This bill became law on Nov 28th, 2023.
Welfare & housing
Employment and skills grants under Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. now have to be tied to a formally specified program, so the government cannot use that power for unnamed programs.
Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. let employment and skills grants be paid for unnamed programs, and public reporting did not clearly show which programs used the power or how much they got. The bill ties grants to specified programs, keeps them separate from social security payments, and requires annual reporting on each program and its total funding.
Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. of the Social Security ActThe main law being amended. On this page it is the Act that contains Chapter 2D and the rules around social security payments. began in April 2022 to authorise grants and arrangements aimed at helping people get and keep work and address labour shortages, but it also allowed spending on programs that did not have to be formally specified and did not clearly show the public which programs used that power or how much they received. The 2023 bill responded by tying Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. grants to named programs, keeping those payments outside ordinary social security payment rules, and requiring annual reporting, before Parliament passed the changes and they became law in November 2023.
The main criticism recorded was that the bill only makes narrow technical fixes and does not tackle bigger social security problems such as low payment rates and mutual obligation rules. That argument came from the Australian GreensThe minor party that moved the amendment calling for higher payments and an end to mutual obligation requirements. in a second-reading amendment, while no party represented in the debate opposed the bill itself.
Hon Tony Burke MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 28 Nov 2023
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
1 recorded amendment or procedural vote was found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.
Passage speed
117 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Employment and skills grants under Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. now have to be tied to a formally specified program, so the government cannot use that power for unnamed programs.
Money paid through these Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. employment and skills grants is not treated as a social security payment, which keeps it separate from normal benefit rules.
The Employment Department’s annual report must name each Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. program that was funded, making it easier for the public and Parliament to see which programs used this power.
The Employment Department’s annual report must also show the total amount paid under each Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. program, adding clearer public reporting on spending.
The bill keeps Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. available alongside the government’s broader supplementary spending law, so employment and skills programs can still be funded through this separate legal route.
(1A) However, the making, varying or administering of an arrangement or grant under subsection (1) must be for the purposes of a program that is specified in an instrument under subsection (1B).Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) as-passed bill text
(5A) A payment under an arrangement or grant referred to in subsection (1) is not a social security payment.Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) as-passed bill text
(a) the name of each program for which an arrangement or grant referred to in section 1062A was made, varied or administered in that period; andSocial Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) as-passed bill text
(b) in relation to each such program—the total of the amounts paid in that period under arrangements or grants referred to in section 1062A.Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) as-passed bill text
making clear that Chapter 2D operates concurrently with the FFSP Act.Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) explanatory memorandum
Context
Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. of the Social Security ActThe main law being amended. On this page it is the Act that contains Chapter 2D and the rules around social security payments. began in April 2022 to authorise grants and arrangements aimed at helping people get and keep work and address labour shortages, but it also allowed spending on programs that did not have to be formally specified and did not clearly show the public which programs used that power or how much they received. The 2023 bill responded by tying Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. grants to named programs, keeping those payments outside ordinary social security payment rules, and requiring annual reporting, before Parliament passed the changes and they became law in November 2023.
Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. spending power starts
Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. commenced as a legal authority for employment and skills grants and arrangements, including measures aimed at addressing labour shortages.
Hansard ↗Government moves to require named Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. programs
The bill was introduced with technical amendments to stop Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. being used for unnamed programs and to require clearer annual reporting on what was funded.
Hansard ↗House supports clearer reporting on employment grants
During second reading debate, speakers described the bill as a way to ensure spending authority for employment and skills programs operated in a more accountable form.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way for the tighter rules and reporting requirements on Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. programs to take effect.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe final step that turns a bill into an Act of Parliament. makes the changes law
Royal AssentThe final step that turns a bill into an Act of Parliament. turned the bill into an Act, locking in the requirement that Chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. funding be attached to specified programs and disclosed in annual reports.
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
Referred to Committee (10/08/2023): Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Committee report (31/08/2023)
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
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 bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
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 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.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final step that turns a bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism recorded was that the bill only makes narrow technical fixes and does not tackle bigger social security problems such as low payment rates and mutual obligation rules. That argument came from the Australian GreensThe minor party that moved the amendment calling for higher payments and an end to mutual obligation requirements. in a second-reading amendment, while no party represented in the debate opposed the bill itself.
No broader public case against the bill itself is clearly recorded.
Does not address deeper welfare policy problems
The clearest criticism was that the bill focuses on technical machinery for employment and skills spending while leaving larger problems untouched, especially the adequacy of payment rates and the continuation of mutual obligation requirementsThe job-search or activity conditions that some welfare recipients must meet to keep receiving payments or support..
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.
Recorded amendment and procedural votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
Senate
Defeated 12 to 33. Support came from GreensThe minor party that moved the amendment calling for higher payments and an end to mutual obligation requirements. and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and minor parties and independents.
The Senate rejected the proposed second-reading statement, so the bill was not changed by this vote.
These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Mr Tony Burke speaks to the bill, focusing on this bill makes some technical amendments to chapter 2DA part of the Social Security Act that lets the government fund employment and skills programs through grants and arrangements. of the Social Security ActThe main law being amended. On this page it is the Act that contains Chapter 2D and the rules around social security payments. which commenced in April 2022.
Read in Hansard ↗Fletcher says the opposition will support the bill because it is mainly technical and clarifies earlier social security changes made by the former coalition government.
Read in Hansard ↗Georganas supports the bill and says it will improve the efficiency and consistency of social security and employment support, helping Australians navigate the system more clearly.
Read in Hansard ↗Alicia Payne supports the bill, saying it makes useful technical fixes so spending on employment programs has clearer legislative authority and better helps people get and keep paid work.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
3 speakers · 2 support · 1 unclear
“I will be supporting this bill, and I'm hoping that everyone will be doing so, so we can reaffirm that shared commitment to a stronger and fairer Australia.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“While chapter 2D is achieving this purpose, its operation will be improved through the technical amendments in this bill. This bill ensures that chapter 2D continues in the best possible way to provide more streamlined legislative authority for spending aimed at supporting Australians to get and keep paid work.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill makes some technical amendments to chapter 2D of the Social Security Act which commenced in April 2022. Chapter 2D provides legislative authority for spending on grants and arrangements to help people obtain and maintain work, to address labour shortages, and for related purposes.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“I conclude by noting that the opposition recognises that this bill is largely technical in nature and seeks to make certain fairly technical amendments to an act passed under the previous government which embodied and gave effect to the policy of the previous government. I do also want to highlight that, on this side of the House, we will continue to remain vigilant and scrutinise attempts by this government to weaken the principle of mutual obligation. It's very clear that there is no real, deep or genuine support for that principle on that side of the House, from the government, and that is something that we will continue to be keeping a very close eye on. But, in the meantime, I indicate that the opposition, the Liberal-National coalition, will be supporting this bill.”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 · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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 · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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 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 · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
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 step that turns a bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Committee report (31/08/2023)
Referred to committee
Referred to Committee (10 Aug 2023): Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Committee report (31 Aug 2023)
APH bill page notes
