Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Journals of the Senate, No. 67, 19 October 2017, p. 2138.

[2]        Senate Standing Committee for Selection of Bills, Report No. 12 of 2017, 19 October 2017, p. [7].

[3]        The Hon. Christian Porter MP, Minister for Social Services (Minister), House of Representatives Hansard, 14 September 2017, pp. 10419–10421.

[4]        Australian Government, Budget Measures 2017-18—Part 1: Revenue Measures, pp. 26-31, http://budget.gov.au/2017-18/content/bp2/download/bp2.pdf.

[5]        Minister, House of Representatives Hansard, 14 September 2017, pp. 10419–10421.

[6]        Explanatory Memorandum (EM), p. [5].

[7]        EM, p. [6].

[8]        EM, p. [7].

[9]        EM, p. [8].

[10]      EM, pp. [9–10]; Social Services Legislation Amendment (Housing Affordability) Bill 2017, ss. 124QK, 124QR.

[11]      EM, p. [17].

[12]      EM, pp. [19–21].

[13]      EM, pp. [5–11].

[14]      EM, pp. [12–16].

[15]      EM, pp. [17–21].

[16]      EM, p. [3].

[17]      Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest 12 of 2017, 18 October 2017, p. 48.

[18]      Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, Report 12 of 2017, 28 November 2017, pp. 43–52.

[19]      Report 12 of 2017, pp. 50, 52.

[20]      Report 12 of 2017, 28 November 2017, pp. 50, 52.

[21]      EM, pp. [25–26].

[22]      The committee's inquiry webpage can be located here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/HousingAffordability/.

Chapter 2 - Schedules 1 and 2—Automatic Rent Deduction Scheme

[1]        Explanatory Memorandum (EM), p. [5].

[2]        Department of Social Services (DSS), Submission 1, p. 1.

[3]        EM, pp. [22–23].

[4]        Submission 1, p. 1.

[5]        Submission 1, p. 1.

[6]        The Hon. Christian Porter MP, Minister for Social Services (Minister), House of Representatives Hansard, 14 September 2017, p. 10419.

[7]        Minister, House of Representatives Hansard, 14 September 2017, p. 10419.

[8]        See the following submissions: National Social Security Rights Network (NSSRN), Submission 2, p. 2; St Vincent de Paul Society, Submission 6, p. 3; Darebin City Council, Submission 10, p. [3]; Catholic Social Services Australia; Submission 11, p. 2; Shelter New South Wales, Submission 17, p. [1]; Tenants' Union of New South Wales (TUNSW), Submission 21, p. 2; Equality Rights Alliance (ERA), Submission 25, p. [1]; North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Submission 32, p. 7.

[9]        Submission 2, p. 2; National Shelter, Submission 3, p. 3; Submission 25, p. 2.

[10]      Submission 21, pp. 2–3.

[11]      Ms Genevieve Bolton, Chairperson, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 1.

[12]      Submission 2, p. 2; Submission 6, p. 3.

[13]      Shelter New South Wales, Submission 17, p. 2; Submission 21, p. 2;, Submission 25, p. 2.

[14]      Mr Paul McBride, DSS, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 19.

[15]      DSS, Submission 1, p. 1.

[16]      Mr Paul McBride, Group Manager, Welfare and Housing Policy, DSS, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 22.

[17]      DSS, Submission 1, p. 2.

[18]      Mr McBride, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2047, p. 22.

[19]      Mr McBride, Answers to questions on notice, 14 November 2017 (received 17 November 2017).

[20]      Submission 1, p. 2.

[21]      Submission 1, p. 3.

[22]      EM, p. [8].

[23]      Social Services Legislation Amendment (Housing Affordability) Bill 2017, s. 124QK.

[24]      EM, p. [10].

[25]      Social Services Legislation Amendment (Housing Affordability) Bill 2017, ss. 124QO(4).

[26]      EM, p. [7].

[27]      EM, p. [7].

[28]      NSSRN, Submission 2, p. 3.

[29]      Shelter WA, Submission 23, p. 6.

[30]      Community Housing Council of South Australia, Submission 15, p. 2.

[31]      NSW Federation of Housing Associations Inc. (NSWFHA), Submission 24, p 10.

[32]      See for example: Mornington Peninsula Shire, Submission 9, p. 2; NSSRN, Submission 2, p. 6; Salvation Army, Submission 7, p. 3; Darebin City Council, Submission 10, p. [7]; New England and Western Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, Submission 19, pp. 2–3.

[33]      NSSRN, Submission 2, p. 6.

[34]      Salvation Army, Submission 7, p. 3; Darebin City Council, Submission 10, p. [7]; Australian Council of Social Services, Submission 13, p. 1.

[35]      Submission 13, p. 1.

[36]      Mr Paul McBride, Group Manager, Welfare and Housing Policy, DSS, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 20.

