FOI LEX 51051
Document 1
Minister
PDR No
Subject
Responsible Area
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000015 Support Services
Communities
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000012 Cashless Debit Card Abolition - Media Coverage
Communities
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000096 Future of Income Management
Communities
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000016 Funding for financial wel being services
Communities
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000019 Financial Wel being and Capability Activity Review outcomes
Communities
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000062 Gambling
Communities
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000020 Industry Funding Model for Financial Counsel ing
Communities
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000030 Ceasing grants and measures
Community Grants Hub
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000029 Seniors Connected / Be Connected
Community Policy and Engagement Group
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000014 Support for Volunteering - Volunteer Management Activity, Volunteer Grants
Community Policy and Engagement Group
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000017 Entrenched disadvantage package
Community Policy and Engagement Group
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000002 Closing the Gap
Community Policy and Engagement Group
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000023 Individual advocacy funding
Disability and Carer Programs
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000013 Systemic Disability Advocacy
Disability and Carer Programs
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000105 Support for Carers
Disability and Carer Programs
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000063 Supported Employment
Disability Employment
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000064 Disability Employment
Disability Employment
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000035 DES Quality Framework
Disability Employment
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000075 National Autism Strategy
Disability Reforms and Royal Commission
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000022 Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031
Disability Reforms and Royal Commission
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000014 Pre-emptive early intervention pilots
Disability Reforms and Royal Commission
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000021 Disability Royal Commission
Disability Reforms and Royal Commission
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000032 National Disability Data Asset
Disability Reforms and Royal Commission
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000004 Foundational Supports
Disability Reforms and Royal Commission
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000033 Family and domestic violence filicide
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000038 National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000030 500 workers commitment
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000020 Consent and Sexual Violence
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000022 Prevention
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000051 AIC intimate partner homicide monitoring dashboard
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000021 Engagement with Men
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000007 National Partnership on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses - Northern Territory
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000030 1800RESPECT
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000020 Leaving Violence Program
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000040 Escaping Violence Payment trial
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000110 Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Against First Nations Women and Children
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000026 Support for male victim-survivors of domestic violence
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000052 Cal s for a Federal Royal Commission into Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000098 Paid Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) Leave
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000054 National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
Families
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000100 Early Years Strategy
Families
Safe and Supported – The National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2021-2031 – addressing the over representation
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000080 of First Nations children and young people in out-of-home care
Families
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000043 National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people
Families
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000019 Remaining Savings from External Labour, Advertising, Travel and Legal Expenses
Finance
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000001 DES Star Ratings - Coding Error
Legal Services
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000056 Poverty and Inequality
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000089 Disability Support Pension
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000044 White Paper income support measures
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000027 2024-25 Budget Measures
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000024 Jobseeker, Youth Allowance and Student Payments
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000023 Paid Parental Leave
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000018 Child Support
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000015 Universities Accord and student payments
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000117 Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000006 IT issues affecting the targeted compliance framework penalty zone for working age payment recipients in Workforce Australia and Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000025 Portfolio Cost of Living
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000009 NZYQ decision and social security payments
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000115 Social Security System and Family and Domestic Violence
Participation and Family Payments
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000113 Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA)
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000052 Family and Domestic Violence Housing
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000013 Military Invalidity Payments Means Testing
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000040 Income Apportionment
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000003 Support for Older Australians
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000067 Social Security Payment Accuracy, Debt and Compliance
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000038 UK Pensioners
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Amanda Rishworth
QB23-000034 Robodebt
Portfolio Coordination
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000092 DSS portfolio election commitments
Portfolio Coordination
Amanda Rishworth
QB24-000024 2024-25 Budget - DSS
Portfolio Coordination
Amanda Rishworth
QB22-000034 National Redress Scheme
Redress
Bill Shorten
QB24-000031 Minister's international trip and speech to the UN
Disability and Carer Programs
Bill Shorten
QB22-000076 Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Program - Facts and Figures
Disability and Carer Programs
Bill Shorten
QB23-000045 Disability Royal Commission
Disability Reforms and Royal Commission
Bill Shorten
QB22-000094 Hearing Australia - Key Facts and Figures
Hearing Australia
Bill Shorten
QB22-000066 NDIS Quality and Safeguarding
NDIS Markets and Safeguards
Bill Shorten
QB22-000035 NDIS Workforce
NDIS Markets and Safeguards
Bill Shorten
QB22-000037 Disability Accommodation & SDA Housing
NDIS Markets and Safeguards
Bill Shorten
QB23-000037 Younger People in Residential Aged Care
NDIS Markets and Safeguards
Bill Shorten
QB24-000010 Registration Taskforce to resolve detail of regulatory reforms
NDIS Markets and Safeguards
Bill Shorten
QB24-000018 NDIS Legislation
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB22-000050 AAT appeals and alternative dispute resolution
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB22-000047 Hospital Discharge Delays for NDIS participants
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB23-000050 Autism Participants in the NDIS
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB22-000086 Disability criteria and eligibility under the NDIS
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB23-000039 NDIS Modelling
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB24-000001 Palliative care / brain cancer
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB24-000026 2024-25 Budget measures
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB22-000046 Over 65 years eligibility for the NDIS
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB22-000049 Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB24-000028 Proposed Government amendments - Section 10 - NDIS Supports
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB22-000044 NDIS performance (people supported, outcomes achieved, access in remote areas)
NDIS Participants and Performance
Bill Shorten
QB24-000016 Appointment of NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner
Portfolio Coordination
Julie Collins
QB23-000029 Housing and rental affordability, including Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA)
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Julie Collins
QB24-000005 Reconnect program
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Julie Collins
QB22-000071 Key facts social housing and homelessness
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Julie Collins
QB22-000033 National Housing and Homelessness Agreement
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Julie Collins
QB24-000002 National Housing and Homelessness Plan
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Julie Collins
QB22-000043 Indigenous Housing
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Julie Collins
QB24-000003 Housing Australia Future Fund - Crisis and Transitional Accommodation
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Julie Collins
QB22-000045 National Rental Affordability Scheme
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
Julie Collins
QB23-000004 Housing Definitions
Pensions Housing and Homelessness
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 2
EIM and IM SUPPORT SERVICES
QB23-000015
Support Services
Issue
What is the Government doing to meet the support services needs in
communities since abolishing the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) program?
Headline response
The Albanese Government has delivered a significant package of supports to
former CDC communities to continue current support services, establish new
services, and address community priorities.
TALKING POINTS
• The Government committed $217 million to abolish the CDC program,
reform Income Management and fund related support services.
• Of this, over $130 million has already been committed to income support
recipients in IM and former CDC communities.
Stronger Services
• On 19 March I approved an additional $17.5 million to extend funding of
support services for a further 12 months over 2024-25 in the 4 former CDC
and IM sites.
• The Government provided $26.8 million over 2022-23 and 2023-24 for over
59 place-based support services in former CDC and current IM communities.
• The Government also provided $3.6 million over 2022-23 and 2023-24 for
the continuation for the Local Partner network, established in each former
CDC locations.
