Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (2008 Budget and Other Measures) Act 2009

Administered by Department of Social Services

Legislation au C2009A00048 In force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (2008 Budget and Other Measures) Act 2009

 

No. 48, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend the law relating to family assistance and social security, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—Streamlining payment of family tax benefit

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999

Schedule 2—Review of income management regime decisions

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999

Schedule 3—Community Development Employment Projects Scheme

Social Security Act 1991

 

 

 

Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (2008 Budget and Other Measures) Act 2009

No. 48, 2009

 

 

 

An Act to amend the law relating to family assistance and social security, and for related purposes

[Assented to 24 June 2009]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (2008 Budget and Other Measures) Act 2009.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

24 June 2009

2.  Schedule 1, items 1 to 6

1 July 2009.

1 July 2009

3.  Schedule 1, item 7

The day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

24 June 2009

4.  Schedule 1, items 8 to 15

1 July 2009.

1 July 2009

5.  Schedule 1, item 16

The day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

24 June 2009

6.  Schedule 2

The day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

24 June 2009

7.  Schedule 3

1 July 2009.

1 July 2009

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally passed by both Houses of the Parliament and assented to. It will not be expanded to deal with provisions inserted in this Act after assent.

 (2) Column 3 of the table contains additional information that is not part of this Act. Information in this column may be added to or edited in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.


Schedule 1—Streamlining payment of family tax benefit

 

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999

1  Subclause 20(3) of Schedule 1

Repeal the subclause.

A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999

2  Subsection 3(1) (paragraph (c) of the definition of agency)

Repeal the paragraph.

3  Subsection 3(1) (paragraph (c) of the definition of head)

Repeal the paragraph.

4  Subsection 3(1) (paragraph (b) of the definition of protected information)

Omit “the Australian Taxation Office or”.

5  Subsection 10(5)

Repeal the subsection.

6  Section 14

Before “If,”, insert “(1)”.

7  Paragraph 14(b)

Omit “the income year (the past period income year)”, substitute “an income year (the past period income year) that is one of the 2 income years”.

8  Paragraphs 14(c) and (d)

Repeal the paragraphs, substitute:

 (c) either or both of subsections (2) and (3) apply;

9  Section 14

Omit “the assessment”, substitute “each assessment concerned”.

10  At the end of section 14

Add:

 (2) This subsection applies if:

 (a) the claimant is required to lodge an income tax return for the past period income year; and

 (b) at the time the claim is made, an assessment has not been made under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 of the tax payable on the claimant’s taxable income for the past period income year.

 (3) This subsection applies if:

 (a) at the time the claim is made, a person is the claimant’s partner and that person was the claimant’s partner at any time during the past period; and

 (b) that person is required to lodge an income tax return for the past period income year; and

 (c) at the time the claim is made, an assessment has not been made under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 of the tax payable on that person’s taxable income for the past period income year.

11  Paragraph 118(1)(d)

Repeal the paragraph.

12  Saving—past period family tax benefit claims through the Australian Taxation Office

The A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999, as in force immediately before the commencement of this item, continues to apply on and after that commencement in relation to:

 (a) claims made before that commencement:

 (i) for payment of family tax benefit for a past period; and

 (ii) in a form approved by an officer of the Australian Taxation Office for the purposes of subsection 7(2) of that Act, acting under a delegation from the Secretary under section 221 of that Act; and

 (b) decisions made under that Act, in relation to such claims, by officers of the Australian Taxation Office (whether those decisions were made before, on or after that commencement).

13  Saving—effect of maintenance income on family tax benefit rate

Despite the repeal of subclause 20(3) of Schedule 1 to the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 made by this Schedule, that subclause, as in force immediately before the commencement of this item, continues to apply on and after that commencement in relation to claims made before that commencement.

14  Saving—protected information

Despite the amendment made by item 4, paragraph (b) of the definition of protected information in subsection 3(1) of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999, as in force immediately before the commencement of that item, continues to apply on and after that commencement in relation to information obtained (whether before, on or after that commencement) that is or was held in the records of the Australian Taxation Office.

15  Application—items 6, 8, 9 and 10

The amendments made by items 6, 8, 9 and 10 apply in relation to claims for payment of family tax benefit for a past period falling in the 200910 income year or a later income year.