[37]      Mr Ned Cutcher, Senior Policy Officer, TUNSW, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 9.

[38]      NSSRN, Submission 2¸p. 4.

[39]      National Association of Tenants Organisation (NATO), Submission 22, p. 3.

[40]      National Shelter, Submission 3, p. 4.

[41]      Submission 2, p. 2.

[42]      EM, p. [7].

[43]      EM, p. [12].

[44]      For excluded payment types see: Social Services Legislation Amendment (Housing Affordability) Bill 2017, ss. 124QB(1).

[45]      Micah Projects, Submission 20, p. [7].

[46]      NSWFHA, Submission 24, p. 5.

[47]      EM, p. [23].

[48]      EM, p. [6].

[49]      NSSRN, Submission 2, p. 12.

[50]      Mr Roland Manderson, Deputy Director, Anglicare Australia, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 5.

[51]      Australian Association of Social Workers, Submission 28, p. 3. [Footnotes have been removed from this quote.]

[52]      NATO, Submission 22, p. 2.

[53]      See for example: Shelter NSW, Submission 17, p. 2; The ParentHood, Submission 18, p. 2.

[54]      Redfern Legal Centre, Submission 27, p. 2.

[55]      Housing for the Aged Action Group Inc. Submission 8, p. 2.

[56]      National Shelter, Submission 3, pp. 1–2; Darebin City Council, Submission 10, p.4.

[57]      See the following submissions: Glebe Housing Action Plan Now (Glebe HAPN), Submission 14, p. 2; NSWFHA, Submission 24, p. 7; Shelter WA, Submission 23, p. 4; NSSRN, Submission 2, p. 5; Micah Projects, Submission 20, p. 2; Homelessness Australia, Homelessness NSW and the Council to Homeless Persons, Submission 16, p. 2.

[58]      NSSRN, Submission 2, p. 5.

[59]      Salvation Army, Submission 7, p. 2.

[60]      Submission 2, p. 5.

[61]      National Shelter, Submission 3, p. 4; NATO, Submission 22, p. 5.

[62]      Submission 7, p. 3.

[63]      DSS, Submission 1, p. 2.

[64]      Glebe HAPN, Submission 14, p. [2].

[65]      See submissions from: Shelter WA, Submission 23, p. 5; Homelessness Australia, Homelessness NSW and the Council to Homeless Persons, Submission 16, p. [3]; NSSRN, Submission 2, p. 4; Housing for the Aged Action Group Inc., Submission 8, p. 2. Micah Projects, Submission 20, p. [3].

[66]      Ms Genevieve Bolton, Chairperson, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 2.

[67]      NATO, Submission 22, p. 5.

[68]      EM, pp. [5, 17].

[69]      NSSRN, Submission 2, p. 5.

[70]      Equity Rights Alliance, Submission 25, p. 2.

[71]      NAAJA, Submission 32, p. 6.

[72]      NATO, Submission 22, p 2.

[73]      TUNSW, Submission 21, p. 2.

[74]      National Shelter, Submission 3, p. [1]; Queenslanders with Disability Network, Submission 12, p. 5.

[75]      DSS, Submission 1, p. 3.

Chapter 3 - Schedule 3—Amendments to the National Rental Affordability Scheme

[1]        Explanatory Memorandum (EM), p. [17].

[2]        Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), ANAO Report No. 8 2015–16, 2015, Administration of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (ANAO Report No. 8 2015-2016), ANAO, (ANAO Report No. 23 2016–17, 2016), National Rental Affordability Scheme - Administration of Allocations and Incentives (ANAO Report No. 23 2016–17, 2016).

[3]        ANAO Report No. 8 2015-16, quoted in ANAO, Report No. 23 2016-17), p. 7.

[4]        ANAO Report No. 23 2016–17, 2016.

[5]        Department of Social Services (DSS), Improving the National Rental Affordability Scheme Consultation Paper, 2016, p. 1.

[6]        The Hon. Mr Christian Porter, Minister for Social Services (Minister), House of Representatives Hansard, 14 September 2017, p. 10420.

[7]        Minister, House of Representatives Hansard, 14 September 2017, p. 10420.

[8]        Minister, House of Representatives Hansard, 14 September 2017, p. 10420.

[9]        EM, p. [17].

[10]      EM, p. [17].

[11]      EM, pp. [17-19].

[12]      Darebin City Council, Submission 10, pp. [2–3].

[13]      DSS, Submission 1, p. 3.

[14]      EM, pp. [17-18].

[15]      EM, p. [19].

[16]      DSS, Submission 1, p. 4.

[17]      National Affordable Housing Providers (NAHP), Submission 4, p. 3–5.

[18]      Housing Industry Association (HIA), Submission 5, p. [1].

[19]      EM, p. [18].

[20]      DSS, Submission 1, p. 3.

[21]      Minister, House of Representatives Hansard, 14 September 2017, p. 10421.

