Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2012 (No. 3)

Administered by Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Legislation au F2012L00594 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2012 (No. 3)

as amended

made under subsection 106lL (2) of the

Social Security Act 1991

This compilation was prepared on 20 April 2012
taking into account amendments up to  Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Amendment Determination 2012 (No. 2)

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
AttorneyGeneral’s Department, Canberra

Contents

 1 Name of Determination [see Note 1]

 2 Commencement [see Note 1]

 3 Definitions 

 4 Person adversely affected by a major disaster 

Schedule 1 Major disaster [see Note 2]

Schedule 2 Circumstances in which person adversely affected 

Notes   

 

 

 

1 Name of Determination [see Note 1]

  This Determination is the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2012 (No. 3).

2 Commencement [see Note 1]

  This Determination commences on the day after it is registered.

3 Definitions

 (1) In this Determination:

Act means the Social Security Act 1991.

destroyed, for a place of residence, includes a residence damaged to the extent that it must be demolished.

immediate family member, of a person, means:

 (a) the person’s partner; or

 (b) the person’s natural child, adoptive child or stepchild; or

 (c) the person’s natural parent, adoptive parent or stepparent; or

 (d) the person’s legal guardian; or

 (e) the person’s brother, sister, stepbrother or stepsister.

Note   This term is used in a different sense to that used in the Act.

major damage, for a residence, means:

 (a) damage to at least a quarter of the interior of the residence; or

 (b) that the residence is structurally unsound; or 

 (c) damage to the residence that exposes at least a quarter of the interior of the residence to the elements; or

 (d) sewage contamination of the interior of the residence, or of the water supply to the residence.

seriously injured, for a person, means:

 (a) the person has sustained an injury; and

 (b) because of the injury:

 (i) the person was admitted to hospital; or

 (ii) under normal circumstances, the person would have been admitted to hospital.

utility service means one of the following services:

 (a) water;

 (b) electricity; 

 (c) gas;

 (d) sewerage.

 (2) In this Determination:

 (a) a place of residence is a person’s principal place of residence if the person regularly lives at the place with a degree of settled purpose and the person has a lawful right to reside at the place; and

 (b) it is possible for a person to have more than one principal place of residence; and

 (c) a prison or place of detention is not a principal place of residence; and

 (d) a secondary residence used for holidays is not a principal place of residence.

4 Person adversely affected by a major disaster

  For subsection 1061L (2) of the Act, a person is adversely affected by a major disaster mentioned in Schedule 1 if the person is affected in a way mentioned in Schedule 2.

Note   Subsection 36 (1) of the Social Security Act 1991 allows the Minister to determine, in writing, that an event is a major disaster if the event is a disaster that has such significant impact on individuals that a government response is required.

Schedule 1 Major disaster [see Note 2]

 

  The flooding that began on 26 February 2012 which affected the Victorian Local Government Areas of Moira and Greater Shepparton is a major disaster.

Schedule 2 Circumstances in which person adversely affected

 

  A person is adversely affected by a major disaster mentioned in Schedule 1 if:

 (a) as a direct result of the disaster:

 (i) the person is seriously injured; or

 (ii) the person is an immediate family member of an Australian who is killed; or

 (iii) the person’s principal place of residence has been destroyed or has sustained major damage; or

 (iv) the person is unable to gain access to his or her principal place of residence for at least 24 hours because:

  (A)  access to the place of residence is cut off; or

  (B)  the person is unable to leave a place affected by the disaster;

 (v) the person is stranded in his or her principal place of residence for at least 24 hours, or

 (b) as a result of the disaster, the person’s principal place of residence was without a particular utility service for a continuous period of 48 hours; or

 (c) the person is the principal carer of a child to whom paragraph (a) or (b) applies.

Notes to the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2012 (No. 3)

Note 1

The Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2012 (No. 3) (in force under subsection 106lL (2) of the Social Security Act 1991) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Instruments

Title

Date of FRLI registration

Date of
commencement

Application, saving or
transitional provisions

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2012 (No. 3)

16 Mar 2012 (see F2012L00594)

17 Mar 2012

 

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Amendment Determination 2012 (No. 2)

19 Apr 2012 (see F2012L00889)

20 Apr 2012

Note 2

Schedule 1 — Schedule 1 [item 1] of the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Amendment Determination 2012 (No. 2) provides as follows:

[1] Schedule 1

insert

Indigo and Towong

The proposed amendment was misdescribed and is not incorporated in this compilation.

 

 

Overview

The Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2012 (No. 3) was enacted to provide financial assistance to individuals adversely affected by a major disaster, as defined in the Social Security Act 1991. This determination was made under subsection 106lL(2) of the Act and was introduced to address the financial hardships faced by those directly impacted by significant disasters that require a government response. The policy objective is to offer timely support to those who have suffered serious injury, lost a family member, had their home destroyed or severely damaged, or were otherwise directly affected by the disaster. The determination came into effect on 17 March 2012, following its registration, and was specifically applied to the flooding in the Victorian Local Government Areas of Moira and Greater Shepparton beginning on 26 February 2012.

Scope and Application

The Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2012 (No. 3) applies to individuals who have been adversely affected by a major disaster, as defined in the attached schedules. This legislation, made under the Social Security Act 1991, provides for payments to be made to those who have suffered as a result of a major disaster, such as the flooding in the Victorian Local Government Areas of Moira and Greater Shepparton beginning on 26 February 2012. The Act applies to individuals who have been seriously injured, are an immediate family member of an Australian who has been killed, have had their principal place of residence destroyed or severely damaged, or are unable to access their residence due to the disaster, among other criteria. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, as it applies across Australia. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions, but the Minister can determine in writing if an event qualifies as a major disaster. The application of this Act can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2012 (No. 3) (the Determination) outlines the criteria for a person to be adversely affected by a major disaster for the purposes of receiving a disaster recovery payment under the Social Security Act 1991. Specifically, section 4 of the Determination defines what it means for a person to be adversely affected by a major disaster, which includes being seriously injured, being an immediate family member of an Australian who is killed, having one's principal place of residence destroyed or severely damaged, being unable to access one's residence, being stranded in one's residence, or having one's residence without a utility service for 48 hours. Schedule 1 identifies the flooding in the Victorian Local Government Areas of Moira and Greater Shepparton on 26 February 2012 as a major disaster, while Schedule 2 provides more detailed circumstances in which a person may be adversely affected by the disaster. The Determination imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Firstly, it requires the Minister for Social Services to determine whether an event is a major disaster if it has a significant impact on individuals such that a government response is required. Secondly, it requires affected individuals to meet the specified criteria for being adversely affected by the disaster in order to be eligible for a disaster recovery payment. Thirdly, it requires the affected individual to provide evidence of their eligibility for the payment, such as proof of serious injury, death of an immediate family member, or damage to their principal place of residence. Finally, it requires the affected individual to lodge a claim for the payment within the specified timeframe. Breaching the obligations imposed by the Determination may result in civil or criminal consequences. For example, providing false or misleading information in order to obtain a disaster recovery payment may result in a fine of up to $22,200 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, under section 116 of the Social Security Act 1991. Additionally, failing to meet the eligibility criteria for the payment may result in the payment being withheld or repaid. It is important to note that the maximum penalties for breaching the Act are set out in section 124 of the Act and may vary depending on the nature and seriousness of the offence.

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