Strengthening Economic Development
• The Government announced up to $23 million for the Community-led
Solutions Economic Development (CSED T1 & T2) grants to support the
creation of economic and employment pathways in former CDC and current
IM communities.
1
Last updated: 3/7/2024
OFFICIAL
EIM and IM SUPPORT SERVICES
• Breakdown of the Tranche 1 allocation of funding is:
o $10.5 million to Ceduna,
o $2.0 million to Cape York, and
o $4.4 million to East Kimberley regions.
• On 28 May I approved a second tranche of the Community Led Solutions Economic
Development grant opportunity providing $5.5 million between both in WA
• Breakdown of the Tranche 1 allocation of funding is.
o Wyndham $3.27 million
o Kalgoorlie $2.25 million
• Both grants have now been executed and the CLSS team is working with
grantees and the MO do make an announcement
Local Services Plans – Community-led Support Fund
• Up to $20 million was committed for 2023-24 to support the implementation
of the Local Services Plans – Community-led Support Fund for the 4 former
CDC sites.
o These critical supports respond to immediate and longer-term
community needs.
• Additionally, I have committed a further $15 million for Local Service Plans –
Community-led Support Fund in the 4 former CDC sites over 2024-25 and
2025-26 financial years.
• Initiatives funded under the Community-led Support Fund include Return to
Country assistance, a Ranger Support Unit and a Men’s Behavioural Change
Project, and Women’s Healing projects.
Empowering communities to respond to immediate needs
• The Government provided a total of $3 million in Local Brokerage Funds
to Ceduna, East Kimberley, and the Goldfields.
o The Local Brokerage Funds ended 30 June 2023.
• In March 2023, I announced up to $1.8 million for 3 Goldfields community-led
initiatives from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
2
Last updated: 3/7/2024
OFFICIAL
EIM and IM SUPPORT SERVICES
o The department is continuing extensive engagement with community
organisations, local governments, and other stakeholders to address
community needs.
Strengthening financial wellbeing support in the Northern Territory
• On 17 March 2024, the Government announced more than $6 million will be
invested in 2023-24 to strengthen and increase targeted financial literacy and
capability supports for vulnerable Australians in the NT.
• This investment builds on existing support services and responds to the
demand for these services across the NT, including support for those moving
from IM to enhanced IM.
• The funding will support existing Financial Wellbeing and Capability
organisations providing financial literacy and capability supports to increase
accessibility.
Improving Digital Connectivity in the Northern Territory (NT)
• Up to $7.5 million has been made available since 2022–23, to deliver mobile
and internet services and digital literacy support, in regional and remote NT
communities and to uplift connectivity in four Alice Springs Town Camps.
• An additional $4.54 m for FY 24-25 (reallocation from within the Support
Services funding envelope) was approved by the Minister on 16 May 2024.
(This has yet to be made public).
Alcohol and other drug use support services
• The Government will also deliver $49.9 million for additional alcohol and
other drug treatment services in the former CDC communities, led by the
Department of Health and Aged Care.
• On 1 July 2024, Department of Health published the release of Grant
Opportunity for Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services for the regions of
Ceduna, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, East Kimberley and the Goldfields
which included the Grant Opportunity Guidelines (CoGs) and timing for
closure of the Grant on 12 August 2024. Alcohol and Other Drug services will
be co-designed in collaboration with communities to ensure the support
meets specific community needs.
3
Last updated: 3/7/2024
OFFICIAL
EIM and IM SUPPORT SERVICES
If asked: How will long-standing issues identified in the Local Services
Plans be addressed?
• The Government is serious about targeting entrenched disadvantage and
knows that this cannot be addressed simply by a card.
• Multiple evaluations told us that the former CDC did not work in addressing
complex long-standing issues in communities, which is why the Government
abolished the card and is working with communities on priorities.
• The Local Services Plans represent a whole of community approach to
address the identified longstanding systemic issues.
• The Plans provide agreed-upon action plans to capitalise on existing
opportunities and community strengths to improve support services and
address identified key social issues.
• One brokerage organisation per location is working with local service
providers and the department to develop an approach to support capability
building for their region; these are:
o Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay
o Far West Community Partnerships, Ceduna
o Binarri-binyja yarrawoo (BBY) Aboriginal Corporation, East Kimberley
o City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the Goldfields.
If asked: How do applicants access the Community-led Support Fund and
the department ensure a transparent process?
• Brokerage Organisations have developed communication strategies to raise
awareness of the fund across their region. The Brokerage Organisations
pass proposals to the department, distribute funds to proposals approved
by the department, progress reporting and ensure compliance with grant
agreements.
• Service providers work with their Brokerage Organisation to submit
proposals for activities that link to one or more priorities from their region’s
Local Services Plan.
• The department assesses each proposal as well as seeking input and
recommendations from other relevant Commonwealth agencies as
required. This collaborative approach across government ensures that
funded proposals are not duplicative but complementary to other services
in the region.
4
Last updated: 3/7/2024
OFFICIAL
EIM and IM SUPPORT SERVICES
• The department provides regular communications to communities through
various forums as appropriate.
If asked: Who can apply for funding through the Local Services Plans –
Community-led Support Fund?
• Any service provider or service provider organisation can submit a proposal
for funding for services that align to the Local Service Plan identified
priorities. Brokerage Organisations are not eligible for project funding.
Improving Digital Connectivity in the Northern Territory (NT)
• To date, $7.5 million has been committed over 2 years from 2022–23,
to uplift mobile and internet services and deliver digital literacy support,
in regional and remote NT communities including in four Alice Springs Town
Camps.
If asked: What engagements have occurred since transition from the
CDC?
• Since cessation of the CDC, the department has conducted approximately
over 300 engagements in former CDC locations.
Attachments
•
Attachment A – Support Services Activities
•
Attachment B – Digital Connectivity Project
CONTACT NAME: Justine Fievez
POSITION: Branch Manager, Income
Management Engagement and Support Services
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 3 July 2024
5
Last updated: 3/7/2024
OFFICIAL
EIM and IM SUPPORT SERVICES
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Local Services Plans – Community-led Support Fund (CSF)
Of the $20 million available in 2023-24 across the 4 former CDC sites for the
CSF:
• The Goldfields:
o Allocated $5 million (GST exclusive) via the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
as the Brokerage Organisation.
o To date $2,446,075 (
including an administration fee of $0.2 million) has
been approved to fund 13 initiatives.
o Additional proposals are under consideration.
• East Kimberley:
o Allocated $5.7 million via the Binarri-binyja Yarrawoo Aboriginal
Corporation (BBY) as the Brokerage organisation.
o To date $4,006,576 (
including an administration fee of $0.200 million)
has been approved to fund 6 initiatives.
o Additional proposals are under consideration.
• Ceduna:
o Allocated $5.1 million through the Far West Community Partnerships
as the Brokerage Organisation.
o To date $1,568,267 (
including an administration fee of $0.2 million) has
been approved to fund 6 initiatives.
o Additional proposals are under consideration.
