Bill
Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Transition to Work) Bill 2023
passed, as at 2023-11-28. Social Services portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Social Services
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2023-10-18
- second reading — 2023-10-18
- other — 2023-11-14
- second reading — 2023-11-14
- other — 2023-11-15
- second reading — 2023-11-15
- second reading — 2023-11-15
- third reading — 2023-11-15
- introduced — 2023-11-15
- second reading — 2023-11-15
- second reading — 2023-11-17
- third reading — 2023-11-17
- passed — 2023-11-17
- royal assent — 2023-11-28
Divisions
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-11-14.6.2) to the usual second reading motion, 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 usual motion will remain unchanged. The amendment was introduced by Deakin MP [Michael Sukkar](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/deakin/michael_sukkar) (Liberal). ### Amendment text > *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:* > >> *(a) the severe workforce shortages across the country, high levels of job vacancies and employing businesses having difficulty finding suitable staff;* >> >> *(b) hiring and retaining employees remains a key challenge for small businesses;* >> >> *(c) under the Government, the cost of food is up by 8.2 per cent; the cost of housing is up 10.4 per cent; the cost of insurance is up by 17 per cent; the cost of electricity is up by 18.2 per cent and the cost of gas is up 28 per cent; and* >> >> *(d) the failure of the Government to tackle the escalating cost of living that is impacting older Australians; and* > > *(2) calls on the Government to:* > >> *(a) increase the work bonus from $300 to $600 a fortnight to incentivise eligible pensioners to work more hours without penalty from 1 January 2024; and* >> >> *(b) review this increase every 12 months to ensure these settings remain appropriate".* — 2023-11-15, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 62, noes 79
- The majority voted against [Greens Party amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2023-11-17.199.1) on [sheet 2154](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr7099_amend_e7dbcb19-4456-4037-90d4-ef9cc1345645%22;rec=0) and [sheet 2155](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr7099_amend_d3d45e99-65ac-42f4-b1e8-a318bbdca993%22;rec=0), which means they failed. ### What do the amendments do? The amendments would have introduced a number of changes into the bill, including an increase to the income free areas for certain payments. Read the text of the amendments for more. — 2023-11-17, Senate: negative, ayes 11, noes 35
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2023-10-18.
The bill would change social security and veterans' laws to help recipients take up paid work.
It would increase the pension work bonus and extend the employment income nil rate period to 24 weeks.
Eligible pensioners could earn up to $4,000 before the income test affects their payments.
- Increases the work bonus unused concession balance by $4,000 for new eligible recipients.
- Makes the temporary $4,000 increase to the maximum unused concession balance permanent for all eligible pensioners.
- Extends the employment income nil rate period to 24 weeks for eligible social security recipients.
Social security pensioners over age pension age, certain veterans' entitlement recipients over qualifying age, and other eligible social security recipients.
Sources
em
billhome
frl act