[22]      NAHP, Submission 4, p. 2.

[23]      New South Wales Federation of Housing Associations (NSWFHA), Submission 24, p. 9.

[24]      HIA, Submission 5, p. 1.

[25]      EM, p. [19].

[26]      Minister, House of Representatives Hansard, 14 September 2017, p. 10421.

[27]      NHAP and NSWFHA, Submission to the 2016' DSS consultation on improving the National Rental Affordability Scheme, p. 7.

[28]      NSWFHA, Submission 24, p. 9; NAHP, Submission 4, p. 5.

[29]      NAHP, Submission 4, p. 5.

[30]      Ms Carol Croce, Policy Officer, NAHP, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 11.

[31]      EM, p. [19].

[32]      EM, p. [20].

[33]      NAHP, Submission 5, p. 3–5.

[34]      DSS, Submission 1, p. 4.

[35]      HIA, Submission 5, p. 1.

[36]      See: Mr Paul Donovan, Director, MDS Legal, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, pp. 14–16; Mr Neil Henson, Director, Henson Property Management Pty Ltd, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, pp. 17–18;  MDS Legal, Submission 30, pp. 2–7; Henson Property Management Pty Ltd, Submission 29, pp. [1–2].

[37]      National Rental Affordability Scheme Regulations 2008 (NRAS Regulations), Division 2.

[38]      NRAS Regulations, para. 21A(2)(b).

[39]      NRAS Regulations, para. 21A(2)(c).

[40]      NRAS Regulations, para. 21A(2)(d).

Australian Labor Party Senators' Dissenting Report

[1]        Ms Genevieve Bolton, Chairperson, National Social Security Rights Network (NSSRN), Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 2.

[2]        Mr Roland Manderson, Deputy Director, Anglicare Australia, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 2.

[3]        Mr Adrian Pisarski, Executive Officer, National Shelter, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 6.

[4]        Ms Genevieve, Bolton, Chairperson, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 1.

[5]        Ms Genevieve, Bolton, Chairperson, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p 2.

[6]        Ms Joni Gear, Legal Project Officer, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 5.

[7]        National Shelter, Submission 3, p. 4.

[8]        Salvation Army, Submission 7, p. 1.

[9]        Submission 7, p. 3.

[10]      Ms Genevieve, Bolton, Chairperson, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 1.

[11]      Mr Adrian Pisarski, Executive Officer, National Shelter, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 10.

[12]      Ms Joni Gear, Legal Project Officer, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 6.

[13]      Mr Roland Manderson, Deputy Director, Anglicare Australia, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 5.

[14]      ibid, pp. 3-4.

[15]      National Affordable Housing Providers Ltd (NAHP). Submission 4, p.3.

[16]      Ms Carol Croce, Policy Officer, NAHP, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p.11.

[17]      New South Wales Federation of Housing Associations, Submission 24, p. 9.

[18]      NAHP, Submission 4, p. 5–6.

[19]      Department of Social Services, Submission 1, p. 4.

[20]      Mr Paul Donovan, Director, MDS Legal and Mr Neil Henson, Director, Henson Property Management Pty Ltd, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, pp.14-18.

Dissenting Report by the Australian Greens on Schedules 1 and 2 of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Housing Affordability) Bill 2017

[1]        Mr Roland Manderson, Anglicare Australia, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 3.

[2]        Mr Roland Manderson, Anglicare Australia, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 4.

[3]        Ms Genevieve Bolton, National Social Security Rights Network (NSSRN), Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 1. 

[4]        Ms Genevieve Bolton, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 4. 

[5]        Australian Council of Social Service, Submission 13, p. 2.

[6]        St Vincent de Paul Society, Submission 6, p. 4.

[7]        Mr Ned Cutcher, Tenants' Union of New South Wales (TUNSW), Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 7.

[8]        Mr Ned Cutcher, TUNSW, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 9.

[9]        Ms Genevieve Bolton, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 2. 

[10]      Homelessness Australia, Homelessness NSW and Council to Homeless Persons, Submission 16, pp. 2-3.

[11]      Ms Genevieve Bolton, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 2. 

[12]      Mr Ned Cutcher, TUNSW, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 10.

[13]      Mr Adrian Pisarski, National Shelter, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 10.

[14]      Ms Genevieve Bolton, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 2. 

[15]      Ms Joni Gear, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, pp. 5-6.

[16]      Ms Genevieve Bolton, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 2; Ms Joni Gear, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 5.

[17]      Ms Joni Gear, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 5.

[18]      Ms Genevieve Bolton, NSSRN, Committee Hansard, 14 November 2017, p. 2. 

[19]      National Association of Tenants Organisations (NATO), Submission 22, p. 5.

[20]      NATO, Submission 22, p. 5.

[21]      Submission 22, p. 6.

[22]      Submission 2, p. 5.