• Bundaberg and Hervey Bay (BHB)
o Allocated $3.2 million through the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre
(HBNC) as the Brokerage Organisation.
o To date $1,929,500 (
including an administration fee of $0.2 million) has
been approved to fund 25 initiatives.
o Additional proposals are under consideration.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Justine Fievez
Branch Manager, Income Management
Engagement and Support Services
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Patrick Burford,
position):
Group Manager, Communities
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
3 July 2024
MO Clearance Date:
3 July 2024
6
Last updated: 3/7/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 3
QB23-000012
Cashless Debit Card Abolition - Media Coverage
Issue
Media articles and interviews in 2023 and 2024 relating to the cessation of
the Cashless Debit Card Program.
Media item
Summary
Response
in QTB
29 June 2024 – ABC
With the next federal election to be held by May 2025, the
GENERAL
News, With the election
runway for the government to deliver on its pre-election
closing in, time is running
commitments is getting shorter by the day.
out for Labor to fulfil the
rest of its agenda
And some of those on shaky ground: the government’s pledges
to criminalise wage theft (without watering down existing state
laws), to make the BasicsCard voluntary… Read More
26 June 2024 – The
The welfare program that replaced the cashless debit card is not GENERAL
West Australian,
being properly monitored by the Albanese Government, a report
Cashless debit card:
from the Auditor-General has found.
Replacement program
not being properly
WA Liberal Senator Matt O’Sullivan, argued alcohol-fuelled anti-
monitored, report finds
social behaviour had increased in regional towns like Kalgoorlie
since the cashless debit card was abolished by the Albanese
Government. Read More
12 June 2024 –
Like other areas of Indigenous policy, Bielefeld said the
GENERAL
The Mandarin, Cashless
problems with the CDC had occurred because of a failure to
Debit Card another
consult widely, and listen to all voices in the room.
consultation failure:
expert
She said this is why the government had been able to implement
a program that was against the wishes of the community while
selling it as something that “was working” and had widespread
support. Read More
7 June 2024 –
There is some evidence to show that in some specific
GENERAL
Evaluation of New
circumstances income management may be a
Income Management in
successful intervention as part of an individually tailored
the Northern Territory
program in which some individuals can use it as
an effective tool; however, there is no evidence to indicate that it
has effects at the community level, nor
that income management, in itself, facilitates long-term
behaviour change.
Making income management a large-scale program – in the
context of the Northern Territory where it
applies to a substantial proportion of income support recipients –
has meant that by-and-large income
management has been implemented as an operational process
with limited working with individuals and
tailoring the program to their needs. Building capacity is a
challenging process that requires time and
resources, and it cannot be developed by simply imposing
restraints. Read More
29 May 2024 –
Preventing or stopping welfare, That goes to people who are
GENERAL
4BC
using the money for smoking and junk food, It's pretty hard to
enforce unless you have a welfare card type system whereby,
and I know this is hugely controversial, whereby people who are,
for instance on the dole or they receive the family tax benefit, an
1
OFFICIAL
electronic payment is made and then they can spend that money
using a card, but it they go to buy cigarettes the card simply
doesn’t work. I suspect it will never happen, and here’s the
reason it will never happen, welfare cards have been trialled with
success in some remote aboriginal communities in the Northern
Territory and South Australia. The whole idea behind those
welfare cards is to stop those indigenous people buying grog.
Listen Now
27 May 2024 – FiveAA
Wendy says, I’m listening today, nothing surprises me. The
GENERAL
Adelaide
sense of entitlement is ridiculous, the support agencies in their
inflated number are a nuisance not a help. Theres a rort going
CEDUNA
on, isn’t there? We’re truly stupid that we’re enabling, the
situation to fix is not impossible, It's just difficult, I'm very cross at
what is happening here and also in Alice Springs, Bring back
the welfare card.
Listen Now
27 May 2024 – FiveAA
I used to work as a cop in Ceduna, says this person, no name,
GENERAL
Adelaide
sounds like the Indigenous were rounded up and told to go back
to community prior to your visit or they'll go back on the welfare
CEDUNA
card
, Such a beautiful town, but it has huge problems, Listen
Now
27 May 2024 – FiveAA
But arguably, and seeing it is taxpayers money, you could run
GENERAL
Adelaide
an argument that anyone anywhere in the country should be on
the welfare card
, It's public money, after all, Why should anyone CEDUNA
be given taxpayers funds to drink or gamble away? Listen Now
23 May 2024 - Eyre
Community leaders in Ceduna want to see the reintroduction of
GENERAL
Peninsula Advocate,
a mutual obligation program in communities to help alleviate the
Ceduna seeking solution
rise in anti-social behaviour issues from occurring in the town.
CEDUNA
to ongoing issues
Business owners and residents have expressed their concerns
about anti-social behaviour and crime which escalated in the
summer period and are fearful it will spark again once the
weather warms up.
The Eyre Peninsula Advocate has seen almost 30 letters from
business owners and residents worried about anti-social
behaviour and crime prevalent in the central business district
and foreshore.The letters outline concern about “stock theft and
abusive customer behaviour”, fighting in public, the “fear of
reprisal”, public alcohol consumption, and the effect it is having
on businesses and residents - and the town itself. Read Now
23 May 2024 - Eyre
Ceduna District Council will take a proposal for mandatory
GENERAL
Peninsula Advocate,
income management to the federal government.
Mandatory motion
As discussions continue about how to deal with rising anti-social CEDUNA
passed
behaviour and crime such as theft, the council looked into
a motion on notice from Councillor Anthony Nicholls at last
week’s May meeting. Read More
21 May 2024 – FiveAA
Around 30 letters from businesspeople and residents, calling for GENERAL
Adelaide
action. I suspect these letters that have triggered have triggered
councillors to ask via a vote to ask the council, the CEO and the
CEDUNA
mayor to in turn ask the Federal Government to look at
reintroducing the cashless welfare card in Ceduna, But let me
just, And I'll just leaf through them and pick out just bits as I see
them, I haven't. Theres one here that has a few specific
incidents that are of concern as a retailer, “a member of my staff,
or I have had to deal with shoplifters being asked to hand over
attempted stolen products which they then spit on or bite before
handing it back, the products then need to be destroyed.
Shoplifters when asked to leave the premises react with not only
reacting with physical violence but and verbal abuse and
towards staff and management, then they re-enter numerous
times to re-abuse and try to steal more products”. Listen Now
2
OFFICIAL
9 May 2024 – Charles
A new study led by Charles Darwin University (CDU) has found:
GENERAL
Darwin University news
Compulsory income management (CIM) in the Northern Territory
is perceived to be ineffective in reducing harm, can contribute to
situations of family violence and is incompatible with the needs
of welfare recipients. Read Now
7 May 2024 – 5CC Port
The community of Ceduna is facing a pressing need for effective GENERAL
Lincoln
strategies to combat public antisocial behaviour. Ceduna
grapples with multifaceted challenges that demand holistic
CEDUNA
approaches. While the alcohol-related ban marks a positive
step, doubts linger regarding its efficacy, particularly among
local businesses. Tackling root causes such as housing
shortages and limited job opportunities is paramount to
addressing Ceduna's broader issues.
