7th Dec 2017, 5:54 PM – Senate Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017 - Second Reading - Wife pension transition

The majority voted in favour of amendments introduced by Greens Senator Rachel Siewert (WA), which means they were added to the bill.

Motion text

(2) Schedule 3, item 25, page 75 (after line 23) , after subsection 654(5) , insert:

(5A) The woman’s wife pension transition rate during the period from the day after the transition day to the day before the day on which the transition rate is ceased (the transition period) is worked out using Pension Rate Calculator A at the end of section 1064 (see Part 3.2).

(3) Schedule 3, items 45 to 49, page 79 (line 20) to page 80 (line 4), to be opposed.

Senator Siewert explained that:

These amendments relate to the transition payments for wife pensioners. Amendment (2) provides for the transition rate for wife pensioners to be indexed. Amendment (3), which also relates to the transition rate of wife pension, seeks to oppose schedule 3, items 45 to 49 in the terms circulated.

What is the bill's main idea?

The bill was introduced to:

• create a single job seeker payment
• establish a drug testing trial and
• remove existing exemptions for jobseekers experiencing drug or alcohol dependence.