Explanatory notes
1. This publication has been reprinted to accompany a new publication, A compendium of legislative changes in social security 1983–2000.
2. This compendium provides in a single document a listing of legislative changes in social security from the passage of the first Commonwealth legislation in 1908 to the end of 1982. Changes in administrative procedures are generally not covered.
3. The material is not presented in precise legal terms. To assist readers who may be interested in further detail the legislation implementing the changes itemised in the text is cited at the conclusion of the relevant part. The date of assent means the date on which the Royal Assent was given to the Act by the Governor-General. The date of commencement means the date on which the Act came into operation. Proclaimed commencement means the date on which the Governor-General proclaimed Royal Assent to the relevant part of the Act in the Commonwealth Gazette. The date of first payment of new rates is not necessarily the same as the date of commencement but is generally the first payday on or after the date of commencement.
4. The compendium covers in general only those pensions, benefits and allowances administered by the Department of Social Security or its predecessors. Thus, for example, service pension and tuberculosis allowance are covered only insofar as they impinge on social security payments. Funeral benefits are covered in the age and invalid pension section. Fringe benefits are also mentioned in that section, but are not comprehensively covered because they are not generally the primary responsibility of this department.
5. Certain terminology used in this publication may be considered inappropriate and/or offensive by readers. However, the language used is an accurate reflection of the terminology employed by the legislation upon which this document reports. Readers are asked to note that revising such language to suit current standards would compromise the historical nature of this document.
6. Wife's allowance/pension is covered in the age and invalid pension section.
7. The major changes to the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service and its associated allowances are detailed in the age and invalid pension section, although unemployment and sickness beneficiaries are also eligible. Changes to the service which are of particular relevance to unemployment and sickness beneficiaries are outlined in the unemployment and sickness benefit section. Mobility allowance is also covered in the age and invalid pension section.
8. References to rates of pensions, benefits, etc for years prior to the introduction of decimal currency in 1966 are made in pounds, shillings and pence. The conversion rate is:
£1 (one pound) = $2 (two dollars)
10s (ten shillings) = $1 (one dollar)
1s (one shilling) = 10c (ten cents)
6d (six pence) = 5c (five cents)
See table below showing movements in the retail price index from 1909 to 1982.
9. Changes in pension rates arising from automatic adjustment procedures are shown in the tables but not in the text, which refers only to legislative changes. The tables should not be used without reference to the text.
10. Changes to means and income tests are described in the text. Information on permissible and exempt income and property is shown in the tables.
11. Pension rates and income limits are usually shown in the legislation as annual amounts, but rates have been converted to weekly amounts in the compendium, unless otherwise stated.
12. In 1982 titles of the Act and of statutory offices were changed to incorporate the words 'social security' instead of 'social services'.
13. Where the masculine gender is used in the text it should generally be taken to include females unless the contrary is specifically stated or the context requires otherwise.
| Year | Index Number | Year | Index Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | 95 | 1946 | 190 |
| 1910 | 97 | 1947 | 198 |
| 1911 | 100 | 1948 | 218 |
| 1912 | 110 | 1949 | 240 |
| 1913 | 110 | 1950 | 262 |
| 1914(a) | 114 | 1951 | 313 |
| 1915(a) | 130 | 1952 | 367 |
| 1916(a) | 132 | 1953 | 383 |
| 1917(a) | 141 | 1954 | 386 |
| 1918(a) | 150 | 1955 | 394 |
| 1919(a) | 170 | 1956 | 419 |
| 1920(a) | 193 | 1957 | 429 |
| 1921(a) | 168 | 1958 | 435 |
| 1922(a) | 162 | 1959 | 443 |
| 1923 | 166 | 1960 | 459 |
| 1924 | 164 | 1961 | 471 |
| 1925 | 165 | 1962 | 469 |
| 1926 | 168 | 1963 | 472 |
| 1927 | 166 | 1964 | 483 |
| 1928 | 167 | 1965 | 502 |
| 1929 | 171 | 1966 | 517 |
| 1930 | 162 | 1967 | 534 |
| 1931 | 145 | 1968 | 548 |
| 1932 | 138 | 1969 | 564 |
| 1933 | 133 | 1970 | 586 |
| 1934 | 136 | 1971 | 621 |
| 1935 | 138 | 1972 | 658 |
| 1936 | 141 | 1973 | 720 |
| 1937 | 145 | 1974 | 829 |
| 1938 | 149 | 1975 | 954 |
| 1939 | 153 | 1976 | 1083 |
| 1940 | 159 | 1977 | 1216 |
| 1941 | 167 | 1978 | 1313 |
| 1942 | 181 | 1979 | 1432 |
| 1943 | 188 | 1980 | 1578 |
| 1944 | 187 | 1981 | 1731 |
| 1945 | 187 | 1982 | 1923 |