Government intervention is urgently needed. While the cashless
debit card trail might not be returning, exploring alternative
support measures and community-led initiative could help
address the challenges Ceduna is facing. Listen Now
6 May 2024 – Hill FM
In certain communities across the Northern Territory, such as
GENERAL
Broken Hill Broken
Darwin and Alice Springs, concerns are mounting over the
welfare of residents amidst rising issues of alcohol abuse.
Advocates are pushing for the implementation of cashless debit
cards as a preventative measure to curb financial exploitation
caused by excessive spending. Listen Now
2 May 2024 – Govt's
The Albanese Government is providing $17.5 million to extend
GENERAL
$17m package for
the operation of support services in former cashless debit card
extension of services ,
communities. The Federal Government move follows calls from
CEDUNA
The Kimberley Echo
the Kalgoorlie-Boulder community, WA Opposition and Federal
Opposition to bring the card back in the wake of serious
antisocial behaviour in the city in January. Read Now
2 May 2024 – Card
Dear editor, Ceduna is living with the consequences of the
GENERAL
removal leaves town
Albanese Government's abolishment of the Cashless Debit Card
under siege, Eyre
(CDC) and its form on making big announcements for no
CEDUNA
Peninsula Advocate
tangible benefit or difference. Read Now
1 May 2024 – Trading
Welfare recipients in the NT are bypassing income management GENERAL
cards for alcohol, The NT
by trading their Basics-Cards for grog and paying drug dealers
News
with phone cards, while the system is “weaponised” by thugs.
New research from Charles Darwin University has found the
cards are ineffective at reducing substance abuse while
exacerbating poverty when “people become creative and then
they develop loopholes”. Read More
30 April 2024 – Call for
Call for Australians to question where government money is
GENERAL
Australians to question
spent in Alice Springs. Shadow Child Protection Minister
where government
Kerrynne Liddle says Australians must question what is being
money is spent in Alice
done with the money spent in Alice Springs and other such
Springs, The Courier
areas. “I think it is extraordinary that the Minister Rishworth
Mail
comes out and says, well, there is no evidence the card actually
worked,” she said. Watch Now
29 April 2024 –
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said antisocial
GENERAL
Outback anger: summit
behaviour was a problem in many places across Australia.
sought on cashless card,
“Many towns, particularly in regional and remote Australia are
CEDUNA
The Australian
dealing with complex and intergenerational problems, where
there is no one solution,'' she said.
“A number of towns experiencing a rise in anti-social behaviour
were never on the CDC program, and some towns that were on
the CDC program have seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour
post the card's removal. Read More
25 April 2024 –
Senators Jacinta Price and Kerrynne Liddle travelled Eyre
GENERAL
Senators hear on
Peninsula with Flinders MP Sam Telfer this week, facilitating
CEDUNA
3
OFFICIAL
violence issues,
forums predominantly centred on the issue of domestic and
Peninsula Advocate
family violence.
Senator Liddle said their visit to Ceduna was also partly due to
concerns that have been raised since the removal of the
Cashless Debit Card. Read More
25 April 2024 -
The defeatism manifests itself in the fact that several of them
GENERAL
Preachy inner-city
say things are so bad they’re thinking about shutting shop and
thinking has no place in
moving away.
CEDUNA
this country town,
Others want to stay and fight to retake their town and restore
NT News
some kind of order. They think that one of the key weapons that
should be reinstated to that end is the Cashless Debit Card.
Read More
24 April 2024 –
The federal government, they are adamant that it isn't the
GENERAL
FiveAA Adelaide
cashless debit card, the withdrawal of that that has led to this,
Yet you look at the issues that Ceduna had before they weren’t
CEDUNA
as bad as what’s happening now, but there was certainly issues,
and how they seemed to go away. Listen Now
26 April 2024 –
Owner of Ceduna Travel and Cruise Tullie Seneca is one of the
GENERAL
HELP, WE'RE NOW A
29 who have detailed constant anti-social behaviour outside her
TOWN UNDER SIEGE,
shop.
CEDUNA
The Advertiser
“Since the removal of the cashless debit card, I have observed a
noticeable increase in such behaviour (and) I fear that these
challenges will persist unless we break the cycle of drug and
alcohol abuse and domestic violence.” Read More
24 April 2024 –
Local residents and community leaders have said since it was
GENERAL
‘Arrogant and ignorant’:
scrapped, the town experienced a rise in crime and “anti-social
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
behaviour”.
CEDUNA
accuses Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese of
The crime rate had been increasing during the period of the
neglecting Indigenous
CDC but only by about 9 per cent per year from 2019 to 2022.
affairs,
Read More
Sky News
23 April 2024 –
On Monday, the community hotel placed alcohol sale restrictions GENERAL
Ceduna’s fears laid bare
on the local bottle-shop, prohibiting the sales of cask wine,
in 29 letters crying for
spirits, or fortified wine before midday.
CEDUNA
help as lawless
behaviour take hold in
It comes as public intoxication, fighting in the street, property
the far west hub,
damage and a rise in shop thefts have “become normalised”,
NT NEWS
with reports of people blatantly walking into shops, grabbing
items in front of shopkeepers and walking out without paying.
A majority of the authors believe the rise in anti-social behaviour
in the town centre has “escalated” since the Albanese
government abolished the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) in mid
2022, which was brought in by the former Coalition in 2016, and
quarantined 80 per cent of people’s welfare payments, only
allowing 20 per cent to be drawn out in cash. Read More
22 April 2024 –
That that's going to be a terrible thing, not just for Ceduna, but
GENERAL
Sky News,
all of the CDC sites. And I suppose from your and my
The Kenny Report
perspective, Chris, the least surprising thing on earth happened. CEDUNA
And that is, some 18 months after Labour abolished the
cashless debit card, we now see the violence and antisocial
behaviour in Ceduna has led to these alcohol restrictions. Quite
frankly, Chris, the Minister here has failed. Watch More
22 April 2024 –
We warned that the decision was going to backfire, and now one GENERAL
Sky News Radio
of the towns that took part in the trial, Ceduna, has been forced
to introduce new alcohol restrictions after a rise in crime and
CEDUNA
anti-social behaviour.
Listen Now
4
OFFICIAL
21 April 2024 –
Ceduna was a guinea pig for the previous coalition governments GENERAL
ABC NewsRadio
Cashless Debit Card that restricted how people on welfare could
spend their money, including a ban on alcohol, The trial ran from CEDUNA
2016 until it was scrapped by the Labor government two years
ago, Alan Souter says the crime rate has soared since then.
