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Hansard
- Start of Business
- PETITIONS
- BUSINESS
- NOTICES
- INTERACTIVE GAMBLING AMENDMENT BILL 2001
- CENTENARY OF THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FLAG
- COMMITTEES
- AUSTRALIAN FLAG
- ASYLUM SEEKERS AND DETENTION CENTRES
- AUSTRALIA'S JOINT DEFENCE FACILITIES
- COMMITTEES
- BUDGET 2001-02
- COMMITTEES
- PHIL BOTHA MEMORIAL FUN RUN
- COMMITTEES
- STATES GRANTS (PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSISTANCE) AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 2001
- COMMITTEES
- WOOL INTERNATIONAL AMENDMENT BILL 2001
- FAMILY LAW LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (SUPERANNUATION) (CONSEQUENTIAL PROVISIONS) BILL 2001
- AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL CODE) BILL 2001
- HEALTH AND AGED CARE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL CODE) BILL 2001
- FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL CODE) BILL 2001
- INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL CODE) BILL 2001
- RECONCILIATION AND ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AFFAIRS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL CODE) BILL 2001
- BUSINESS
- TREASURY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL CODE) BILL (NO. 3) 2001
- CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 5) 2001
- INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CONVENTIONS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2001
- BUSINESS
- INNOVATION AND EDUCATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 2001
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
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Goods and Services Tax: Small Business
(Murphy, Sen Shayne, Kemp, Sen Rod) -
Refugees: Assistance
(Coonan, Sen Helen, Hill, Robert (Leader of the Government in the Senate)) -
Goods and Services Tax: Small Business
(Lundy, Sen Kate, Kemp, Sen Rod) -
Immigration: Policy
(Macdonald, Sen Sandy, Ellison, Sen Chris) -
Goods and Services Tax: Surveys
(Hogg, Sen John, Kemp, Sen Rod) -
Refugees: Norwegian Ship
(Bartlett, Sen Andrew, Hill, Robert (Leader of the Government in the Senate), Hill, Sen Robert) -
Goods and Services Tax: Amendments
(Forshaw, Sen Michael, Kemp, Sen Rod) -
Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) Airport: Sale
(Stott Despoja, Sen Natasha, Abetz, Sen Eric) -
Aged Care: Templestowe Private Nursing Home
(Evans, Sen Chris, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Christmas Island: Government Support
(Eggleston, Sen Alan, Macdonald, Sen Ian)
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Goods and Services Tax: Small Business
- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
- COMMONWEALTH-SOUTH AUSTRALIA ARRANGEMENT: ROCK LOBSTER FISHERY
- JAPANESE FISHING BOATS: SOUTHERN BLUEFISH TUNA
- COMMITTEES
- ROYAL COMMISSIONS AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2001
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WORKPLACE RELATIONS (REGISTERED ORGANISATIONS) BILL 2001
WORKPLACE RELATIONS (REGISTERED ORGANISATIONS) (CONSEQUENTIAL PROVISIONS) BILL 2001 - GOODS AND SERVICES TAX: SMALL BUSINESS
- LEAVE OF ABSENCE
- GOODS AND SERVICES TAX: SMALL BUSINESS
- PARLIAMENTARY ZONE
- DOCUMENTS
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INTELLIGENCE SERVICES BILL 2001
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES (CONSEQUENTIAL PROVISIONS) BILL 2001
CYBERCRIME BILL 2001 - ADJOURNMENT
- DOCUMENTS
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QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
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Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Programs and Grants to the Gwydir Electorate
(O'Brien, Sen Kerry, Alston, Sen Richard) -
Environment and Heritage Portfolio: Parliament House Employees
(Faulkner, Sen John, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Community Services Portfolio: Missing Computers
(Faulkner, Sen John, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Family and Community Services Portfolio: Missing Laptop Computers
(Faulkner, Sen John, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Disability Support Pensions
(Allison, Sen Lyn, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Torres Strait Baseline Study: Report
(Bourne, Sen Vicki, Hill, Sen Robert)
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Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Programs and Grants to the Gwydir Electorate
Page: 27159
Senator Allison
asked the Minister for Family and Community Services, upon notice, on 25 July 2001:
(1) Has Centrelink cut disability support pensions for disabled students who receive university scholarships intended for educational purposes only; if so, what is the rationale for such decisions.
(2) (a) How many students have been affected by this decision; and (b) how much has been cut.
(3) Does this mean that students from welfare backgrounds are effectively not entitled to scholarship assistance for fees, equipment, books, etc. without drastic reductions in their welfare benefits.
Senator Vanstone (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women)
—The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:
(1) Students and people with disabilities are treated no differently from any other person applying for income support. The income test counts gross income from all sources (including scholarships) unless specifically exempt. The income and assets tests ensure payments are targeted to those most in need, to keep the social security system affordable for taxpayers. The policy has not changed under this Government. In fact, this Government relaxed the income test for pensioners as part of the Tax Reform changes.
(2)(a) Centrelink recording systems do not enable this question to be answered.
(b) Centrelink recording systems do not enable this question to be answered.
(3) People on income support payments are always better off receiving additional income.
· The income test spreads the value of the scholarship over 12 months.
· A single pensioner can receive up to $112 a fortnight before their pension is reduced.
· Each dollar over this income free area is only reduced by 40 cents.
· A single pensioner can still receive up to $1,131.50 a fortnight ($29,419 a year) and still get a part pension.
· Reimbursements of costs such as for books, fees, photocopying and printing are not income for social security purposes.
· Pensioners are also eligible for additional assistance
- Pensioner Education Supplement of $62.40 a fortnight is paid at the full rate to a student with a disability, as long as they are doing no less than 25% of a full time study load
- Education Entry Payment of $208 once a year
- Mobility Allowance to assist disability support pensioners with transport.