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Employment and Workplace Relations Amendment Bill 2008
WARNING:
This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced
and does not canvass subsequent amendments. This Digest does not have
any official legal status. Other sources should be consulted to determine
the subsequent official status of the Bill.
CONTENTS
Passage history
Purpose
Background
Financial implications
Main provisions
Concluding comments
Endnotes
Contact officer & copyright details
Date introduced: 3 December 2008
House: House of Representatives
Portfolio: Employment and Workplace Relations
Commencement: On Royal Assent except for certain parts of Schedule 2 as set out in clause 2 of the Bill.
Links: The relevant links to the Bill, Explanatory Memorandum and second reading speech can be accessed via BillsNet, which is at http://www.aph.gov.au/bills/. When Bills have been passed they can be found at ComLaw, which is at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/.
The Bill increases benefits payable in the event of a workplace death under the Australian government workers’ compensation scheme.
The Bill extends provisions preventing people seeking certain payments from being paid while an assurance of support is in force to Sickness Allowance or Parenting Payment (Single).
The Bill also changes incorrect references and clarifies the operation of certain provisions in the Social Security Act 1991.
The Bill has no financial impact. However the increased benefit payable under the government workers compensation scheme is anticipated to increase total Comcare premiums by about $6.1 million over 4 years.
The Bill only proposes minor and technical amendments, examples of which are as follows.
Item 2 of Schedule 1 inserts new section 13AA into the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988. This section provides for indexation using a wage-price index of compensation amounts for dependents of employees when a work-related death occurs. Currently, the Consumer Price Index is used for this, and it will continue to be used only in relation to indexing compensation in respect of funeral expenses.
Items 3 to 5 increase the amounts of compensation (death benefits) payable to dependents to match the amounts provided under state legislation. The lump sum benefit increases from the current amount of $225,594.33 to $400,000 in relation to a death that occurs at or after the date of commencement of this item. The weekly benefit for dependent children increases from $75.10 to $110 a week.
Item 13 of Schedule 2 amends section 500B of Social Security Act 1991 to prevent eligibility for Parenting Payment (Single) where an assurance of support is in force.
Item 14 adds new section 676A. The new section prevents eligibility for Sickness Allowance where an assurance for support is in force.
These changes mean that where a person has entered Australia subject to someone else undertaking to support them if needed, they will generally be unable to access income support in the form of Sickness Allowance or Parenting Payment (Single). All other income support payments are already covered by existing provisions excluding eligibility.
As the Bill only proposes minor and technical amendments, no
comments are made in this Digest.
Members, Senators and Parliamentary staff can obtain further information from the Parliamentary Library on (02) 6277 2410.
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