House of Representatives

Explanatory Memorandum

Circulated By the Authority of the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin Mp

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This bill will provide for certain further Budget measures and other non-Budget measures, as described below.

Maternity immunisation allowance

The bill will make amendments for better alignment of maternity immunisation allowance with the National Immunisation Program by paying the allowance in two payments for children who meet the 18 month and four year-old immunisation requirements. It will also extend eligibility for the allowance to children adopted from outside Australia who enter Australia before turning 16 and who are immunised appropriately after arrival, and make minor modifications to the rules for determining entitlement to the allowance.

Partner service pension

Amendments to the Veterans' Entitlements' Act 1986 will give effect to the 2008-09 Budget measure to cease eligibility for partner service pension for those partners who are separated but not divorced from their veteran spouse, and who have not reached age pension age. Further amendments will set the eligible age at 50 years for partner service pension for the partner of a veteran who is in receipt of the equivalent of or less than special rate but above general rate disability pension or who has at least 80 impairment points under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 .

Child support

The bill will make minor amendments to the child support legislation, notably to address anomalies in relation to the child support formula reforms that commenced on 1 July 2008.

Financial impact statement