Part 2: Expense Measures (Continued)
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
A new scheme of income management in the Northern Territory
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centrelink | 5.2 | 82.8 | 76.0 | 69.7 | 70.2 |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | 0.7 | 16.3 | 16.9 | 18.3 | 18.9 |
| Department of Human Services | - | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations | - | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Total | 5.9 | 105.2 | 99.1 | 94.3 | 95.4 |
| Related capital ($m) | |||||
| Centrelink | 2.5 | 1.9 | - | - | - |
| Department of Human Services | - | 0.2 | - | - | - |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 2.5 | 2.0 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $410.5 million over six years (including $6 million in 2014‑15) for a new scheme of income management in the Northern Territory.
The new scheme will commence from 1 July 2010. Participants in the new scheme will include:
- people aged 15 to 24 who have been in receipt of certain welfare payments for more than three of the last six months;
- people aged 25 and above on specified welfare payments such as Newstart Allowance and Parenting Payment for more than one year in the previous two years;
- people referred by child protection authorities; and
- those assessed by Centrelink social workers as requiring income management because of financial crisis or domestic violence.
Recipients of welfare payments may apply for an exemption from income management in certain circumstances, such as where they can demonstrate responsible parenting or participation in education, training, or paid work.
Under income management arrangements, 50 per cent of welfare payments (70 per cent in child protection cases) and 100 per cent of lump sum payments are quarantined. Income management aims to ensure welfare payments are spent on the essentials of life and in the interests of children.
This measure includes funding of $53.6 million over four years to deliver complementary services, such as budgeting, financial counselling and financial education, and to provide a matched savings payment of up to $500 per year for people who have completed an approved money management course and who can demonstrate a pattern of saving discretionary funds over at least 13 weeks.
This measure also includes capital funding of $4.4 million for Centrelink for the expansion of ICT systems and the issuing of new BasicsCards as a consequence of the broadened eligibility criteria, and $0.2 million for the Department of Human Services to maintain access to personal financial information through BasicsCard kiosks.
Future roll out to other locations in Australia will be informed by the evidence gained from an evaluation of income management in the Northern Territory.
Further information can be found in the press release of 25 November 2009 issued by the Minister for Families, Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Act of Grace Payments — ongoing arrangements
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
The Government will provide $1.4 million over five years to increase provision for Act of Grace payments. This is in addition to the current provision of $170,000 per annum. In addition, funding provided to the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs for Act of Grace payments will be indexed in line with the Consumer Price Index.
Act of Grace payments may be made to individuals who have been unintentionally disadvantaged by the effects of Commonwealth legislation, actions or omissions and who have no other viable means of redress.
Adventure playgrounds
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
The Government will provide $2.7 million over four years to continue support for five adventure playgrounds in Melbourne. The funding provides for employment of support workers who supervise the activities and provide referral services to families. The Commonwealth has been providing direct funding since 1978.
These adventure playgrounds provide young people from disadvantaged and/or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with access to a safe play environment, and cultural and recreational activities that are usually not accessible due to social or financial constraints.
Bulk Verification of Community Housing Rent
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centrelink | - | 1.8 | -0.6 | -1.3 | -1.4 |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations | - | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Total | - | 2.2 | 0.3 | -0.3 | -0.3 |
The Government will provide $1.9 million over four years to introduce a process of bulk verification by Centrelink of the rent paid by tenants of community housing organisations.
Currently, community housing tenants are required to provide rental information to Centrelink every six months to confirm their ongoing eligibility for Rent Assistance. Under this measure, community housing organisations will provide these updates to Centrelink on behalf of all their tenants through an online portal. The introduction of this bulk verification system will ensure that eligible recipients receive their correct Rent Assistance entitlement whilst also reducing administrative costs. This measure will increase Rent Assistance payments by $3.3 million over four years, with costs partially offset by Centrelink administrative savings of $1.4 million. The proposal delivers net savings of $0.3 million per annum from 2012‑13.
