This bill became law on Aug 9th, 2022.
Budget, tax & economy
Small businesses and primary producers hit by Cyclone Seroja can keep eligible recovery grants tax-free, so more of the support money stays with them.
Cyclone Seroja left recovery grants exposed to tax, the closed Superannuation Complaints TribunalThe now-closed tribunal that used to decide superannuation complaints and whose old files and unfinished matters this bill transfers or redirects. left gaps for old records and appeals, and the new business registry rules were delayed because systems were not ready. The bill keeps those grants tax-free, shifts old super complaint functions to ASICThe corporate regulator that takes over custody of the old superannuation complaint records and can keep using them for legal and disclosure purposes. and AFCAThe external dispute resolution body that the bill sends some old superannuation appeal matters to for a fresh decision., postpones the registry start date, and adds tax exemptions tied to the Women’s World Cup.
After Tropical Cyclone Seroja hit Western Australia in April 2021, recovery grants risked being taxed, while unfinished superannuation transition rules and an unready business registry system left gaps around old complaint files, appeals and the start date for new registry laws. The bill bundled those fixes with tax exemptions for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, then passed in August 2022 so disaster payments stayed intact, ASICThe corporate regulator that takes over custody of the old superannuation complaint records and can keep using them for legal and disclosure purposes. and AFCAThe external dispute resolution body that the bill sends some old superannuation appeal matters to for a fresh decision. could handle legacy superannuation matters, and the registry changeover was pushed back.
The clearest recorded criticism was about the Senate-added corporate tax transparencyThe rule that makes some companies' tax information public, which was the focus of the main amendment dispute in the bill. and financial reporting changes, which risked forcing more private companies into public disclosure and extra reporting obligations. Coalition speakers said they did not oppose the original bill, but the opposition later opposed the bill as amended when the House considered the Senate amendments.
Stephen Jones MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 09 Aug 2022
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
2 recorded amendment or procedural votes were found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.
Passage speed
13 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Small businesses and primary producers hit by Cyclone Seroja can keep eligible recovery grants tax-free, so more of the support money stays with them.
ASICThe corporate regulator that takes over custody of the old superannuation complaint records and can keep using them for legal and disclosure purposes. takes over legal responsibility for records from the closed Superannuation Complaints TribunalThe now-closed tribunal that used to decide superannuation complaints and whose old files and unfinished matters this bill transfers or redirects., so old complaint files can still be managed and disclosed when needed.
The Federal Court can send unresolved legal appeals from old superannuation complaint decisions to the Australian Financial Complaints AuthorityThe external dispute resolution body that the bill sends some old superannuation appeal matters to for a fresh decision. for a fresh decision.
Australia’s business registry law changes are pushed back to 1 July 2026, so companies and other users are not forced onto rules before the computer systems are ready.
FIFAThe global football body that is given tax relief for tournament-related income under this bill. and its Australian Women’s World Cup company do not pay Australian income tax or withholding tax on tournament-related income from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2028.
In the 2021-2022 MYEFO, the then Government committed to making certain grants related to Cyclone Seroja non-assessable and non-exempt income for income tax purposes. This effectively increases the value of these grants for small businesses and primary producers recovering from the impacts of Cyclone Seroja.Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) explanatory memorandum
ASIC becomes the administrator of any document in possession of the SCT at the time of closure. [Schedule 2, item 2, subsection 33(2) of Schedule 3 to the AFCA Act]Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) explanatory memorandum
Without limiting the powers of the Federal Court, the provision provides that the Federal Court may make an order remitting the matter back to AFCA where this would have ordinarily been remitted back to the SCT. The determination will then be made by AFCA in accordance with the directions of the Federal Court. [Schedule 2, item 2, subsection 34(2) of Schedule 3 to the AFCA Act]Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) explanatory memorandum
It was not possible to complete the build of these systems by 22 June 2022 and the delay of the automatic commencement date to 1 July 2026 is intended to allow sufficient time so that the supporting legislation aligns with the IT delivery schedule.Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) explanatory memorandum
The effect of the Bill is that FIFA and FWWC2023 Pty Ltd are exempt from paying tax on ordinary or statutory income from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2028 inclusive, provided their income (ordinary or statutory) relates to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. [Schedule 3, item 3, section 50‑45 of the ITAA 1997]Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) explanatory memorandum
Context
After Tropical Cyclone Seroja hit Western Australia in April 2021, recovery grants risked being taxed, while unfinished superannuation transition rules and an unready business registry system left gaps around old complaint files, appeals and the start date for new registry laws. The bill bundled those fixes with tax exemptions for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, then passed in August 2022 so disaster payments stayed intact, ASICThe corporate regulator that takes over custody of the old superannuation complaint records and can keep using them for legal and disclosure purposes. and AFCAThe external dispute resolution body that the bill sends some old superannuation appeal matters to for a fresh decision. could handle legacy superannuation matters, and the registry changeover was pushed back.
