Information is provided on the following FaHCSIA legislation, which either was finalised during the last sittings or is currently before the Parliament. For further information, please refer to the Parliament House website or contact the FaHCSIA Legislation Liaison Officer on +61-2-6146 3173![]( "Call: +61-2-6146 3173")
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Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 2011
Content
The Bill contained the following non-Budget measures:
- add further parcels of land to Schedule 1 to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, to enable the land to be granted to relevant Aboriginal Land Trusts; and
- amend the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 to remove the connection between the election of members to the Torres Strait Regional Authority and the Queensland Local Government elections, and to allow for a wider range of options for the composition of the Torres Strait Regional Authority.
Current status:
Introduced into the Parliament on 23 June 2011. Passed through the House on 18 August 2011, with Government amendments to remove Schedule 2, relating to the Indigenous Land Corporation. Passed through the Senate on 25 August 2011. Royal Assent has been given.
Date of Royal Assent: 15 September 2011
Act No: 97 of 2011
Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2011
Content
This Bill contained the following measures, including two 2011-12 Budget measures and one 2009-10 Budget measure:
- give parenting payment recipients access to bereavement payment on the death of a partner;
- align access to special benefit for certain visa holders with other migrants, by removing the family member exemption from the two-year newly arrived resident’s waiting period before special benefit is payable – supporting the 2011‑12 Budget measure Provisional Partner Visa Holders – Entitlement to Special Benefit;
- as part of the Disability Support Pension – Better and Fairer Assessments 2009‑10 Budget measure, update the Tables for the Assessment of Work-related Impairment for Disability Support Pension to ensure that they are consistent with contemporary medical and rehabilitation practice;
- provide for a third party certification quality assurance system for disability advocacy services;
- make a number of amendments aimed at enhancing and improving the integrity of treatment of certain asset test-exempt income streams; and
- clarify that payments made by an employer to an employee in lieu of notice of termination are regarded as redundancy payments for the purposes of the social security law.
Current status:
Introduced into the Parliament on 6 July 2011. Passed through the House on 17 August 2011. Passed through the Senate on 21 November 2011. Royal Assent has been given.
Date of Royal Assent: 29 November 2011
Act No: 145 of 2011
Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2011
Content
This Bill amended the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 to make several minor governance and business changes, as set out below:
- change the title of a number of office-holders from ‘General Manager’ to ‘Chief Executive Officer’;
- ensure that information held by Indigenous Business Australia will be appropriately protected but capable of being disclosed by that organisation in carrying out its proper functions, consistent with similar Commonwealth arrangements; and
- remove references to the availability of review under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 for two discontinued Aboriginal Hostels Limited schemes.
Current status:
Introduced into the Parliament on 17 August 2011. Passed through the House on 13 September 2011, with Government amendments to remove Schedule 2, relating to acting appointments. Royal Assent has been given.
Date of Royal Assent: 7 December 2011
Act No: 188 of 2011
Clean Energy (Household Assistance Amendments) Act 2011
Content
This Bill delivered on the Government’s commitments to low and middle-income households to help Australians adjust to a low emissions economy, and assist with the cost impacts resulting from a carbon price. This household assistance will provide higher payments, equivalent to a 1.7 per cent increase, to pensioners, veterans, self‑funded retirees and families. This Bill also establishes new supplements for low‑income families, single income families and certain households that have significantly higher than average electricity costs due to a medical condition, ageing or disability.
Current status:
Introduced into the Parliament on 13 September 2011. Passed through the House on 12 October 2011, with Government amendments to clarify in legislation the Government’s policy in relation to residency for household assistance. Royal Assent has been given.
Date of Royal Assent: 29 November 2011
Act No: 141 of 2011
Paid Parental Leave and Other Legislation Amendment (Consolidation) Bill 2011
Content
This Bill refines the legislation for the Paid Parental Leave scheme, including making amendments to improve clarity and consistency, and makes consequential amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009.
Current status:
Introduced into the Parliament on 3 November 2011. Awaiting debate in the House in the 2012 Autumn sittings.
Date of Royal Assent:
Act No:
Social Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2011
Content
This Bill provides greater flexibility for the operation of income management, so it can be implemented in the five new sites announced in the 2011-12 Budget. Amendments also ensure that income management may be triggered by referrals from State and Territory agencies, such as the Alcohol and Other Drug Tribunal in the Northern Territory.
The Bill also amends the provisions in the social security law that underpin the Government’s Improving School Enrolment and Attendance through Welfare Reform Measure (known as SEAM). It enables some local tailoring of this measure so the operation of SEAM can be integrated with the Northern Territory Government’s Every Child, Every Day initiative, to support greater improvement of school attendance.
Current status:
Introduced into the Parliament on 23 November 2011. Awaiting debate in the House in the 2012 Autumn sittings.
Date of Royal Assent:
Act No:
Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2011
Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011
Content
These Bills introduce three measures aimed at building stronger futures for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. These are the tackling alcohol abuse measure, the land reform measure and the food security measure.
Savings and transitional provisions associated with the repeal of the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 are also introduced, along with amendments to existing principal legislation, including the prohibited material restrictions and the prohibitions on customary law in bail and sentencing.
Current status:
Introduced into the Parliament on 23 November 2011. Awaiting debate in the House in the 2012 Autumn sittings.
Date of Royal Assent:
Act No: