Second Reading Speech
Mr Morrison (Minister for Social Services)I move:
That this bill be now read a second time.
This bill reintroduces a 2015 budget measure previously introduced in the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Youth Employment and Other Measures) Bill 2015, which was negatived in the Senate on 9 September 2015.
The low-income supplement is an annual lump sum paid to independent adults in low-income households who met resident's income and tax requirements and who could show that they were not adequately assisted through the tax reform package and the household assistance measures set out with the introduction of the carbon price.
Very few claims for the low-income supplement have been received and it is administratively highly complex and costly to deliver. The low-income supplement will be ceased from 1 July 2017.
This initiative is part of an important suite of measures to support the sustainability of the social security system and the nation's budget.
I commend this bill to the House.