Tropical Cyclone Seroja hits Western Australia
The cyclone devastated communities in Western Australia and led to recovery grants of up to $25,000 for affected primary producers and small businesses.
Hansard ↗Government introduces a bill to fix disaster grants, legacy super files and registry delays
The second reading speech said the bill would keep Cyclone Seroja recovery grants tax-free, move old Superannuation Complaints TribunalThe now-closed tribunal that used to decide superannuation complaints and whose old files and unfinished matters this bill transfers or redirects. records to ASICThe corporate regulator that takes over custody of the old superannuation complaint records and can keep using them for legal and disclosure purposes., let appeals be remitted to AFCAThe external dispute resolution body that the bill sends some old superannuation appeal matters to for a fresh decision., delay the registry law start date and add Women’s World Cup tax exemptions.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses agreed on the final form of the package, including Senate amendments, completing its passage through Parliament.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe final approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. makes the package law
Royal AssentThe final approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. turned the bill into an Act so the tax relief, superannuation transition fixes, registry delay and tournament tax exemptions could take legal effect.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber. Later message exchanges with the other chamber were still recorded afterwards.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber considered amendments before the bill moved to the next stage.
Committee of the Whole debate
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The House dealt with Senate amendments or requests so both chambers could settle the bill in the same form.
Consideration of Senate message
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The clearest recorded criticism was about the Senate-added corporate tax transparencyThe rule that makes some companies' tax information public, which was the focus of the main amendment dispute in the bill. and financial reporting changes, which risked forcing more private companies into public disclosure and extra reporting obligations. Coalition speakers said they did not oppose the original bill, but the opposition later opposed the bill as amended when the House considered the Senate amendments.
Most criticism went to added reporting measures, not the bill’s main disaster, superannuation or registry fixes.
Extra disclosure and reporting burden
The main identifiable objection was to the bill’s added corporate tax transparencyThe rule that makes some companies' tax information public, which was the focus of the main amendment dispute in the bill. and financial reporting measures, on the basis that they could pull more proprietary companies into public tax disclosure and annual reporting requirements, increasing compliance and exposure for affected firms.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.
House
Passed 86 to 55. Support came from Labor, Greens, Centre Alliance, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party and Nationals. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The proposed change was agreed.
The House agreed to the amendments made by the Senate, so the bill could pass both chambers in the same form.
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
Senate
Passed 37 to 27. Support came from Labor, Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network, One Nation, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party and Nationals. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The chamber agreed to a package that narrowed the reach of the bill's transparency and reporting changes before the bill's final passage.
The APH progress record says 4 Australian Greens amendments were agreed without a counted division being collected by this run.
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
The Senate Journal records this outcome as defeated on voices.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.
The parliamentary record also shows 4 Australian Greens amendments agreed without a counted division.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Jones supports the bill, saying it will provide certainty about tax obligations and benefit entitlements, reduce Commonwealth risk from unclear laws, and fix technical and transitional problems across the Treasury portfolio.
Read in Hansard ↗Davey says the opposition supports the bill because it is a non-controversial, mechanical change that stops disaster recovery grants being treated as taxable income, but she criticises the government for using Senate time on it instead of bringing forward a stronger economic plan.
