EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Trust Deed, Reporting and Audit Requirements) (DEWR) Determination 2006

Summary

The Social Security (Special Disability Trust – Trust Deed, Reporting and Audit Requirements) (DEWR) Determination 2006 (the Determination) is made under subsections 1209P(2), 1209S(4) and 1209T(7) of the Social Security Act 1991 (the Act). The Determination has three purposes. Firstly, it allows the Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to specify certain matters in regard to the form and provisions to be used in a trust deed for it to qualify as a Special Disability Trust. Secondly, it sets out certain matters in regard to the annual financial reports of a trust and, thirdly, it sets out certain matters in regard to the auditing of Special Disability Trusts.

The Determination is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

Part 1—Preliminary

Part 1 sets out the preliminary information about the Determination, namely, the name of the determination (section 1.1), commencement (section 1.2) and definitions (section 1.3).

Part 2 – Trust Deed Requirements

Section 2.1 provides that for the purposes of paragraph 1209P(2)(a), a trust that wishes to qualify as a Special Disability Trust must be in the form of the “model trust deed”.  This is a term defined in section 1.3 and refers to a booklet published by the Department of Families, Communities and Indigenous Affairs, which sets out the preferred model trust deed for a Special Disability Trust.

Section 2.2 provides a list of clauses from the “model trust deed” that are mandatory to be included in any trust deed that wishes to qualify as a Special Disability Trust (paragraph 1209P(2)(b)).  These clauses must be used in the form set out in the “model trust deed” (paragraph 1209P(2)(c)).

Section 2.3 provides that, for the purposes of paragraph 1209P(2)(d) of the Act, a trust deed of a Special Disability Trust cannot contain any clause that is inconsistent, or overrides, the operation of any of the clauses listed in the table in subsection 2.2(1).

Part 3 – Reporting requirements

Section 3.1 provides that, for the purposes of paragraph 1209S(2)(a) of the Act, the financial statements of a Special Disability Trust must be prepared by a person who is a member of CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia or the National Institute of Accountants, or is an employee of a trustee corporation and who is engaged to work as an accountant or financial planner.  The person preparing the statements is not to be an immediate family member of the principal or residuary beneficiary or a trustee of the trust.

Section 3.2 provides that, for subsection 1209S(3), the financial statements about the trust must include, for the relevant financial year, a profit and loss statement, a balance sheet (with applicable notes) and, if necessary, a depreciation schedule for each class of assets held by the trust.  The financial statements must comply with relevant Australian Accounting Standards and give a true and fair view of the trust’s position as at 30 June in the relevant year.  The financial statements must include a statement that all amounts paid out of the trust (other than those paid for reasonable administration expenses and taxation) were to meet the reasonable care and accommodation needs of the principal beneficiary (or for purposes ancillary to meeting those needs) and no amount was paid out for purposes other than those noted above or for services provided to the principal beneficiary by an immediate family member.

Section 3.3 provides that when the Secretary is provided with the trust’s financial statements each year, a certified copy of the trust’s income tax return, in relation to this same period, must also be provided.

Section 3.4 provides that when the Secretary is provided with the trust’s financial statements each year, the trustees of the trust must also provide a Statutory Declaration to the effect that all the information that has been presented to the Secretary, in accordance with section 1209S of the Act, is true and correct in all material particulars.

Part 4 – Auditing requirements

Section 4.1 provides that for the purposes of paragraph 1209T(2)(b), where a person has requested an audit under subsection 1209T(3), the period of the audit will be the period specified by the person requesting the audit, being a period of 1 to 5 financial years during the last 5 completed financial years prior the audit request.

Section 4.2 provides that, for the purposes of paragraph 1209T(5)(a) of the Act, the auditing of a Special Disability Trust must be conducted by a person who is a member of CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia of the National Institute of Accountants.  The person conducting the audit cannot be an immediate family member of the principal or residuary beneficiary or a trustee of the trust.  The auditor also cannot be any person who prepared, or is preparing, the financial statements of the trust for the financial year to be audited.

Section 4.3 provides that, for subsection 1209T(6), the audit must comply with relevant Australian Accounting Standards and provide a statement that the trust’s financial statement give a true and fair view of the trust’s position and performance as at 30 June in the relevant year.  The audit must also include a statement as to whether the trust has complied with specified provisions of the trust deed (or all of the provisions of the trust deed), if the person requesting the audit has asked for this matter to be audited.

Consultation

The Department of Families, Communities and Indigenous Affairs consulted with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Education, Science and Training to ensure a co‑ordinated approach in respect of payments under the Act.  The Department of Families, Communities and Indigenous Affairs also consulted with the Department of Human Services in relation to service delivery issues.

Regulation Impact Statement

There was no requirement to prepare a Regulation Impact Statement in regard to the Guidelines, as this measure is not likely to have a direct, or a substantial indirect, effect on business and is not likely to restrict competition.