Division Description Changes — Bills — Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Lifting the Income Limit for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2022; in Committee — 28th Sep 2022

Change	Division
senate vote 2022-09-28#6 Edited by mackay staff on 2022-09-30 09:53:44	Title Bills — Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Lifting the Income Limit for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2022; in Committee Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Lifting the Income Limit for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2022 - in Committee - Suspension of benefits & entitlements Description ~~<p class="speaker">James McGrath</p>~~ <p>The question now is that amendments (3) and (8) on sheet 1643 be agreed to.</p> ~~<p></p>~~ ~~<p></p>~~ The majority voted in favour of [amendments (3) and (8)](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2022-09-28.21.1) on sheet 1643, which was introduced by West Australian Senator [Michaelia Cash](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/michaelia_cash) (Liberal), which means they will now be part of the bill. The amendments related to suspending benefits and entitlements instead of cancelling them. ### Amendment text Due to their length, see [sheet 1643](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr6877_amend_c9a0e5e3-c8b8-44e7-9436-c012e5c5e6ca%22;rec=0) for the text of amendments (3) and (8). ### What does this bill do? According to the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2223a/23bd003), the key points are that: > * The Bill aims to increase the income limits for eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. > * The measure was a Coalition election commitment subsequently matched by Labor. > * The changes will primarily benefit high-income and/or asset-rich retirees. Around 44,000 newly eligible CSHC holders are expected to benefit in the first year, rising to an addition 52,000 by 2026-27. > * The changes are expected to cost $69.4m over the forward estimates.

Bills — Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Lifting the Income Limit for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2022; in Committee
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Lifting the Income Limit for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2022 - in Committee - Suspension of benefits & entitlements

~~James McGrath~~
The question now is that amendments (3) and (8) on sheet 1643 be agreed to.
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The majority voted in favour of [amendments (3) and (8)](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2022-09-28.21.1) on sheet 1643, which was introduced by West Australian Senator [Michaelia Cash](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/michaelia_cash) (Liberal), which means they will now be part of the bill.
The amendments related to suspending benefits and entitlements instead of cancelling them.
### Amendment text
Due to their length, see [sheet 1643](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr6877_amend_c9a0e5e3-c8b8-44e7-9436-c012e5c5e6ca%22;rec=0) for the text of amendments (3) and (8).
### What does this bill do?
According to the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2223a/23bd003), the key points are that:
> * *The Bill aims to increase the income limits for eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.*
> * *The measure was a Coalition election commitment subsequently matched by Labor.*
> * *The changes will primarily benefit high-income and/or asset-rich retirees. Around 44,000 newly eligible CSHC holders are expected to benefit in the first year, rising to an addition 52,000 by 2026-27.*
> * *The changes are expected to cost $69.4m over the forward estimates.*