Read in Hansard ↗O'Neill supports the bill and says it will help cyclone-affected businesses by making disaster grants tax-free, while also fixing superannuation complaint-handling and FIFAThe global football body that is given tax relief for tournament-related income under this bill. World Cup tax arrangements.
Read in Hansard ↗Stewart supports the bill and says it will provide certainty for tax and benefit rules, help Cyclone Seroja recovery grants and Superannuation Complaints TribunalThe now-closed tribunal that used to decide superannuation complaints and whose old files and unfinished matters this bill transfers or redirects. arrangements, and delay the business register transfer while the project is fixed.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
5 speakers · 6 contributions · 5 support
“What we are going to do—and I am hopeful that this legislation will pass this place—is this. The new law says that grants provided under category C of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018 to small businesses and primary producers with a farm enterprise of any size that were affected by Cyclone Seroja are non-assessable and non-exempt income for income tax purposes, meaning that they are not subject to income tax.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In conclusion, I commend this bill to the House and I commend the measures contained in it. I particularly commend the support that this bill will provide to help Australia and New Zealand host a successful 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) Bill 2022 is going to provide certainty to stakeholders about their tax obligations and benefit entitlements, reduce risks to the Commonwealth associated with uncertainty in existing laws and limit the retrospective application of proposed new laws—I can see them going wild!”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Katy Gallagher on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Gallagher supports the bill and says it will give certainty about tax and entitlement rules, help affected communities recover, and fix a range of Treasury law and administrative issues. She also notes the retrospective changes to the business registers program are needed because the project has fallen badly behind schedule.
“This Bill will provide certainty to stakeholders about their tax obligations and benefit entitlements, reduce risks to the Commonwealth associated with uncertainty in existing laws and limit the retrospective application of proposed new laws.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Gallagher supports the bill, saying it delivers tax relief for cyclone recovery grants, helps complete the transition to the Australian Financial Complaints AuthorityThe external dispute resolution body that the bill sends some old superannuation appeal matters to for a fresh decision., supports the FIFAThe global football body that is given tax relief for tournament-related income under this bill. Women's World Cup arrangements, and makes minor Treasury law fixes.
“Schedule 5 of this bill amends various laws in the Treasury portfolio to ensure that those laws operate in accordance with the policy intent, make minor policy changes to improve administrative outcomes or remedy unintended consequences, and correct technical or drafting defects. The amendments have been identified by Treasury portfolio agencies, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and policy divisions within Treasury. This includes amendments that clarify the law to ensure it operates in accordance with the policy intent, make minor policy changes to improve administrative outcomes or remedy unintended consequences, and correct technical or drafting defects.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“I, too, rise to speak on the Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) Bill 2022. I begin by noting the wide support in the chamber for this bill, including amongst the opposition. I note Senator Davey's support, particularly for schedule 1, which is incredibly important in making sure that people affected by the devastating Cyclone Seroja, which hit parts of WA last year, are able to receive the full amount of relief funding without losing that much-needed relief in their tax returns.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
3 speakers · 3 support
“In saying that, we support the bill, and I commend the bill to the chamber.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The opposition welcomes the Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) Bill 2022 to the extent that it extends and implements key measures of the former government's economic plan. This bill delivers key measures of the former coalition government's commitment to provide cost-of-living relief to disaster-affected communities, to support women's sport and to cut red tape for business. The bill brings together a number of Treasury measures which were included in bills that lapsed at the election. I note that the opposition will be supporting the bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“So, while we do not oppose this bill, as it continues a lot of good work of the previous coalition government, we call upon the government once again to outline a plan to address the challenges facing Australia's economy.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Committee of the whole: amendments considered
Amendment packages agreed
The chamber considered amendments before the bill moved to the next stage.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
House · Message from Senate reported
Message from Senate reported
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Consideration of Senate message
House agreed to Senate amendments
The House dealt with Senate amendments or requests so both chambers could settle the bill in the same form.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