Listen Now
19 April 2024 –
Escalating anti-social behaviour in Ceduna has prompted the SA GENARAL
5CC Port Lincoln
government to initiate a 3 month alcohol restriction trial in the
town. Rowan Ramsey saying it all started going downhill when
CEDUNA
federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth decided to
cancel the cashless debit card Listen Now
19 April 2024 –
Some people including our own police commissioner Grant
GENERAL
FiveAA Adelaide
Stevens said that SAPOL’s position was that cashless cards are
one lever that can reduce crime. Listen Now
19 April 2024 –
Rising levels of anti-social behaviour, crime and alcohol-related
GENERAL
Grog Ban Proof Labor is
harm in and around Ceduna in South Australia, a former CDC
Failing Former Cashless
site, has prompted a three-month trial of alcohol restrictions from CEDUNA
Debit Card Communities,
Monday.
MP Michal Sukkar
The statistics don’t lie – the voluntary income management
‘SmartCard’ that Labor implemented is not working – and the
fact these restrictions are being put in place is further evidence
that the rivers of grog have returned and the devastating
consequences with it. Read More
18 April 2024 –
Federal Liberal MP for Grey, Rowan Ramsey, hoped the ban
GENERAL
Violence triggers booze
would stop “escalating lawlessness and violence”. “Let's hope it
ban,
makes a difference. But it is clear this measure is a penalty on
CEDUNA
The Advertiser
the whole community to address the sins of a minority.”
He reiterated his call for the Cashless Debit Card to be
relaunched after Labor scrapped the controversial welfare
payment scheme in 2022. Read More
15 April 2024 –
But look, with the cashless welfare card, the debit card,
GENERAL
FiveAA Adelaide
obviously there are some people who can't control their
spending and just ruining their own health and the health of
those around them as a result. Listen Now
15 April 2024 –
Escalating lawlessness and violence in Ceduna have prompted
GENERAL
SA Government Resorts
the SA Government to trial a three-month stricter liquor
to Liquor Restrictions to
restriction in the town. Read More
Quell Ceduna Unrest,
Rowan Ramsey
13 April 2024 –
Ask the elders in Alice Springs, the Kimberley, Pilbara or
GENERAL
No relevant experience,
Carnarvon what they think of the cancellation of cashless debit
The West Australian
card. The city-centric decision was all about the optics of
paternalism.
That is the last thing on the mind of those brave Aboriginal
women elders in communities fighting the scourge of alcoholism,
violence and abuse whilst looking after grandchildren, nieces
and nephews. What's worse? The resultant pain and suffering,
imposition of curfews, the indignity of arrest due to uncontrolled
behaviour resulting from fetal alcohol syndrome or ideological
optics? Read More
13 April 2024 –
I am surprised that the reluctance of both State and Federal
GENERAL
Why don’t we care?,
governments to release independent reports causes so little
The West Australian
commentary or concern with the general public.
Recent examples include the EDO report (News, 12/4), but other
recent examples include the independent report on the impact of
stopping the cashless debit card on communities (News, 11/4),
5
OFFICIAL
These are just two recent examples and it seems government of
both sides of politics obscure the true information behind
excuses like “commercial confidentiality” or are simply reluctant
to actually answer the questions posed to them. Read More
12 April 2024 –
A former unit manger told the court that each cell was so
GENERAL
Seven WA
damaged, every inmate had the potential to hang oneself. Early
findings of an independent report about the cashless welfare
card are being kept secret.
It comes as new research suggests the card could make some
family situations worse.
in many cases it has exccerbated social harms and made
people's live more difficult.
It found domestic violence services spent time helping people
with card isses rather than providing support; contacting
services australia was often difficult, and poor mobile phone
reception didn't help either.
Listen Now
12 April 2024 –
The cashless debit card is under the microscope again tonight.
GENERAL
6PR Perth
New research from charles darwin University has discovered the
card doesn't address social issues, and can actually make some
family situations worse. Listen Now
12 April 2024 –
Typical weak leadership of the so-called Prime Minister, He took GENERAL
6PR Perth
away that cashless card in remote towns of Australia, Causes all
the drama, Then in your interview he blames the border
protection on the previous government. Listen Now
12 April 2024 –
Lead author and CDU Senior Lecturer in Professional Practice – GENERAL
Study, Charles Darwin
Families and Communities Dr Steven Roche said the study
University, Compulsory
concluded CIM was considered a punitive approach to reducing
income management
harm and was incompatible with the needs of welfare recipients.
doing more harm than
good
“The findings detail CIM’s negligible impact on behaviour change
around social harms and suggest that CIM can exacerbate
issues such as family violence, where CIM is weaponised by
men who use violence in situations of family violence,” Dr Roche
said. Read More
11 April 2024 –
The big concern at the moment is an independent review after
GENERAL
6PR Perth
the abolition of the cashless debit card is apparently being kept
secret, according to shadow social services minister Michael
Sukkar.
I think you can infer the government has sat on this for over 12
months because it confirms what is coming out of communities,
which is a marked increase in violence and antisocial behaviour
once the cashless debit card was abolished by this government.
Listen Now
11 April 2024 – The
Early findings of an independent review of the fallout from
GENERAL
West Australian,
abolishing the cashless debit card are being kept secret,
Cashless card probe
prompting demands for the Federal Government to “come clean”
shrouded in secrecy
with the public about the consequences of its controversial
decision.
A reported increase in crime and social unrest after the card was
wound up has fuelled calls from local mayors and State and
Federal Opposition for it to be reintroduced. Read More
6
OFFICIAL
28 March 2024 –
Mr Paterson walked back earlier comments in support of a
GENERAL
NT News
commonwealth takeover of the Territory for a defined period,
acknowledging the “battle scars” left by 2007…. Among the
measures introduced included deployment of the Australian
Defence Force, suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act, the
compulsory acquisition of township leases for a period of five
years, income management, and compulsory medical checks for
children. The Intervention left a
mixed legacy. Read More
28 March 2024 –
Theres gotta be a degree of personal responsibility here and
GENERAL
FiveAA Adelaide
part of it involves getting off the piss, doesn’t it? The link
between grog and violence in these communities is just
appalling. Grant Stephens, we asked him after the Ceduna issue
blew up about a month ago when Peter Dutton had come out
and said, well, we did have a cashless welfare card there, in
SAPOL’s views these cards played a roll. Why keep extending
unfretted and unquestioned welfare who can’t handle their
money because they blow it all on booze and drugs Listen Now
26 March 2024 –
He’s very glad he made the link, but that you made the link
GENERAL
ABC Esperance
between increased antisocial behaviour and the scrapping of the
cashless welfare card, The fact absolutely needs to be
reinforced over and over to the state and federal governments. It
is obvious that helps domestic violence and antisocial behavior.
Listen Now
25 March 2024 -
Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor Glenn Wilson believes that the rising
GENERAL
The West Australian,
in unacceptable behaviour is a direct result of the Albanese's
Admit mistake, Albo
Government scrapping the cashless card.
It seems to me that this cashless card problem has been
popping up quite frequently around the troublesome locations.
