24th Nov 2021, 11:47 AM – Senate Dental Benefits Amendment Bill 2021 - in Committee - Expand to cover all people

The majority voted against a request for an amendment introduced by West Australian Jordon Steele-John (Greens), which means it failed.

Request text

That the House of Representatives be requested to make the following amendment:

(1) Schedule 1, items 1 and 2, page 3 (lines 4 to 11), omit the items, substitute:

1 Section 4 (definition of ABSTUDY scheme )

Repeal the definition.

2 Section 4 (definition of FTB(A) person )

Repeal the definition.

3 Section 4 (definition of satisfies the means test )

Repeal the definition.

4 Section 4 (definition of youth allowance )

Repeal the definition.

5 Subsection 5(1)

Omit "(1)".

6 Subsection 5(2)

Repeal the subsection.

7 Section 22

Omit:

• A person qualifies for a voucher for a calendar year if he or she is aged between 2 and 18 years at any time during the calendar year, is an eligible person and satisfies the means test.

• The Dental Benefit Rules may also provide that an eligible person qualifies for a voucher for a calendar year.

substitute:

• A person qualifies for a voucher for a calendar year if the person is an eligible person.

• The Dental Benefit Rules may provide for certain matters relating to vouchers.

8 Section 23

Repeal the section, substitute:

23 Qualification for a voucher

Persons to whom this section applies

(1) This section applies to a person, in relation to a calendar year, if the person is an eligible person.

Point in time at which person qualifies for a voucher

(2) The person qualifies for a voucher for the calendar year, in relation to a dental service specified in the Dental Benefits Rules for the purposes of this section, at the first time in the calendar year when the person is an eligible person.

9 Section 24

Repeal the section.

10 Section 25

Repeal the section.

11 Section 29

Before "The Dental Benefit Rules", insert "(1)".

12 At the end of section 29

Insert:

(2) Subsection (1) is subject to section 32AA.

13 After section 32

Insert:

32AA Dental Benefits Rules must not impos e certain eligibility requirements

The Dental Benefits Rules must not impose the following requirements relating to the eligibility of a person for a voucher:

(a) an age-based eligibility requirement;

(b) a means test.

14 Subsection 41(1)

Omit "(1)".

15 Subparagraphs 41(1)(c)(iii) to (v)

Repeal the subparagraphs.

16 Subsection 41(2)

Repeal the subsection.

_____

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

Amendment (1)

Amendment (1) is framed as a request because it amends the bill to expand the eligibility requirements for dental vouchers. The effect of the amendment is to: remove the requirement for a person to be of a certain age to be eligible for a dental voucher; remove the requirement for a person to satisfy a means test to be eligible for a dental voucher; and prevent the Dental Benefits Rules from prescribing such eligibility requirements.

As the amendment is intended to increase the number of individuals that would be eligible to receive a dental voucher, it will increase the amount of expenditure under the appropriation in section 65 of the Dental Benefits Act 2008.

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

Amendment (1)

If the effect of the amendment is to increase expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 65 of the Dental Benefits Act 2008 , then it is in accordance with the precedents of the Senate that the amendment be moved as a request.