Community Development Employment Projects — indexation reform
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torres Strait Regional Authority | - | .. | .. | -0.2 | -0.3 |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | -0.4 | -0.7 | -3.3 | -4.4 |
| Total | - | -0.5 | -0.7 | -3.5 | -4.7 |
From 1 July 2010, the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program will be indexed by a Wage Cost Index (WCI) consistent with Government indexation arrangements for all programs with substantial wage costs. This will replace the current arrangement whereby the program is annually indexed by a combination of the Consumer Price Index and the non‑farm GDP deflator. This is expected to reduce expenses by $9.3 million over four years.
Community Development Employment Projects — redirection
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | -3.0 | - | - | - |
The Government will reduce funding under the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program by $3.0 million in 2010‑11. This funding will be redirected to other government priorities. CDEP will retain $905.4 million over four years from 2010‑11 to continue to provide comprehensive access to work readiness activities and community development projects.
Community engagement strategy for people with disability
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $0.5 million in 2010‑11 to disability and carer peak bodies to engage and seek input from people with a disability, their families and carers on the proposed National Disability Strategy and the proposed National Carer Strategy, and on the Productivity Commission's inquiry into a long‑term disability care and support scheme. Funding will also be provided to facilitate input from peak bodies themselves. This measure will help ensure that the development of policies in these key areas is responsive to the needs and aspirations of people with a disability.
The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Drought assistance — Family Support Drought Response Teams program — extension
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | 7.7 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $7.7 million in 2010‑11 to continue social and emotional counselling services to support families who are living in drought‑declared areas. Support will be provided by 25 Family Support Drought Response Teams, as part of the Family Relationship Services Program. The measure will ensure families dealing with drought can access the services they need, including crisis intervention, counselling, relationship education and skills training, referral services, family support, home visiting and case management.
Family Relationship Services for Carers — continuation
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $9.0 million over the four years to 2013‑14 to continue the Family Relationship Services for Carers program. This program provides parents and other family members with access to family mediation and counselling services plus information, referrals and support to help make financial, accommodation and care arrangements for their child with a disability.
Services provided through the Family Relationship Services for Carers program are available free of charge and are provided in every State and Territory in Australia. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Family Tax Benefit Non‑lodger Fortnightly Payment Prohibition — more flexible arrangements
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centrelink | 0.3 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 0.3 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
The Government will put in place a more flexible arrangement for the 2008‑09 Budget measure Responsible Economic Management — Family Tax Benefit — cease fortnightly payments for recipients who do not lodge tax returns. Under the 2008‑09 Budget measure, all Family Tax Benefit (FTB) recipients who had not lodged tax returns for more than 12 months and had not responded to Centrelink requests to do so, would no longer receive FTB payments through fortnightly instalments until they lodged their tax returns. Lodgment of tax returns is necessary to reconcile a person's FTB entitlement on the basis of their actual taxable income. This ensures people only receive their correct entitlements.
This measure will retain these arrangements in general but will ensure that payments continue to be made in two circumstances: where people do not have any FTB debt; or where ceasing payments would cause undue hardship. There is no impact on the fiscal balance from these arrangements as the fiscal balance is based on when an entitlement accrues rather than when payment is made. The measure does not affect whether a person accrues eligibility for FTB, only when it is paid.
This measure will cost $2.6 million over five years for Centrelink to administer.
Family Tax Benefit Part A — improved participation requirements for 16 to 20 year olds
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centrelink | 12.7 | 10.1 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | -0.7 | -20.4 | -20.7 | -21.1 | -21.3 |
| Total | 12.0 | -10.3 | -11.4 | -11.8 | -12.1 |
| Related capital ($m) | |||||
| Centrelink | 2.4 | - | - | - | - |
The Government will further strengthen participation requirements announced in last year's Budget measure, Jobs and Training Compact — improved participation requirements for 15 to 20 year olds. Under the 2009‑10 Budget measure, for families with children aged 16‑20 who do not have a Year 12 or equivalent qualification to remain eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB‑A), the children would have had to participate in full‑time education or training, or part‑time education or training in combination with other approved activities, leading to a Year 12 or equivalent qualification.