Read More
23 March 2024 – The
The relentless crime wave in Kalgoorlie is forcing locals to flee in GENERAL
West Australian, ‘Last
droves. “Mr Wilson said there were a variety of complex and
KALGOORLI
Stop Kalgoorlie’
interrelated reasons for rising anti-social behaviour in Kalgoorlie-
Boulder but the rise correlated strongly with the Albanese
E
Government's decision to scrap the cashless welfare
card following its 2022 election victory. Read Now
20 March 2024 – ABC
The context of my fieldwork on the cashless debit card, You
GENERAL
Radio National
know; the cashless debit card, I'm sure your listeners are well
aware of it, This really blunt edge of this more punitive. Perhaps
the government could learn something about budgeting from the
people they impose. Listen Now
17 March 2024 –
The Albanese Government is investing more than $6 million in
GENERAL
The Hon Amanda
2023-24 to strengthen and increase targeted financial literacy
Rishworth MP Media -
and capability supports for vulnerable Australians in the
Strengthening financial
Northern Territory. The investment builds on existing services
wellbeing support in the
and expands and responds to demand for these services across
Northern Territory
the Northern Territory, including services available to those
moving from Income Management to enhanced Income
Management. Read Now
17 March 2024 – ABC
Academic Eve Vincent states that the Cashless Debit Card
GENERAL
Radio National Australia
promoted a racialised sense of paternalism and dependency,
and removes a sense of agency for participants. There was a
strong sense among some people that they were exposed and
made to feel deeply ashamed by the card. Play Now
7
OFFICIAL
15 March 2024 –
Execution the issue for cashless card. Those who cannot be
GENERAL
Business News –
trusted to use a taxpayer safety net responsibly should have
Execution the issue for
their income managed.
Cashless Debit Card
Read Now
25 February 2024 –
The ABC surveyed twelve retail businesses and almost all
GENERAL
ABC News Regional,
experience theft or damage some every day. Ceduna was a trial
social unrest in Ceduna
area for the cashless, well fair debit card from 2016 to 2022.
Support for the measure here is mixed, but some people blame
CEDUNA
the federal government. Play Now
17 February 2024 - ABC
The scrapped Cashless Debit Card has left a divisive legacy in
GENERAL
News, Ceduna looks for
the South Australian coastal town of Ceduna, which is facing a
solutions to antisocial
rise in crime and antisocial behaviour. Federal member for Gray,
behaviour in wake of
Rowan Ramsey, linked what he called a ‘collapse of social
CEDUNA
Cashless Debit Card
order’ in Ceduna to the Scrapped card.
Read more
17 February 2024 - The
Surging violence and robberies in the South Australian outback
GENERAL
Australian, Dutton wants
town of Ceduna have prompted calls from Opposition Leader
cashless welfare cards
Peter Dutton for the immediate national return of cashless
back as remote town
welfare cards to combat alcohol-fuelled crime in remote
CEDUNA
violence surges
communities. Read more
16 February 2024 -
Supporting indigenous people to build their skills to get jobs has
GENERAL
ABC News Adelaide
played a role. The capitalist welfare card CDP and housing,
(radio)
they're not issues you can arrest your way out of. Play Now
CEDUNA
16 February 2024 –
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth has brushed off
GENERAL
Eyre Peninsula
calls to make an unannounced visit to Ceduna as the continued
Advocate, Minister
politicisation of a long-standing issue. Federal Grey MP Rowan
dismisses Ceduna
Ramsey said Minister Rishworth should make a snap visit to
CEDUNA
challenge
Ceduna to “see what the casual tourist and locals see”, in a town
that has seen an uptick in break-ins and thefts. Read more
14 February 2024 – The
Remote communities across the country, including in South
GENERAL
Advertiser, ‘Crisis’ after
Australia, have been left “in crisis” after the scrapping of a
card ditched
controversial welfare payment scheme, critics claim. Read Now
CEDUNA
12 February 2024 – The
Community leaders, residents and business owners in Ceduna
GENERAL
Advertiser
are showing concern over the Labour government scrapping the
Cashless Debit Card after a rise in youth violence and anti-social
behaviour in the area. Read Now
CEDUNA
8 February 2024 – ABC
Ms. Rishworth states “I’d suggest [that] rates of crime, use of
GENERAL
Eyre Peninsula
alcohol or other antisocial behaviour in Ceduna is linked to the
Cashless Debit Card is misleading”. Play Now
CEDUNA
8 February 2024 – ABC
ABC reports Ms. Rishworth says there is no evidence or data to
GENERAL
Eyre Peninsula
support the claim of escalating lawlessness and violence in
Ceduna by Mr. Ramsey. Play Now
CEDUNA
8 February 2024 – ABC
MP Rowan Ramsey links ‘at least two’ deaths and escalating
GENERAL
Eyre Peninsula
lawlessness in Ceduna to the withdrawal of the Cashless Debit
Card. Play Now
CEDUNA
8 February 2024 –
“Since Labor abolished the Cashless Debit Card, [Ceduna] has
GENERAL
Rowan Ramsey media
been subjected to increased violence, house break-ins, shop
release
theft and incidences of alcohol abuse and domestic abuse.”
Read Now
CEDUNA
8
OFFICIAL
7 February 2024 – Sky
Nick Carter, Snr. Fellow, Menzies Research Centre, states that
GENERAL
News Regional
the withdrawal of the Cashless Debit Card that has led to an
increase in domestic violence in Ceduna. Play Now
CEDUNA
5 February 2024 – Triple
O’Connor MP Rick Wilson states ‘many people are reporting the GENERAL
M Goldfields 981
worst conditions in terms of antisocial behaviour in 40 years’ and
says main factor is the ‘removal of the cashless debit card’. Play
Now
5 February 2024 – Daily
If an abuser takes a card, it restricts a woman’s capacity to leave GENERAL
Mail Online
a violent situation, particularly in remote communities. Read
More
2 February 2024 – 4GY
The Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor suggested that the absence of the GENERAL
Gympie with John Laws
Cashless Debit Card has resulted in a marked increase in anti-
social behaviour in the community. Play Now
11 January 2024 – The
Kununurra is like the wild west. A Secret police dossier into
GENERAL
West Australian
alcohol-harm revealed that child neglect was so extreme in one
East Kimberley town that an eight-year-old boy attempted
suicide. Read More
10 January 2024 – The
Liberals say reintroducing cashless debit card into communities
GENERAL
West Australian
who seek it is the way to save children. Read More
9
OFFICIAL
2023
12 November 2023 –
The Daily Telegraph: Minister Amanda Rishworth
GENERAL
The Daily Telegraph
accuses NT Government of blame shifting. The
Territory Government’s calls or needs-based funding to
address the crisis in domestic and family violence.
