Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 3) Act 2021

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au C2021A00061 In force Act

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Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 3) Act 2021

 

No. 61, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend the law relating to taxation, social security, veterans’ entitlements and the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedules

Schedule 1—Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge income thresholds

A New Tax System (Medicare Levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Act 1999

Medicare Levy Act 1986

Schedule 2—Family Home Guarantee

National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018

Schedule 3—Payments to Thalidomide survivors

Part 1—Tax exemption

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

Part 2—Payments not treated as income under social security and veterans’ law

Social Security Act 1991

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

Schedule 4—Recovery grants for 2021 floods and storms

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

Schedule 5—Deductible gift recipients—new specific recipients

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

 

 

 

Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 3) Act 2021

No. 61, 2021

 

 

 

An Act to amend the law relating to taxation, social security, veterans’ entitlements and the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, and for related purposes

[Assented to 29 June 2021]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act is the Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 3) Act 2021.

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

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

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

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

29 June 2021

2.  Schedule 1

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

30 June 2021

3.  Schedule 2

The later of:

(a) 1 July 2021; and

(b) the day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

1 July 2021

(paragraph (a) applies)

4.  Schedule 3, Part 1

The first 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October to occur after the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

1 July 2021

5.  Schedule 3, Part 2

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

30 June 2021

6.  Schedules 4 and 5

The first 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October to occur after the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

1 July 2021

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedules

  Legislation 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—Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge income thresholds

 

A New Tax System (Medicare Levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Act 1999

1  Paragraphs 15(1)(c) and 16(2)(c)

Omit “$22,801”, substitute “$23,226”.

Medicare Levy Act 1986

2  Subsection 3(1) (paragraph (a) of the definition of phasein limit)

Omit “$45,069”, substitute “$45,881”.

3  Subsection 3(1) (paragraph (c) of the definition of phasein limit)

Omit “$28,501”, substitute “$29,032”.

4  Subsection 3(1) (paragraph (a) of the definition of threshold amount)

Omit “$36,056”, substitute “$36,705”.

5  Subsection 3(1) (paragraph (c) of the definition of threshold amount)

Omit “$22,801”, substitute “$23,226”.

6  Subsection 8(5) (definition of family income threshold)

Omit “$38,474”, substitute “$39,167”.

7  Subsection 8(5) (definition of family income threshold)

Omit “$3,533”, substitute “$3,597”.

8  Subsections 8(6) and (7)

Omit “$38,474”, substitute “$39,167”.

9  Subsection 8(7)

Omit “$50,191”, substitute “$51,094”.

10  Paragraph 8D(3)(c)

Omit “$22,801”, substitute “$23,226”.

11  Subparagraph 8D(4)(a)(ii)

Omit “$22,801”, substitute “$23,226”.

12  Paragraph 8G(2)(c)

Omit “$22,801”, substitute “$23,226”.

13  Subparagraph 8G(3)(a)(ii)

Omit “$22,801”, substitute “$23,226”.

14  Application of amendments

The amendments made by this Schedule apply to assessments for the 202021 year of income and later years of income.

Schedule 2—Family Home Guarantee

 

National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018

1  At the end of section 3

Add:

 ; and (f) assisting earlier access to the housing market by single parents with dependants.

Schedule 3—Payments to Thalidomide survivors

Part 1—Tax exemption

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

1  Section 1115 (table item headed “welfare”)

After:

maintenance payment.......................

5130 and 5150

insert:

thalidomide payment—payment under the Support for Australia’s Thalidomide Survivors program             


5130

2  Section 5130 (before table item 5.6)

Insert:

 

5.5

an individual in receipt of a payment under the program established by the Commonwealth and known as the Support for Australia’s Thalidomide Survivors program

the payment

none

3  Application of amendments

The amendments of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 made by this Part apply to assessments for the 202122 income year and later income years.

Part 2—Payments not treated as income under social security and veterans’ law

Social Security Act 1991

4  After paragraph 8(8)(vc)

Insert:

 (vd) a payment under the program established by the Commonwealth and known as the Support for Australia’s Thalidomide Survivors program;

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

5  After paragraph 5H(8)(xb)

Insert:

 (xc) a payment under the program established by the Commonwealth and known as the Support for Australia’s Thalidomide Survivors program;

6  Application of amendments

The amendments of the Social Security Act 1991 and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 made by this Part apply in relation to payments under the Support for Australia’s Thalidomide Survivors program made on or after the commencement of this item.

Schedule 4—Recovery grants for 2021 floods and storms

 

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

1  Section 1155 (at the end of the table item headed “disasters”)

Add:

2021 floods and storms—recovery grants...........

5999

2  After section 5997

Insert:

59‑99  2021 floods and storms—recovery grants

  A payment is not assessable income and is not *exempt income if:

 (a) for the purposes of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018 (set out in a determination made by the Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security on 5 June 2018), the payment is a recovery grant made to a small business or primary producer as part of a Category D measure; and

 (b) the payment relates to:

 (i) floods commencing in Australia as a consequence of rainfall events occurring in the period between 19 February 2021 and 31 March 2021; or

 (ii) storms occurring in Australia in that period.

3  Application of amendments

The amendments made by this Schedule apply to assessments for the 20202021 income year and later income years.

