
payment, parenting payment and youth allowance; and
(Part 5 of Schedule 1) extends the portability period for certain age
pensioners and recipients of the disability support pension (for severely
disabled persons) until 30 June 2021.
Human rights implications
The Bill engages the following rights:
the right of everyone to social security in Article 9, and the right of everyone
to an adequate standard of living for an individual and their family, including
adequate food, clothing and housing, and the continuous improvement in
living conditions in Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights;
the rights of the child in Article 26 of the Convention on the Rights of the
Child.
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Increased payment rates
Human rights are promoted by increasing working age payment rates by $50 per
fortnight, which will assist income support recipients. The increased payments are
targeted at vulnerable groups who receive Government assistance and have a
flow-on effect to the children of recipients by increasing the support for families.
Qualification for youth allowance and jobseeker payment
Human rights are promoted by extending eligibility changes for jobseeker payment
and youth allowance (other) to enable people required to self-isolate or quarantine
due to COVID-19 or care for members of their family or household for those reasons,
to access payment if unable to work during the period of isolation or quarantine.
Waiting periods
The extension of the waiver of the ordinary waiting period is consistent with human
rights as it facilitates faster access to social support should a person lose their job.
Income free area
The increased income free area associated with relevant payments, promotes
human rights through assisting income support recipients to continue to access
payment for longer while also earning income from employment.
Portability
Access to portability arrangements for age pensioners (and certain recipients of the
disability support pension) promotes human rights because the extension prevents
pension entitlements being affected for extended absences from Australia or the
recipient's home country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion
This Bill is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection for
human rights for some of the most vulnerable groups in society.
Circulated by the authority of the
Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston
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