Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019

Administered by Department of Veterans' Affairs

Legislation au C2019A00042 In force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019

 

No. 42, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to deal with consequential and transitional matters arising from the enactment of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedules

Schedule 1—Transitional provisions

Schedule 2—Consequential amendments

Aged Care Act 1997

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

Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010

Income Tax Assessment Act 1936

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004

National Cancer Screening Register Act 2016

National Health Act 1953

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defencerelated Claims) Act 1988

Social Security Act 1991

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

 

 

 

Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019

No. 42, 2019

 

 

 

An Act to deal with consequential and transitional matters arising from the enactment of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019, and for related purposes

[Assented to 5 April 2019]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act is the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019.

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.

5 April 2019

2.  Schedules 1 and 2

At the same time as the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 commences.

However, the provisions do not commence at all if that Act does not commence.

6 April 2019

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted.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—Transitional provisions

 

1  Application of Act

The Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 applies in relation to the provision of treatment, travel expenses incurred and the payment of pharmaceutical supplement on and after 1 July 2019.

2  Application of amendments to the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

The amendments made by items 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Schedule 2 apply to assessments for the 201920 year of income and later years of income.

3  Application of amendments to the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defencerelated Claims) Act 1988

If a person is eligible to be provided with treatment under section 7 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 as a result of a claim to establish eligibility having been determined under that Act before 1 July 2019:

 (a) section 119A of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, as amended by this Act, applies as if the claim were determined on 1 July 2019; and

 (b) section 144A of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defencerelated Claims) Act 1988, as amended by this Act, applies as if the claim were determined on 1 July 2019.

Schedule 2—Consequential amendments

 

Aged Care Act 1997

1  Subparagraph 863(1)(i)(iii)

Omit “; and”, substitute “; or”.

2  At the end of paragraph 863(1)(i)

Add:

 (iv) the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; and

3  Paragraph 866(a)

Omit “or section 36 of the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006”, substitute “, section 36 of the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006 or section 46 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019”.

4  At the end of subsection 9610(2)

Add:

 ; or (d) the Repatriation Commission has accepted financial responsibility for the amount of the subsidy as mentioned in section 15 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.

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

5  Subsection 13(2) (note)

Omit “or the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006”, substitute “, the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006 or the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019”.

6  Subsection 14(2) (note)

Omit “or the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006”, substitute “, the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006 or the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019”.

Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010

7  Section 5 (after subparagraph (a)(ii) of the definition of Veterans’ Affairs Department)

Insert:

 (iia) section 1 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; or

Income Tax Assessment Act 1936

8  Paragraph 251U(1)(b)

Omit “or the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006”, substitute “, the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006 or the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019”.

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

9  Section 1115 (table item headed “social security or like payments”)

After:

pharmaceutical supplement for Australian participants in British nuclear tests or in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force             



Subdivision 52CB

insert:

pharmaceutical supplement for Australian surgicalmedical team members             


Subdivision 52CC

10  Section 1115 (table item headed “social security or like payments”)

After:

travelling expenses for Australian participants in British nuclear tests or in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force             



Subdivision 52CB

insert:

travelling expenses for Australian surgicalmedical team members             


Subdivision 52CC

11  After Subdivision 52CB

Insert:

Subdivision 52‑CC—Exempt payments under the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019

52‑120  Payments of travelling expenses and pharmaceutical supplement are exempt

 (1) A payment made to you under Part 3 (travelling expenses) of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 is exempt from income tax.

 (2) A payment of pharmaceutical supplement made to you under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 is exempt from income tax.

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004

12  At the end of subsection 301(4)

Add:

 ; or (g) he or she is receiving pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.

National Cancer Screening Register Act 2016

13  Section 4 (after subparagraph (b)(iii) of the definition of claims information)

Insert:

 (iiia) the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019;

National Health Act 1953

14  Subsection 84(1) (at the end of paragraph (b) of the definition of medicare card)

Add:

 (iii) a scheme that applies under section 20 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; or

15  Subsection 84(1) (definition of repatriation pharmaceutical benefit)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

repatriation pharmaceutical benefit means a pharmaceutical benefit within the meaning of:

 (a) section 91 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986; or

 (b) subsection 4(1) of the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006; or

 (c) subsection 5(1) of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.

16  Subparagraph 84C(4A)(a)(iii)

Omit “; and”, substitute “; or”.

17  At the end of paragraph 84C(4A)(a)

Add:

 (iv) under a scheme that applies under section 20 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; and

18  After subparagraph 85E(2)(b)(iii)

Insert:

 (iiia) the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; or

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988

19  At the end of subsection 16(1)

Add:

Note: Compensation is not payable under this subsection in relation to certain claims (see section 119A).

20  After section 119

Insert:

119A  Persons entitled to treatment under other legislation not entitled to certain compensation

Compensation not payable in relation to certain claims

 (1) Comcare is not liable, under subsection 16(1) of this Act, to pay compensation in respect of the cost of medical treatment obtained in relation to an injury of an employee if the employee is eligible to be provided with treatment under section 7 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 as a result of a claim to establish eligibility having been determined under that Act.

Note: In this Act, the definition of injury includes a disease (see section 5A of this Act).

Exceptional circumstances determination

 (2) However, if Comcare is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances, Comcare may determine, in writing, that on and from a specified day subsection (1) of this section does not apply in relation to an employee and an injury.

 (3) Comcare must notify the employee of the determination within 7 days of the determination being made.

 (4) A determination under subsection (2) is not a legislative instrument.