16  Application—item 7

The amendment made by item 7 applies in relation to claims made on or after the commencement of that item.


Schedule 2—Review of income management regime decisions

 

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999

1  Paragraph 144(ka)

Repeal the paragraph.

2  Saving

Despite the repeal of paragraph 144(ka) of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 made by this Schedule, that paragraph, as in force immediately before the commencement of this item, continues to apply on and after that commencement in relation to decisions made before that commencement.


Schedule 3—Community Development Employment Projects Scheme

 

Social Security Act 1991

1  Subsections 1188B(1) and (2)

Repeal the subsections, substitute:

 (1) If immediately before 1 July 2009 a person was entitled to receive a CDEP Scheme payment under an agreement of the kind referred to in the definition of CDEP Scheme provider in subsection 23(1), the person is a CDEP Scheme participant in respect of a day on or after 1 July 2009 if the person is entitled, on that day, to receive such a payment under such an agreement.

Note: For CDEP Scheme payment see subsection 23(1).

2  Subsection 1188B(3)

Repeal the subsection.

 

 

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 18 March 2009

Senate on 15 June 2009]

(36/09)

 

Overview

The Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (2008 Budget and Other Measures) Act 2009 was enacted to amend existing laws related to family assistance and social security, responding to measures proposed in the 2008 Budget. This Act was assented to by the Parliament of Australia on 24 June 2009 and addresses various aspects of family assistance and social security through amendments to specified Acts. The Act streamlines the payment of family tax benefits, reviews the income management regime, and modifies the Community Development Employment Projects Scheme, aiming to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of social security services while addressing specific gaps identified in the existing legislative framework. The amendments aim to ensure that social security measures are aligned with the government's policy objectives and budgetary measures.

Scope and Application

The Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (2008 Budget and Other Measures) Act 2009 is an Act of the Commonwealth of Australia, enacted to amend various pieces of legislation concerning family assistance and social security. The Act applies to individuals and entities involved in the administration and receipt of family assistance and social security payments. It also applies to the conduct and transactions that are governed by the specified Acts it amends, including the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999, the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999, and the Social Security Act 1991. The Act's amendments generally apply to claims made on or after its commencement, with specific provisions having different effective dates as noted in the commencement table. Notably, the Act does not apply retrospectively, maintaining the previous laws for decisions made or claims lodged before its effective dates. The Act includes savings provisions to ensure that certain previous decisions and claims remain unaffected by the amendments. The scope and application of the Act are further extended through subordinate instruments, which may provide additional details or clarifications on the implementation of the legislative changes.

Key Provisions

The Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (2008 Budget and Other Measures) Act 2009 (C2009A00048) primarily amends several acts related to family assistance and social security. This Act consists of three schedules, each targeting different aspects of the existing legislative framework. The first schedule focuses on streamlining the payment of family tax benefits. It makes several amendments to the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 and the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999. For instance, it repeals certain subclauses and subsections, such as subclause 20(3) of Schedule 1 to the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999, and paragraph (c) of the definition of protected information in subsection 3(1) of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999. Additionally, it introduces new provisions to adjust the application of certain subsections to claims made in specific income years. Entities governed by these amendments must ensure compliance with the new provisions when processing claims for family tax benefits. For example, under the revised section 14 of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999, officers must consider specific conditions regarding the claimant and their partner's income tax assessments. The Australian Taxation Office must also adhere to the savings provisions, which ensure that certain pre-existing rules continue to apply to claims and decisions made before the commencement of these amendments. The Act imposes civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance, although specific penalties are not detailed within the Act itself. However, general legislative frameworks governing family assistance and social security would apply, which could include fines or other penalties as prescribed by the relevant Acts. Additionally, the second schedule repeals a specific paragraph in the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 but includes a saving provision to ensure that decisions made before the repeal continue to be governed by the previous rules. The third schedule amends the Social Security Act 1991 concerning the Community Development Employment Projects Scheme, repealing certain subsections and introducing new provisions to clarify the eligibility criteria for CDEP Scheme participants. Entities involved in administering the CDEP Scheme must update their practices to align with these changes, ensuring that only eligible participants receive payments as per the new criteria. Non-compliance with these amended provisions could result in civil or criminal penalties, although the specifics are not detailed in the Act and would be subject to the broader legislative context.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Social Security Law
Family Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Savings Provisions
Compliance Obligations

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.