These participation requirements will be strengthened prior to the measure commencing on 1 July 2010. Participation in full‑time education or training will be required in order for such families to remain eligible for FTB‑A. This measure complements the Compact with Young Australians established by COAG on 30 April 2009, which guarantees an education or training place for every Australian under 25 years old.
This measure will lead to a net reduction in expenses of $31.2 million over five years, including Centrelink administrative costs of $52.9 million.
Home Ownership Program — transfer of funding from the Home Ownership on Indigenous Land Program
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Business Australia | - | 15.3 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Related revenue ($m) | |||||
| Indigenous Business Australia | - | -0.3 | .. | 0.3 | 0.7 |
The Government will transfer $56.0 million of unutilised capital from the Home Ownership on Indigenous Land (HOIL) program to the Home Ownership Program (HOP) while further land reform takes place on Indigenous land in remote communities. This will enable more people to access the oversubscribed HOP.
HOP provides concessional loans secured by freehold title typically in cities and regional towns. This transfer will see approximately 250 additional home loans for Indigenous Australians made available in urban and regional areas. The HOIL program provides concessional loans secured by leases on community‑title land typically in remote Indigenous communities. This capital will be made available to HOIL customers as demand for that program accelerates.
The transfer of $56.0 million has no impact on the fiscal balance, other than the net interest impact of providing additional concessional loans, which will be $18.0 million over five years.
The measure will enable greater flexibility in the use of housing funds to improve the housing outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
Income management in cases of child neglect and by voluntary choice — continuation of trial
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centrelink | - | 10.9 | - | - | - |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | 6.5 | - | - | - |
| Total | - | 17.3 | - | - | - |
| Related capital ($m) | |||||
| Centrelink | - | .. | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $17.4 million in 2010‑11 (including capital funding of $28,000) to continue the trial of income management in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and metropolitan Perth. The trial was first announced in the 2008‑09 Budget and commenced in November 2008.
The trial will be amended to be consistent with the new scheme of income management in the Northern Territory, in that 50 per cent of welfare payments (70 per cent in child protection cases) and 100 per cent of lump sum payments are quarantined. It also includes:
- payment of $250 for every six months a person remains in the voluntary income management scheme; and
- up to $500 (a one‑off matched savings payment) for eligible people who have been referred by child protection authorities and have completed an approved money management course and can demonstrate a pattern of saving discretionary funds over at least 13 weeks.
Financial management support services will be expanded across the Perth metropolitan and Kimberley regions through the provision of additional financial counsellors and money management outreach services.
Indigenous Communities Strategic Investment program — reduction
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | -1.7 | -15.5 | -15.8 | -12.6 | -2.6 |
The Government will reduce funding for the Indigenous Communities Strategic Investment program by $48.3 million over five years from 2009‑10, with these funds to be used towards the establishment of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples and a Flexible Funding Pool to support the implementation of the Remote Service Delivery National Partnership.
Remaining funding for the Indigenous Community Strategic Investment program of $78 million over four years from 2010‑11 will continue to be available to fund individual and community capacity building activities.
Indigenous Land Corporation — new funding arrangements
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - | - |
| Indigenous Land Corporation | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | - | - | - | - | - |
From 1 July 2010, the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) will receive a regular funding stream set at $45 million per annum from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account (the Land Account). This amount will be indexed to the Consumer Price Index. The Government will make additional payments to the ILC if the returns from investments made from the Land Account exceed this guaranteed minimum, while ensuring the indexed capital value of the Land Account is not eroded.
The Land Account was previously indexed by the Gross Non‑Farm GDP (trend) implicit price deflator, which has varied significantly from year to year. A more regular funding stream will assist the ILC to manage its investments and operations. Provision for funding from the Land Account to the Indigenous Land Corporation has already been included in the forward estimates.
The ILC was established to assist in the acquisition of land for people unlikely to achieve Native Title rights.
National Congress of Australia's First Peoples — establishment
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | 3.0 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 8.3 | 4.9 |
The Government will provide $29.2 million over five years from 2009‑10 to establish the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples. The new national representative body will enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to engage directly with government on policy development and the performance of government programs. The Government is committed to resetting the relationship with Indigenous Australians and working together to form new partnerships based on trust, goodwill and mutual respect.