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988

21  After paragraph 144A(1)(a)

Insert:

 (ab) eligible to be provided with treatment under section 7 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 as a result of a claim to establish eligibility having been determined under that Act; or

Social Security Act 1991

22  At the end of point 1066AD2

Add:

 ; or (d) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.

23  Subparagraph 1066AD3(b)(iii)

Omit “; and”, substitute “; or”.

24  At the end of paragraph 1066AD3(b)

Add:

 (iv) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; and

25  At the end of point 1066BD2

Add:

 ; or (d) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.

26  Subparagraph 1066BD3(b)(iii)

Omit “; and”, substitute “; or”.

27  At the end of paragraph 1066BD3(b)

Add:

 (iv) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; and

28  Subparagraph 1067GC2(b)(iii)

Omit “; and”, substitute “; or”.

29  At the end of paragraph 1067GC2(b)

Add:

 (iv) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; and

30  Subparagraph 1067LC2(b)(iii)

Omit “; and”, substitute “; or”.

31  At the end of paragraph 1067LC2(b)

Add:

 (iv) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; and

32  At the end of point 1068D4

Add:

 ; or (d) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.

33  Subparagraph 1068D5(b)(iii)

Omit “; and”, substitute “; or”.

34  At the end of paragraph 1068D5(b)

Add:

 (iv) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; and

35  At the end of point 1068AC2

Add:

 ; or (d) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.

36  At the end of point 1068BE2

Add:

 ; or (d) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.

37  Subparagraph 1068BE3(b)(iii)

Omit “; and”, substitute “; or”.

38  At the end of paragraph 1068BE3(b)

Add:

 (iv) pharmaceutical supplement under Part 4 of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019; and

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

39  At the end of subsection 203(2)

Add:

 ; (e) the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.

 

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 14 February 2019

Senate on 2 April 2019]

 

(15/19)

 

Overview

The Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019, enacted by the Parliament of Australia and assented to on 5 April 2019, addresses the consequential and transitional matters arising from the introduction of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019. This Act ensures a smooth implementation of the new legislation by making necessary adjustments to existing laws and providing transitional measures. The primary objective of this Act is to integrate the new provisions of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 into the existing legal framework while avoiding any disruptions in the provision of treatment benefits and related services. This legislation amends several Acts, including the Aged Care Act 1997, the A New Tax System (Medicare Levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Act 1999, the Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010, the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, the National Cancer Screening Register Act 2016, the National Health Act 1953, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988, the Social Security Act 1991, and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986. These amendments are aimed at aligning existing laws with the new provisions introduced by the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019, ensuring consistency and effectiveness in the administration of treatment benefits across various sectors.

Scope and Application

The Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019 applies to the provision of treatment, travel expenses incurred and the payment of pharmaceutical supplement on and after 1 July 2019. It deals with consequential and transitional matters arising from the enactment of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019. This Act amends various other pieces of legislation, including the Aged Care Act 1997, A New Tax System (Medicare Levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Act 1999, Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010, Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, National Cancer Screening Register Act 2016, National Health Act 1953, Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988, Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, to align them with the provisions of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019. The Act also includes transitional provisions, such as the application of certain amendments to specific Acts for the 2019-20 year of income and later years of income, and provisions to ensure that amendments to other Acts do not commence if the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 does not commence. The Act extends its application through consequential amendments made to other specified legislation, thereby integrating the provisions of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 into various existing legal frameworks. This integration ensures that the new provisions are smoothly incorporated into the broader legislative context, addressing any overlaps, conflicts, or gaps that might otherwise arise. The scope of the Act is thus both comprehensive and precise, ensuring that the legislative intent is fully realised across the affected areas of law.

Key Provisions

The Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019 (C2019A00042) (the Act) deals with consequential and transitional matters arising from the enactment of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 (the Special Access Act). Section 1 of the Act specifies that it is the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019, and it commenced on the day it received Royal Assent, which was 5 April 2019. The Act's Schedules, which contain transitional provisions and consequential amendments, commenced on 6 April 2019, the same day as the Special Access Act, unless the Special Access Act did not commence, in which case the Schedules do not commence at all. The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the entities it governs. For example, the Special Access Act applies to the provision of treatment, travel expenses, and pharmaceutical supplements on and after 1 July 2019 (Schedule 1, item 1). Amendments to the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 apply to assessments for the 2019-20 year of income and later years of income (Schedule 1, item 2). Furthermore, if a person is eligible to be provided with treatment under the Special Access Act as a result of a claim determined before 1 July 2019, certain sections of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 apply as if the claim were determined on 1 July 2019 (Schedule 1, item 3). The Act also includes consequential amendments to various other pieces of legislation, such as the Aged Care Act 1997, the A New Tax System (Medicare Levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Act 1999, the Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010, and others, to ensure consistency and integration with the Special Access Act (Schedule 2). These amendments involve modifications to definitions, inclusions of references to the Special Access Act, and adjustments to provisions related to treatment, travel expenses, and pharmaceutical supplements. The Act does not explicitly outline offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches. However, the Special Access Act, which the current Act supports, may have provisions related to these aspects. For instance, the Special Access Act might include provisions for offences, penalties, or other consequences for non-compliance with its requirements. It is essential for practitioners to refer to the Special Access Act and other relevant legislation to understand the full scope of potential penalties and consequences for breaches related to treatment, travel expenses, and pharmaceutical supplements.

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Social Security Law
Instrument
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Commencement Provisions
Transitional Provisions
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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.