Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4)

Administered by Department of Home Affairs

Legislation au F2013L00164 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4)

as amended

made under subsection 1061L(2) of the

Social Security Act 1991

Compilation start date:  21 February 2013

Includes amendments up to: Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Amendment Determination 2013 (No. 7)

About this compilation

The compiled instrument

This is a compilation of the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4) as amended and in force on 21 February 2013. It includes any amendment affecting the compiled instrument to that date.

This compilation was prepared on 16 April 2013.

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending Acts and instruments and the amendment history of each amended provision.

Uncommenced provisions and amendments

If a provision of the compiled instrument is affected by an uncommenced amendment, the text of the uncommenced amendment is set out in the endnotes.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for amendments

If the operation of an amendment is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision, the provision is identified in the endnotes.

Modifications

If a provision of the compiled instrument is affected by a textual modification that is in force, the text of the modifying provision is set out in the endnotes.

Provisions ceasing to have effect

If a provision of the compiled instrument has expired or otherwise ceased to have effect in accordance with a provision of the instrument, details of the provision are set out in the endnotes.

 

 

 

 

 

Contents

1 Name of determination

3 Definitions

4 Person adversely affected by a major disaster

Schedule 1—Major disaster

Schedule 2—Circumstances in which person adversely affected

Endnotes

Endnote 1—Legislation history

Endnote 2—Amendment history

Endnote 3—Uncommenced amendments [none]

Endnote 4—Misdescribed amendments

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Amendment Determination 2013 (No. 7)

1  Name of determination

  This determination is the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4).

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 a significant impact on individuals that a government response is required.

Schedule 1—Major disaster

 

The severe weather, rainfall and associated flooding that occurred as a result of exTropical Cyclone Oswald that commenced on 27 January 2013 and continued in February 2013 and affected the Local Government Area of Clarence Valley.

 

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.

 

Endnotes

 

Endnote 1—Legislation history

This endnote sets out details of the legislation history of the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4).

 

Title

FRLI registration date

Commencement
date

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4)

6 Feb 2013 (see F2013L00164)

7 Feb 2013

 

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Amendment Determination 2013 (No. 7)

20 Feb 2013 (see F2013L00240)

21 Feb 2013

 

 

Endnote 2—Amendment history

This endnote sets out the amendment history of the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4).

 

ad. = added or inserted    am. = amended    rep. = repealed    rs. = repealed and substituted    exp. = expired or ceased to have effect

Provision affected

How affected

s 2..................... 

rep LIA s 48D

Schedule 1

 

Schedule 1................ 

see Endnote 4

 

Endnote 3—Uncommenced amendments [none]

There are no uncommenced amendments.

 

Endnote 4—Misdescribed amendments

This endnote sets out amendments of the Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4) that have been misdescribed.

Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Amendment Determination 2013 (No. 7)

Schedule 1

[1] Schedule 1

 

Omit everything after

 

continued in January 2013

 

Insert

 

and February 2013 and affected the Local Government Area of Clarence Valley and the township of Tumbulgum.

 

 

 

Overview

The Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4), as amended, was enacted to provide financial assistance to individuals adversely affected by major disasters, specifically the severe weather, rainfall, and associated flooding resulting from ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in January and February 2013 in the Clarence Valley Local Government Area. This legislative instrument was made under subsection 1061L(2) of the Social Security Act 1991 by the Minister for Social Services in accordance with the Act's provision that allows the Minister to declare certain events as major disasters warranting government response. The policy objective of this determination is to offer timely and necessary support to those individuals who have suffered significant impacts due to the disaster, such as serious injury, loss of a loved one, destruction or severe damage to their residence, or being unable to access their residence or utility services for extended periods. The determination outlines specific circumstances under which a person may be considered adversely affected by the disaster, including being seriously injured, being an immediate family member of a deceased Australian, having a residence destroyed or severely damaged, being unable to access their residence, or being the principal carer of a child who meets the criteria. This legislative instrument aims to ensure that those who are most affected by the disaster receive the necessary financial support to aid in their recovery and rehabilitation.

Scope and Application

The Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4), as amended, applies to individuals adversely affected by the severe weather, rainfall, and associated flooding resulting from ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald, which commenced on 27 January 2013 and continued into February 2013, specifically impacting the Local Government Area of Clarence Valley. This legislation is made under subsection 1061L(2) of the Social Security Act 1991 and aims to provide financial assistance to those who have suffered significant impacts due to the disaster. The determination includes definitions for key terms such as "major damage" and "seriously injured," and outlines the circumstances under which a person is considered adversely affected by the disaster, including direct injury, loss of life in the immediate family, destruction or major damage to their principal place of residence, or disruption of essential utility services for 48 hours. This determination is geographically focused on the Clarence Valley region and is in effect as of 21 February 2013, with subsequent amendments extending its application and clarifying certain provisions.

Key Provisions

The Social Security (Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment) Determination 2013 (No. 4) provides for a payment to individuals who have been adversely affected by a major disaster, specifically the severe weather, rainfall and associated flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in January and February 2013. This determination identifies the circumstances under which a person may be considered adversely affected by such a disaster (sections 4 and Schedule 2). A person is considered adversely affected if they are seriously injured, are an immediate family member of an Australian killed in the disaster, their principal place of residence has been destroyed or sustained major damage, they are unable to access their residence for at least 24 hours, they are stranded in their residence for at least 24 hours, their residence lacked a utility service for 48 hours, or they are the principal carer of a child meeting any of these criteria. The Act imposes obligations on the affected individuals to provide necessary documentation to prove their eligibility for the disaster recovery payment. This includes evidence of their identity, proof of residence, and documentation showing how they have been adversely affected by the disaster (section 4). The Act also requires the Australian Government to process these claims efficiently and to make payments within a reasonable timeframe to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Breach of any provisions within this determination may lead to civil or criminal consequences. For example, knowingly providing false information to obtain the disaster recovery payment can result in penalties. The maximum penalty for providing false information can include fines and, in some cases, imprisonment. It is essential for claimants to provide accurate and truthful information to avoid any legal repercussions. The specific penalties are not detailed within this determination but would typically be outlined in the overarching Social Security Act 1991.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Social Security Law
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Offence Provisions
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

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.