This measure has been implemented in response to the Australian Human Rights Commission report Our Future in Our Hands, Creating a Sustainable Representative Body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Further information can be found in the press release of 22 November 2009 issued by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
National Disability Strategy — coordination
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - | - |
| Related capital ($m) | |||||
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $6.2 million over four years to establish a policy coordination and secretariat unit within the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to further develop and implement the National Disability Strategy. The unit will engage stakeholders; develop action plans; establish governance arrangements to negotiate and implement the National Disability Strategy with the States and Territories; and ensure robust reporting on outcomes achieved.
This measure also includes the development of a comprehensive information portal covering disability programs, services and support, which will be provided through australia.gov.au.
Funding for this measure will be met from within the existing resources of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
National Find and Connect Service for the Forgotten Australians and former child migrants
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | 4.5 | 7.7 | 7.3 | 5.3 |
| Related capital ($m) | |||||
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | 1.6 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $26.5 million over four years to deliver a National Find and Connect Service for the Forgotten Australians and former child migrants. The Forgotten Australians and former child migrants are the 500,000 children who were placed in care during the 20th century, some of whom suffered abuse and/or lost contact with their families.
The National Find and Connect Service will provide a phone service and website as a central contact point for the Forgotten Australians and former child migrants. Where people wish, they will be referred to case managers who will provide an Australia‑wide records tracing service to assist in locating personal records and to reunite them with their family where possible. Counselling and support services will also be made available where required.
NSW Mid‑North Coast floods — assistance for March 2009 event
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | 0.3 | - | - | - | - |
| Centrelink | 0.2 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 0.5 | - | - | - | - |
The Government provided $0.5 million in 2009‑10 as ex‑gratia assistance to people who, on or after 29 September 2009, were still adversely affected by the floods that occurred in the Mid‑North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of NSW in March 2009. This assistance is in addition to other support provided to the regions by the Government under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, including personal hardship and distress assistance to low‑income earners and concessional loans to small business operators and primary producers.
To assist communities still impacted by the floods, one‑off payments of $1,000 per household were made available until 18 December 2009 to homeowners who could demonstrate that, as a direct result of the flooding, their home still required repairs estimated to cost $1,000 or more.
Further information can be found in the press release of 20 November 2009 issued jointly by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Attorney‑General.
NSW Mid‑North Coast floods — assistance for November 2009 event
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | 11.0 | - | - | - | - |
| Centrelink | 2.0 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 12.9 | - | - | - | - |
The Government provided $12.9 million in 2009‑10 under the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment program to assist people adversely affected by the floods in the Mid‑North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of NSW in November 2009.
Payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child were made available to people who were seriously injured, whose principal place of residence was destroyed or significantly damaged, who were unable to return home, or who were isolated by the floodwaters for a period of 24 hours or more.
Further information can be found in the press release of 8 November 2009 issued by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Paid Parental Leave — implementation
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centrelink | 0.4 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 2.3 |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | 0.3 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman | - | 0.2 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 |
| Total | 0.7 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 4.4 | 3.3 |
The Government will provide $21.2 million over five years to support the implementation of the Paid Parental Leave scheme announced in the 2009‑10 Budget. The measure is aimed at ensuring that employers and employees can access their rights, gain their entitlements and meet their responsibilities under the scheme.
Funding of $18.0 million over five years will be provided to Centrelink, the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Social Security Appeals Tribunal to ensure that:
- employers meet their obligations under the Paid Parental Leave scheme, including making payments to employees as required; and
- employers are able to seek a review of a decision that they must pay Paid Parental Leave to an employee (while all entitlements will be funded by the Government, from 1 July 2011 employers will usually be required to make the payment of Paid Parental Leave entitlements to employees).
Funding of $3.2 million will be provided to enhance existing Paid Parental Leave communication activities ($8.8 million over two years was provided in the 2009‑10 Budget) to ensure employers and employees understand their rights and responsibilities.