Read More
31 October 2023 – The
Witness after witness to a senate inquiry into poverty
GENERAL
West Australian,
has shared how compulsory income management and
Advocates call for end of
onerous Centrelink requirements are damaging
compulsory income
Indigenous people and communities. Read More
management
30 October 2023 – ABC
An Alice Springs taxi operator has avoided jail after
GENERAL
News, Alice Springs taxi
admitting to selling several thousand dollars’ worth of
driver Rodney Virgin
alcohol out of his minibus and charging customers
avoids jail time over sale
through their stored-value welfare payment cards. Read
of alcohol from minibus,
More
using customers’
BasicsCards
23 October 2023 –
The Voice debate is finally over. The result was
GENERAL
Great Southern Herald,
conclusive with every State rejecting the Prime
The way forward is
Minister’s proposal. Debates as to why this proposal
investing in Indigenous
failed will continue for years to come.
programs that work
The question remains, how do we overcome
Indigenous disadvantage? Read More
21 October 2023 – The
John Bowler, previous mayor of the City of Kalgoorlie
GENERAL
Kimberly Echo, Outgoing
said: “if you think the cashless debit card did not work
Kalgoorlie-Boulder
you only have to look at the number of people sleeping
mayor John Bowler says
on the streets and causing problems now that the card
job was ‘labour of love’
has been scrapped. The numbers have never been
higher, and It seems more are moving here every
week”. Read More
24 August 2023 - 3CR
During the election period the Labour Government
GENERAL
Melbourne – Breakfast
talked about how they were going to make the cashless
Show
welfare voluntary, as soon as they came into
government what we have seen is that it’s not
voluntary. Play Now
21 August 2023 – ABC
Figures show the end of the cashless welfare card has
GENERAL
Esperance - Breakfast
had very little effect on crime in Western Australia, Myer GOLDFIELDS
with Terri Campbell
Kordic reports: The controversial welfare management
scheme was scrapped at trial sites in the East
Kimberley and Goldfields in March, WA police
published its crime statistics for the quarter last week
revealing mixed results. Play Now
11 August 2023 – The
Elder Ian Trust, from the town of Kununurra, called for a GENERAL
Australian, How tourism
major crackdown on the sale of alcohol. Trust was a
is helping Indigenous
supporter of the cashless debit card and has publicly
communities chart their
lamented that Labor did not consult his community
journey
before cancelling it. Read More
7 August 2023 – ABC
Then-shadow minister for Indigenous Australians Linda GENERAL
News – Labor
Burney announced Labor would “rebuild the issues
announces changes to
around voluntary, or involuntary, income management”
the BasicsCard ahead of
if it won the election. Play Now
the 2022 election
7 August 2023 – ABC
At the 2022 election, Labor promised to make the
GENERAL
News – Promise Check:
BasicsCard Voluntary. Here’s how that promise is
Make the BasicsCard
tracking. Read Now
Voluntary
5 August 2023 – 2GB
“It might actually achieve some good, same with the
GENERAL
cashless welfare card, which some indigenous leaders
Radio
believe should remain in place, its Labor Party policy to
10
OFFICIAL
end the cashless welfare card, so there might be some
genuine benefit in the Voice.” Play Now
11 July 2023 – Crikey,
In this term of government alone, Prime Minister
GENERAL
We’ve always had a
Anthony Albanese’s “non-racist” Labor party has
voice – one to
reformed cashless welfare back to its racist roots,
Parliament is not the
making income management an almost exclusive
answer
feature for Indigenous peoples, just as it was initially
designed to be. Read Now
6 July 2023 – Hill FM
Opinion – bring in a cashless card right across
GENERAL
Broken Hill Radio
everyone on the dole. Play Now
5 July 2023 – 2GB
Practical solutions for the Australians on welfare, Labor GENERAL
Radio
implemented election commitments regardless of what
communities said. Play Now
1 July 2023 – Sky News
Far too many Australians are caught in multi-
GENERAL
Extra
generational, welfare dependent households.
And far too many never break that cycle. Never. Now,
as part of the cashless debit card trial in my electorate
of Hinkler, we analysed the history of New Start
recipients. Now, some of the stats from then are very,
very sobering. Play Now
30 June 2023 – Seven
MP Keith Pitt has slammed the Albanese government,
GENERAL
Radio, House of
after it Abolished a trial of the cashless debit card in
Wellness
Bundaberg last year. Mr Pitt says thousands of welfare
recipients are now spending money On non-essential
items like alcohol, instead of food. Play Now
30 June 2023 – Koori
Labor's reintroducing some new things on the cashless
GENERAL
Radio, Blackchat
card to keep parts of it Play Now
29 June 2023 – Sydney
The Albanese government promised to abolish
GENERAL
Criminal Lawyers,
cashless welfare, but is now in the midst of setting up
Albanese Abolishes
the stages of a rebranded scheme that does the same.
Cashless Welfare, Then
Read More
Rebrands and
Relaunches It With Plans
To Expand
28 June 2023 – The Ray
Removal of the cashless debit card and alcohol bans.
GENERAL
Hadley Morning Show
Play Now
24 June 2023 – 3CR
Out of the Social Security system, particularly around
GENERAL
Melbourne Radio
cashless welfare and a lot of their supporters and even
Labour themselves referred to it as the Indue card,
Now, through this process, what they've done with the
cashless debit card is they have ended that. Play Now
24 June 2023 –
As the focus was on the biggest constitutional debate in GENERAL
Townsville Bulletin,
Australia's history, a dutiful parliamentary attendant
Evidence of suffering is
pressed publish on five reports Prime Minister Anthony
hidden in plain sight
Albanese hoped no one would read.
Read More
23 June 2023 – Perth
Labor's been accused of reintroducing the cashless
GENERAL
Live Radio
debit cards under what they're calling the smart card
scheme, Now, cashless welfare card, you'll remember,
was officially abolished by the Albanese government.
