Bill
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Coronavirus and Other Measures) Bill 2020
passed, as at 2020-11-13. Social Services portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Social Services
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2020-10-22
- second reading — 2020-10-22
- second reading — 2020-10-28
- second reading — 2020-10-29
- second reading — 2020-10-29
- committee — 2020-10-29
- third reading — 2020-11-09
- third reading — 2020-11-09
- third reading — 2020-11-09
- introduced — 2020-11-09
- second reading — 2020-11-09
- second reading — 2020-11-10
- second reading — 2020-11-11
- second reading — 2020-11-11
- committee — 2020-11-11
- third reading — 2020-11-11
- passed — 2020-11-11
- royal assent — 2020-11-13
Divisions
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2020-10-29.27.4) that "*the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question.*" In other words, they voted to keep the words of the motion unchanged. The motion in this case was "*That this bill be now [read a second time](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/).*" Giving a bill a second reading is the same as agreeing with its main idea. ### Proposed change > *That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:* > > *"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:* > > *(1) notes that:* > >> *(a) since the start of the recession, the number of people relying on unemployment payments has doubled;* >> >> *(b) many pensioners—including those on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment—have faced increased costs during the pandemic; and* >> >> *(c) the Minister has the power under the Social Security Act to extend the Coronavirus Supplement; and* > > *(2) calls on the Government to:* > >> *(a) extend the $250 per fortnight Coronavirus Supplement until March, in line with Jobkeeper;* >> >> *(b) better support pensioners—including Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment recipients—facing increased costs in protecting their health because of the coronavirus pandemic; and* >> >> *(c) announce a permanent increase to the base rate of the Jobseeker Payment".* — 2020-10-29, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 49, noes 46
- Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Coronavirus and Other Measures) Bill 2020 - Consideration in Detail - Don't increase and extend support — 2020-10-29, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 50, noes 47
- The same number of senators voted for and against an amendment to the usual [second reading motion](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/), which is "*that the bill be read a second time*" - parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill. This means that the amendment failed. Had the amendment been successful, it would have added the words below to the original motion. ### Amendment text > *At the end of the motion, add: ", but the Senate:* > > *(a) notes that:* > >> *(i) since the start of the recession, the number of people relying on unemployment payments has doubled,* >> >> *(ii) many pensioners—including those on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment—have faced increased costs during the pandemic, and* >> >> *(iii) the Minister has the power under the Social Security Act to extend the Coronavirus Supplement; and* > > *(b) calls on the Government to:* > >> *(i) extend the $250 per fortnight Coronavirus Supplement until March, in line with JobKeeper,* >> >> *(ii) better support pensioners—including Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment recipients—facing increased costs in protecting their health because of the coronavirus pandemic, and* >> >> *(iii) announce a permanent increase to the base rate of the JobSeeker Payment".* — 2020-11-11, Senate: negative, ayes 25, noes 25
- Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Coronavirus and Other Measures) Bill 2020 - Second Reading - Increase support — 2020-11-11, Senate: negative, ayes 23, noes 25
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2020-10-22.
The bill would provide two $250 payments to about five million people who receive social security or veterans' payments or hold concession cards, as part of the government's COVID-19 response.
It would temporarily change how young people qualify as independent for youth allowance, create a temporary pathway for young people to qualify for youth allowance by doing seasonal agricultural work, and introduce a revised paid parental leave work test for a limited time.
The bill would also increase the maximum payment families can receive after a stillbirth or infant death up to the child's first birthday, and let the minister set average weekly earnings figures for child support when the Australian Statistician has suspended publication.
- Pay two $250 Further Economic Support Payments to around five million recipients and concession cardholders.
- Temporarily change the independence test for youth allowance for young people affected by COVID-19.
- Create a temporary pathway for youth allowance (student) through seasonal agricultural work.
- Introduce a revised paid parental leave work test for a limited time.
- Increase the maximum payment for families after stillbirth or infant death up to the child's first birthday.
- Allow the minister to determine average weekly earnings figures for child support when publication is suspended.
Social security and veterans' payment recipients, concession cardholders, young people seeking youth allowance, families affected by stillbirth or infant death, and parents affected by COVID-19 for paid parental leave.
Sources
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billhome
frl act