Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Workforce Incentive) Bill 2022

Summary

Amends the: Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to enable age pensioners and certain veterans' entitlement recipients to have their payment suspended for up to two years, instead of cancelled, if their income, which includes some income from the recipient's own employment, precludes payment; and provide for the same suspension period for partners of the age pension, disability support pension and certain veterans' entitlements recipients, where the partner is receiving a social security pension or certain veterans' entitlements; Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to make minor amendments to the existing suspension provisions for disability support pensioners; and Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to: provide that working age pensioners, disability support pensioners and certain veterans' entitlement recipients, and their pensioner partners, can retain their pensioner concession card for up to two years after their payment ceases; and provide a temporary increase of $4,000 to eligible age pensioners and veterans’ existing and initial unused concession balance until 30 June 2023, enabling eligible recipients to earn up to another $4,000 before the income test is applied and their payments affected.

Progress

House of Representatives
Introduced and read a first time	28 Sep 2022
Second reading moved	28 Sep 2022
Second reading debate	07 Nov 2022
Second reading agreed to	08 Nov 2022
Consideration in detail debate Amendment details: 2 Government agreed to	08 Nov 2022
Third reading agreed to	08 Nov 2022

Senate
Introduced and read a first time	21 Nov 2022
Second reading moved	21 Nov 2022
Second reading debate	21 Nov 2022
Second reading agreed to	21 Nov 2022
Committee of the Whole debate	21 Nov 2022
Committee of the Whole debate	22 Nov 2022
Third reading agreed to	22 Nov 2022


Finally passed both Houses	22 Nov 2022
Assent Act no: 55 Year: 2022	23 Nov 2022

Documents and transcripts

Text of bill

First reading

Third reading

As passed by both Houses

Explanatory memoranda

Explanatory memorandum

Revised explanatory memorandum

Supplementary explanatory memorandum

Transcript of speeches

Proposed amendments

House of representatives

Government [sheet QC123]

Senate

Australian Greens [sheet 1698]
RICE, Sen Janet

Opposition [sheet 1681]
RUSTON, Sen Anne

Schedules of amendments

No documents at present

Bills digest

Bills Digest

Notes

Referred to Committee (28/09/2022): Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (10/11/2022)
An electronic version of this Act is available on the Federal Register of Legislation (www.legislation.gov.au)

Helpful information

Text of bill

First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament
Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house.
As passed by both houses: Final text of bill agreed to by both the House of Representatives and the Senate which is presented to the Governor-General for assent.

Explanatory memoranda

Explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and provides an explanation of the content of the introduced version (first reading) of the bill.
Supplementary explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains amendments proposed by the government to the bill.
Revised explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains the amended version (third reading) of the bill. It supersedes the explanatory memorandum.

Proposed amendments

Circulated by members and senators when they propose to make changes to the bill. For details about the outcome of proposed amendments please refer to either the Votes and Proceedings (House of Representatives) or the Journals (Senate).

Schedules of amendments

Schedules of amendments list amendments agreed to by the second house are communicated to the first house for consideration. Subsequent action by either house may also be included in a schedule.