24th Jun 2021, 4:35 PM – Senate Covid-19 Disaster Payment (Funding Arrangements) Bill 2021 - Eligibility for payment

The majority voted against requests for amendment that were proposed by the Greens Party, which means they failed.

Amendment text

(1) Clause 3, page 2 (line 18), at the end of the definition of COVID 19 disaster payment, add "as modified by section 3A of this Act".

(2) Page 2 (after line 18), after Part 1, insert:

Part 1A — COVID 19 disaster payment

3A COVID 19 disaster payment

(1) The program for a COVID 19 disaster payment, as specified in item 492 of the table in Part 4 of Schedule 1AB to the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997, must comply with the following requirements:

(a) the payments must be available under the program in respect of a location in Australia that is subject to a State or Territory public health order restricting the movement of persons for a period of 7 days or more;

(b) the payments must be available in respect of the period starting on the first day the restrictions are imposed by the order (and not limited only to the period starting after the end of the 7 day period);

(c) the availability of the payments in respect of the location must not be made subject to the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer first determining the location to be a COVID 19 hotspot;

(d) the eligibility criteria must not include requirements that a person:

(i) has less than $10,000 of liquid assets; or

(ii) does not receive a Commonwealth income support payment or payment of a similar nature.

(2) Subsection (1) applies notwithstanding item 492 of the table in Part 4 of Schedule 1AB to the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997 and prevails to the extent of any inconsistency with that item.

(3) The program for a COVID 19 disaster payment must be administered consistent with the requirements in this section.

Statement pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendment (2)

Amendment (2) is framed as a request because it amends the bill in a way that is intended to direct funding under the program for COVID-19 disaster payments to additional individuals.

The effect of the amendment is to: reduce by one day the period of time that a location must be subject to a public health order restricting the movement of persons; provide that payments are available for the period starting the first day restrictions are imposed rather than after the first week; remove the requirement for the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer to determine a location subject to restrictions as a COVID-19 hotspot; and ensure that the eligibility criteria must not exclude a person that has $10,000 or more in liquid assets or a person that receives a Commonwealth income support payment.

As the amendment is intended to increase the number of individuals that would be eligible to receive a COVID-19 disaster payment and extend the length of payment, it will increase the amount of expenditure under the appropriation in clause 4 of the bill.

Amendment (1)

Amendment (1) is consequential to amendment (2).

Statement by the Clerk of the Senate pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendment (2)

If the effect of the amendment is to increase expenditure under the standing appropriation in clause 4 of the bill, then it is in accordance with the precedents of the Senate that the amendment be moved as a request.

Amendment (1)

This amendment is consequential on the request. It is the practice of the Senate that an amendment that is consequential on an amendment framed as a request may also be framed as a request.