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)

Outline and financial impact

This bill gives effect to an important element of the Australian Government's strategy for addressing homelessness, announced in its White Paper, The Road Home: a National Approach to Reducing Homelessness , which was released in December 2008.

This measure enables weekly payments for a 'class of persons' who receive a social security periodic payment, family tax benefit or baby bonus and is intended to include people who are assessed as being vulnerable, such as those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

This bill provides for weekly payments under the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to come into effect on the commencement of the legislative instrument defining 'vulnerable customers'.

This legislation also updates the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 to enable the Government to introduce weekly payments for family tax benefit and baby bonus payments at a later date if evaluation of the social security measure indicates that extension of weekly payments to this customer group is warranted.

Minor technical corrections are also being made.

Financial impact statement

In fiscal balance terms, there are no administered costs for this initiative. Departmental costs will be absorbed within existing resources by the responsible departments.