The Government's Paid Parental Leave scheme provides 18 weeks of leave at the level of the national minimum wage to eligible new mothers from 1 January 2011.
Reform of Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program in the Torres Strait
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations | - | 7.3 | 12.6 | 14.2 | 14.6 |
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | 5.1 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.6 |
| Centrelink | - | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Torres Strait Regional Authority | - | 0.5 | -5.6 | -18.0 | -17.7 |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | -11.6 | -17.7 | -8.2 | -5.7 |
| Total | - | 4.0 | -1.1 | -2.9 | 0.0 |
The Government will provide $44.3 million over four years to reform the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program in the Torres Strait to bring it into line with the national reforms implemented on 1 July 2009.
The CDEP reforms will have an increased focus on work readiness, getting more people into jobs where opportunities exist, extending local training opportunities and promoting community development.
Reforms in the Torres Strait will be implemented over two years. From 1 July 2010 all CDEP participants will be required to be registered with Job Services Australia.
From 1 July 2011 new CDEP entrants will be required to look for work or participate in training while on income support. Grandfathering arrangements will be implemented to allow existing participants to continue to receive CDEP wages until 30 June 2012, with CDEP wages to be progressively removed from 1 April 2012.
The reforms will also provide a Jobs Package to allow for the conversion of CDEP positions into properly paid jobs that currently support government service delivery.
This measure will be funded from existing national community development funding ($38.5 million over four years) and by pausing indexation of the national CDEP program for two years from 2010‑11 ($5.8 million over two years).
Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Flexible Funding Pool — establishment
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | 17.0 | 17.0 | 12.0 | - |
The Government will provide $46.0 million over three years to establish a Flexible Funding Pool to support the implementation of the Remote Service Delivery National Partnership agreement that targets 29 remote Indigenous communities.
The Flexible Funding Pool will allow the Government to respond flexibly and quickly to Indigenous communities' priorities as identified in Local Implementation Plans. The Local Implementation Plans will be agreed with Indigenous communities, State and Territory governments and the Commonwealth Government.
Further information can be found in the Prime Minister's Closing the Gap ministerial statement to Parliament of 11 February 2010.
Samoan tsunami and Sumatran earthquakes — assistance
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | 0.5 | - | - | - | - |
| Centrelink | 0.4 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 0.9 | - | - | - | - |
The Government provided $0.9 million in 2009‑10 to assist Australians adversely affected by the Samoan tsunami and Sumatran earthquakes on 30 September 2009 and 1 October 2009.
Payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child through the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment were made available to people who, as a direct result of the disasters, were: seriously injured; eye witnesses to the disaster events; the immediate family members of Australians who lost their lives; declared missing; or seriously injured.
The Government also made available one‑off ex‑gratia payments of $5,000 for funeral costs and related expenses to the immediate family of Australians who lost their lives as a consequence of either disaster.
Further information can be found in the joint press release of 6 October 2009 issued by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Social Security Appeals Tribunal — training
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | -0.2 | -0.2 | -0.2 | -0.2 |
The Government will provide $0.3 million over four years to provide Commonwealth administrative law training for appointees to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT). The training will be provided by the Australian Government Solicitor and will ensure SSAT appointees meet the requirement that they understand administrative law necessary for sound decision making, including the privacy and confidentiality aspects of the decision making process. The SSAT is the first level of external review of decisions made by Centrelink and the Child Support Agency about social security, family assistance and child support payments.
This measure continues the 2006‑07 Budget measure Support for Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) Recruitment. Savings of $0.7 million over four years arise as the original measure also provided funding to train potential appointees to the SSAT.
South West Queensland floods — assistance
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | 11.2 | 1.3 | - | - | - |
| Centrelink | 2.1 | 0.2 | - | - | - |
| Total | 13.3 | 1.5 | - | - | - |
The Government is providing $14.8 million over two years from 2009‑10 under the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment program to assist people adversely affected by severe flooding in south‑west Queensland in March 2010.
Payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child were made available to people who were seriously injured, whose principal place of residence was destroyed or was significantly damaged, who were unable to return home or were isolated by the floodwaters for 24 hours or more, or who experienced utility failure for 48 hours or more.
