18th Mar 2021, 3:01 PM – Senate Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021 - Second Reading - Indexation of income free areas

The majority voted in favour of a motion to keep the bill unchanged. This motion was put after the Greens Party proposed to oppose items 24, 25, 28, 29, 31 and 32 of Schedule 1 in respect to the indexation of income free areas. Because this vote was successful, those parts of the bill will remain as they are.

What does this bill do?

According to the bills digest, the purpose of the bill is to:

• increase the maximum basic rates of JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Youth Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment and Austudy by $50 per fortnight from 1 April 2021
• increase the ordinary income free area for JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance (Other), Parenting Payment Partnered and Widow Allowance to $150 per fortnight from 1 April 2021 and cease indexation of the JobSeeker Payment income free area
• extend special COVID-19 qualification criteria for Youth Allowance (Other) and JobSeeker Payment until 30 June 2021—the criteria cover those in quarantine or self-isolation or caring for a family member or household member in quarantine or self-isolation due to COVID-19
• extend until 30 June 2021 the waiver of the ordinary waiting period for JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other)—the waiver was introduced as part of the Government’s COVID-19 response, and
• give the Secretary of the Department of Social Services the discretionary power—until 30 June 2021—to extend the portability period for certain Age Pension and Disability Support Pension recipients unable to return to, or depart from, Australia within 26 weeks due to the impact of COVID-19—portability determines a person’s eligibility for a pension and payment rate when they live permanently outside Australia.