5594

2008

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

THE SENATE

 

 

 

 

 

Urgent Relief for Single Age Pensioners Bill 2008

 

 

(Amendments to be moved by the Leader of the Family First Party, Senator Fielding in committee of the whole)

(1)     Schedule 1, item 2, page 3 (line 11), omit “single”.

[extend pension increase to couples]

(2)     Schedule 1, item 2, page 3 (line 15), omit paragraph (1)(c).

[extend pension increase to couples]

(3)     Schedule 1, page 3 (after line 24), after item 2, insert:

2A  Section 117

Omit “A person’s disability support pension rate”, substitute “Subject to section 117A, a person’s disability support pension rate”.

2B  After section 117

Insert:

117A  Increased pension rate for disability support pensioners

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a person is qualified for the disability support pension under this Part; and

                     (b)  the disability support pension is payable to that person under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Division 4 of Part 3 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1991, the person’s disability support pension rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the person’s disability support pension rate calculated under section 117.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, the disability support pension rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

2C  Section 159

Omit “A woman’s wife pension rate”, substitute “Subject to section 160, a woman’s wife pension rate”.

2D  After section 159

Insert:

160  Increased wife pension rate

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a woman is qualified for the wife pension under this Part; and

                     (b)  the wife pension is payable to that woman under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Division 4 of Part 3 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1991, the woman’s wife pension rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the woman’s wife pension rate calculated under section 159.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, the wife pension rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

2E  Section 210

Omit “A person’s carer payment”, substitute “Subject to section 211, a person’s carer payment rate”.

2F  After section 210

Insert:

211  Increased carer payment rate

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a person is qualified for the carer payment under this Part; and

                     (b)  the carer payment is payable to that person under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Division 4 of Part 3 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1991, the person’s carer payment rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the person’s carer payment rate calculated under section 210.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, the carer payment rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

[increases to other pension and payment rates]

(4)     Schedule 1, page 4 (after line 15), after item 4, insert:

4A  Section 503

Omit “A person’s parenting payment rate”, substitute “Subject to section 503AAA, a person’s parenting payment rate”.

4B  After section 503

Insert:

503AAA  Increased parenting payment

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a person is qualified for the parenting payment under this Part; and

                     (b)  the parenting payment is payable to that person under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Division 4 of Part 3 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1991, the person’s parenting payment rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the person’s parenting payment rate calculated under section 503.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, the parenting payment rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

[increases to other pension and payment rates]

(5)     Schedule 1, page 4 (before line 17), before item 5, insert:

4C  Subsection 22(3)

Omit “$338.94”, substitute “$398.94”.

4D  Subsection 22(4)

Omit “$510.40”, substitute “$570.40”.

4E  Subsection 23(4)

Omit $619.80”, substitute “$679.80”.

4F  Subsection 24(4)

Omit “$919.40”, substitute “$979.40”.

4G  Paragraph 30(1)(a)

Omit “$312.10”, substitute “$372.10”.

[increases to other veterans’ pension rates]

(6)     Schedule 1, item 6, page 4 (line 22), omit “single”.

[extend pension increase to couples]

(7)     Schedule 1, item 6, page 4 (line 28), omit paragraph (1)(c).

[extend pension increase to couples]

(8)     Schedule 1, page 5 (after line 4), at the end of the Schedule, add:

7  Section 37N

Omit “A veteran’s invalidity service pension rate”, substitute “Subject to section 37P, a veteran’s invalidity service pension rate”.

8  After section 37N

Insert:

37P  Increased pension rate for invalidity service pensioners

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a veteran is qualified for the invalidity service pension under this Part; and

                     (b)  the invalidity service pension is payable to that veteran under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Part VIII, the veteran’s invalidity service pension rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the veteran’s invalidity service pension rate calculated under section 37N.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, the invalidity service pension rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

9  Section 38N

Omit “A person’s partner service pension rate”, substitute “Subject to section 38P, a person’s partner service pension rate”.

10  After section 38N

Insert:

38P  Increased pension rate for partner service pensioners

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a person is qualified for the partner service pension under this Part; and

                     (b)  the partner service pension is payable to that person under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Part VIII, the person’s partner service pension rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the person’s partner service pension rate calculated under section 38N.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, the partner service pension rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

11  Section 45S

Omit “The rate of income support supplement”, substitute “Subject to section 45SA, the rate of income support supplement”.

12  After section 45

Insert:

45SA  Increased income support supplement

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a person is qualified for the income support supplement under this Part; and

                     (b)  the income support supplement is payable to that person under this Part;

then, for the purpose of making payments under Part VIII the person’s income support supplement rate is worked out by adding an amount equivalent to $30 per week to the person’s income support supplement rate calculated under section 503.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, the income support supplement rate determined under this section is not to be used for any other purpose, including for the calculation of any other benefit or fee under this Act or any other Act.

 [increases to other veterans’ pension rates]