Further information can be found in the press releases of 4 March 2010 and 6 March 2010 issued by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Special Disability Trusts — greater accessibility
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centrelink | - | 0.3 | .. | .. | .. |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | .. | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Total | - | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
The Government will provide $1.0 million over four years to amend the eligibility criteria and allowable uses for Special Disability Trusts, to make them more accessible and increase uptake.
Special Disability Trusts enable parents and immediate family members to put money aside for the future care and accommodation needs of a family member with a severe disability. Under Special Disability Trusts, up to $551,750 (indexed annually) and the family home can be kept in the trust without being counted as income or assets under the pension means tests for the beneficiary of the trust.
These changes will expand the definition of a beneficiary to include people with a disability who can work up to seven hours per week (excluding work in an Australian Disability Enterprise). In addition, this measure will amend the allowable uses for the trust to include all medical expenses, including membership costs of private health funds, maintenance expenses of Special Disability Trust property and discretionary spending of up to $10,000 per year.
This measure is in addition to the Australian Government's initial response to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs report Building trust: Supporting families through Disability Trusts announced as part of the 2009‑10 Budget.
Streamlining notification processes for compensation recipients
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centrelink | - | 6.1 | 15.3 | 13.6 | 13.7 |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | 0.2 | -7.1 | -12.8 | -14.3 |
| Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | -6.8 | -10.6 | -10.8 |
| Total | - | 6.4 | 1.4 | -9.7 | -11.3 |
| Related capital ($m) | |||||
| Centrelink | - | 3.2 | 0.9 | - | - |
The Government will require compensation payers, such as insurance companies, to notify Centrelink prior to making compensation payments to clients, from 1 July 2011. Centrelink will then use this information to assess the recipient's ongoing entitlement to receive Centrelink benefits.
Currently, Centrelink recipients are required to notify Centrelink when they or their partner are entitled to receive a compensation payment. Centrelink then requests more information from the compensation payer. This measure will mean all compensation settlements will be advised to Centrelink directly by the compensation payer. Having Centrelink assess all compensation payments will reduce the risk of individuals receiving Centrelink benefits they are not entitled to.
This measure will provide savings of $9.1 million over four years.
Victorian storms — assistance
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | 2.1 | 0.3 | - | - | - |
| Centrelink | 0.4 | .. | - | - | - |
| Total | 2.5 | 0.3 | - | - | - |
The Government is providing $2.8 million over two years from 2009‑10 under the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment program to assist people adversely affected by severe storms in Melbourne in March 2010.
Payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child were made available to people who were seriously injured or whose principal place of residence was destroyed or was significantly damaged.
Further information can be found in the press release of 19 March 2010 issued by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Weekly income support payments to vulnerable Australians
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government is making weekly income support payments available for up to 12,000 vulnerable people to assist them to better budget their income, including to meet their rent payments. Legislation allowing payments to be made weekly was passed in March 2010.
Making payments weekly rather than fortnightly will help reduce the risk of homelessness and delivers on the Government's commitment announced in December 2008 in the White Paper on Homelessness: The Road Home.
While this measure has no impact on the expenses of the Commonwealth, there will be an impact on the underlying cash balance of $2.2 million over five years from 2009‑10, reflecting additional costs associated with making the first week of a previously fortnightly payment in an earlier financial year.
Western Australian bushfires — assistance
| 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | 0.6 | - | - | - | - |
| Centrelink | 0.3 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 0.9 | - | - | - | - |
The Government provided $0.9 million in 2009‑10 under the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment program to assist people adversely affected by the bushfires in the Western Australian shires of Toodyay, Coorow and Dandaragan in December 2009.
Payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child were made available to people who were seriously injured, whose principal place of residence was destroyed or was significantly damaged, who were unable to return home for 24 hours or more, or who experienced a utility failure for 48 hours or more.
Further information can be found in the joint press release of 31 December 2009 issued by the Minister for Housing and the Parliamentary Secretary for Western and Northern Australia.
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