Schedule 5—Deductible gift recipients—new specific recipients

 

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

1  In the appropriate position in subsection 3025(2) (table)

Insert:

2.2.51

The Andy Thomas Space Foundation Limited

the gift must be made after 30 June 2020

2.2.52

The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas

the gift must be made after 30 June 2020

2  Subsection 3040(2) (cell at table item 3.2.15, column headed “Special conditions”)

Repeal the cell, substitute:

the gift must be made after 1 January 2017

3  In the appropriate position in subsection 3045(2) (table)

Insert:

4.2.49

Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom Ltd

the gift must be made after 30 June 2020

4.2.50

Youthsafe

the gift must be made after 30 June 2020

4  Subsection 30100(2) (cell at table item 12.2.5, column headed “Special conditions”)

Repeal the cell, substitute:

the gift must be made after 31 December 2017 and before 1 July 2022

5  In the appropriate position in section 30105 (table)

Insert:

13.2.27

RAS Foundation Limited

the gift must be made after 30 June 2020

13.2.28

The Great Synagogue Foundation

the gift must be made after 30 June 2020 and before 1 July 2025

6  Section 30315 (before table item 2AD)

Insert:

2ACB

Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom Ltd

item 4.2.49

7  Section 30315 (after table item 4)

Insert:

4AA

Andy Thomas Space Foundation Limited

item 2.2.51

8  Section 30315 (before table item 53)

Insert:

52B

Great Synagogue Foundation

item 13.2.28

9  Section 30315 (after table item 64)

Insert:

64AA

Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas

item 2.2.52

10  Section 30315 (after table item 94AB)

Insert:

94AC

RAS Foundation Limited

item 13.2.27

11  Section 30315 (at the end of the table)

Add:

129

Youthsafe

item 4.2.50

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 13 May 2021

Senate on 15 June 2021]

(52/21)

 

Overview

The Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 3) Act 2021, enacted by the Parliament of Australia and assented to on 29 June 2021, serves to amend various laws relating to taxation, social security, veterans' entitlements, and the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation. The primary objective of this legislation is to address gaps and provide necessary modifications to existing laws, ensuring they are up-to-date and effective in meeting current needs. The Act introduces several key changes, including adjustments to Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge income thresholds, enhancements to the Family Home Guarantee scheme to assist single parents with dependents, tax exemptions for Thalidomide survivors, and provisions for recovery grants related to the 2021 floods and storms. Furthermore, it expands the list of deductible gift recipients, adding new entities to benefit from tax deductions for charitable donations. These amendments aim to provide financial relief and support to affected individuals and communities while updating the legal framework to reflect contemporary economic and social realities.

Scope and Application

The Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 3) Act 2021 applies to various entities and individuals in Australia, primarily modifying legislation relating to taxation, social security, veterans’ entitlements, and the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation. The Act amends several pieces of legislation, including the A New Tax System (Medicare Levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Act 1999, the Medicare Levy Act 1986, the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018, the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, the Social Security Act 1991, and the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. These amendments primarily adjust income thresholds and provide specific tax exemptions and social security benefits, such as modifying Medicare levy and surcharge income thresholds, extending the Family Home Guarantee scheme to assist single parents with dependents, and providing tax exemptions and social security exclusions for payments to Thalidomide survivors. Additionally, the Act introduces recovery grants for the 2021 floods and storms and expands the list of deductible gift recipients for certain charities and foundations. The changes outlined in the Act generally apply on or after specific dates mentioned in the commencement provisions, with some provisions applying retroactively to the 2020-21 income year. The Act's amendments extend to the Commonwealth level and are subject to the jurisdictional scope of the affected legislation.

Key Provisions

The Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 3) Act 2021 amends various pieces of legislation related to taxation, social security, veterans’ entitlements, and the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation. The Act makes specific amendments to the Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge income thresholds (Schedule 1), provides for a Family Home Guarantee to assist single parents with dependents (Schedule 2), introduces tax exemptions and social security exclusions for payments to Thalidomide survivors (Schedule 3), and provides for recovery grants for the 2021 floods and storms (Schedule 4). Additionally, it identifies new deductible gift recipients (Schedule 5). The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. For example, it modifies the income thresholds for the Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge in the A New Tax System (Medicare Levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Act 1999 and the Medicare Levy Act 1986. These amendments apply to assessments for the 2020-21 year of income and later years of income. The Act also amends the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018 to include assisting earlier access to the housing market by single parents with dependants as a purpose of the Family Home Guarantee. Furthermore, the Act introduces tax exemptions and exclusions from social security and veterans’ law for payments made under the Support for Australia’s Thalidomide Survivors program. The amendments to the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, the Social Security Act 1991, and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 apply to specified income years and payment dates. The Act also includes provisions for the exclusion of certain disaster recovery grants from assessable income and exempt income, specifically for the 2021 floods and storms. These amendments apply to assessments for the 2020-2021 income year and later income years. Finally, the Act updates the list of deductible gift recipients in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, adding several new recipients and modifying certain conditions for gifts made to these entities. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act may result in various civil or criminal consequences depending on the specific breach. For example, non-compliance with the Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge provisions could result in financial penalties. Breaches involving tax exemptions or exclusions from assessable income could also attract penalties. However, the Act itself does not explicitly state maximum penalties for breaches; these would be determined under the respective pieces of legislation amended by the Act.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Taxation Law
Social Security Law
Veterans’ Entitlements Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Offence Provisions
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Enforcement Powers
Regulatory Standards

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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.