Play Now
23 June 2023 – Cairns
As the focus was on the biggest constitutional debate in GENERAL
Post, Anti-social
Australia’s history, a dutiful parliamentary attendant
behaviour on the rise
pressed publish on five reports Prime Minister Anthony
with abolition of cashless
Albanese hoped no one would read. Read More
debit card
23 June 2023 – Labor
Labor’s new cashless welfare bill was supported by the
GENERAL
breaks election promise
Coalition and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. Read More
with new income
management card
11
OFFICIAL
23 June 2023 – National
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has slammed federal GENERAL
Indigenous Times,
Labor, accusing the party of hypocrisy after new income
Thorpe, Greens Slam
management legislation passed parliament. Read More
Labor hypocrisy on
income management
23 June 2023 – SBS
Senator Thorpe has accused Labor of "paternalistic
GENERAL
News, Labor accused of
racism" saying the "assimilation continues" after the
reintroducing cashless
return of a scheme similar to the former Cashless Debit
debit cards under
Card. Read More
SmartCard scheme
23 June 2023 – National
The government's been accused of continuing the
GENERAL
Indigenous Radio
cashless debit card and there are referendum
Service Interview
misinformation concerns, Hello, I'm Adam Evans with
the National Indigenous News, Cashless welfare cards
have officially been abolished, but opponents claim the
controversial scheme has returned, earned under
another name, Under the new laws, those still on
income management schemes will be able to use the
smart card. Play Now
23 June 2023 –
Cashless welfare cards have been officially abolished,
GENERAL
Kalgoorlie Miner, A new
but opponents claim the controversial scheme has
type of cashless debit
returned under another name. Under the new laws,
card
those still on income management schemes will be able
to use the SmartCard, allowing access to tap-and-go
transactions. Read More
22 June 2023 – ABC
GENERAL
Hobart Radio Interview
The cashless debit card and then a lesser known
welfare measure called Parents Next have both
been walked back by the Albanese government,
Look, what led me to that topic of sort of
just how punitive Social Security has become in
Australia and what that's like for the very people
living it, People on welfare, I guess, is, I think, a
concern that is pretty wide. Play Now
22 June 2023 – Five AA
Yeah, I'm just wondering if we could bring in the
GENERAL
Adelaide Radio Interview
cashless card system and maybe hey, look, I know you
can't really tell, but, I mean, can we just stop selling
them alcohol? Well, the cashless card system seemed
to work in Ceduna and other places it was...Play Now
22 June 2023 – The
Cashless welfare cards have been officially abolished,
GENERAL
Canberra Times, Labor
but opponents claim the controversial scheme has
accused of reintroducing
returned under another name. Read More
cashless debit cards
22 June 2023 – the
Labor government passed its cashless welfare bill with
GENERAL
Antipoverty Centre,
the support of the Coalition, voting down an
Labor betrays welfare
amendment that would have sunsetted the program.
recipients on cashless
Read More
welfare in reversal of
election promise
22 June 2023 – Greens
Conservatives team up to reintroduce Cashless Debit
GENERAL
Media Release
Card 2.0. Read More
21 June 2023 – Herald
More than a third of adults in Bundaberg and Hervey
GENERAL and
Sun, ‘Risky drinkers’:
Bay were “risky drinkers”, while demand for domestic
BUNDABERG AND
Shock results of QLD
violence services have been increasing, according to a
HERVEY BAY
cashless debit card
quietly released plan for the former cashless debit card
region report
trial site. Hinkler MP Keith Pitt seized on the data to say
it showed why the CDC program should not have
been shutdown and replaced with the voluntary
SmartCard. Read More
17 June 2023 – The
The so-called voice to parliament, enshrined in the
GENERAL
Australian, The Voice will
much-praised Uluru Statement from the Heart, claims to
12
OFFICIAL
be a distraction from the
establish a constitutionally guaranteed Indigenous voice
real problem
in our legislative and executive arms of government.
The current government scrapped the cashless welfare
card in many dysfunctional communities that prevented
money from being spent on alcohol (and gambling)
rather than food for families. It was scrapped despite
earnest Indigenous voices crying out for its
continuation. Read More
15 June 2023 –
The
The number of people on income management in the
GENERAL
Kimberley Echo, Card
East Kimberley has plunged from 1209 when it was
trick costing us millions
compulsory to just 43 - despite the Government
spending $166 million on its new scheme. Read More
10 June 2023 – The
The collapse of public order in the South Australian
GENERAL
Australian, Calls for
town of Port Augusta is reviving the debate about
cashless card return in
cashless welfare cards as a hardcore element within
town by crime wave
the Indigenous population struggles with grog and
violence. Read more
CONTACT NAME: Justine Fievez
POSITION: Branch Manager, Income Management
Engagement and Support Services
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 1 July 2024
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Justine Fievez
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include position):
Patrick Burford, Group Manager, Communities
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
1 July 2024
MO Clearance Date:
1 July 2024
13
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 4
QB22-000096
Future of Income Management
Issue
What is the Government’s plan for the future of Income
Management?
Headline response
The Albanese Government committed to listening to communities
on how Income Management can best work for them.
Any decisions about the future of Income Management will be based
on genuine consultation.
TALKING POINTS
• The Albanese Government is delivering a long-term plan to ensure
certainty, choice and support to communities after the abolishment
of the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) program.
• First Nations people and other stakeholders have called for
a measured approach to reforming Income Management.
• We heard that any further reform needs to reflect the complex
needs of participants and to mitigate any disruption to the ability
to manage their money.
• Decisions that impact First Nations people must be made
in partnership with them and we have committed to ensuring First
Nations people are involved in decisions which affect them.
Why has the Government reformed Income Management prior to
genuine consultation taking place? [4 September 2023 changes]
• The Income Management Reform Act responds to clear messages
from some communities and individuals that the BasicsCard is out
of date and no longer meets their needs.
• Entrance to Income Management closed on 4 September 2023.
All newly eligible participants are now placed on enhanced Income
Management and existing Income Management participants can
choose to move to enhanced Income Management.
1
Modified 26/06/2024
OFFICIAL
• Between 4 September and 3 May 2024:
o 4,272 Income Management participants have chosen to move
to enhanced Income Management, and
o 5,825 people have been placed onto enhanced Income
Management who would otherwise have been placed
on Income Management.
• These changes are about empowering participants through choice,
improved support, and modern technology through the SmartCard.
Why hasn’t the Government ceased compulsory Income
Management yet, as recommended by their own Senators in the
Community Affairs References Committee report on the ‘Extent
and nature of poverty in Australia’? [tabled 28 February 2024]
• The Community Affairs References Committee recommended
in their report that “the Australian Government continue to reform
income management with the view to replace compulsory income
management with voluntary models that empower families and
communities”. This is what the Government is doing.
• The Government is committed to meaningful consultation on the
future of Income Management. Further, decisions that impact First
Nations people must be made in partnership with them, and we
have committed to ensuring First Nations people are involved
in decisions which affect them.
• Consultation is ongoing. Once consultation is complete this will
inform further decisions on the future of Income Management.
Why isn’t the Government bringing back the Cashless Debit Card
given the unrest seen in former Cashless Debit Card sites?
• The Government committed to abolishing the CDC and that is what
we have done.
• There is no evidence showing the CDC had a positive impact on
individuals or communities.
• As I have stated previously, alcohol misuse in communities
is a complex issue.
2
Modified 26/06/2024
OFFICIAL
• The Government will continue to consult directly with participants
and communities on what the future of Income Management looks
like, and what is best for them.
Why should an Income Management participant move
to enhanced Income Management?
• Enhanced Income Management utilises a contemporary SmartCard
that is capable of supporting a range of mainstream banking
functions, including ‘tap to pay’ payments, online shopping and
BPAY bill payments, and will be accepted by most EFTPOS
terminals.
• Specialised Services Australia staff are available to support anyone
who is new to enhanced Income Management and provide tailored
support, including with budgeting and paying bills.
• My department is working with communities to deliver a range
of targeted support services that benefit individuals, families and
the broader community. This includes initiatives supporting
financial literacy and money management and programs that
support pathways to greater economic independence.
Why do enhanced Income Management legislative instruments
operate far beyond when the Government committed to
abolishing compulsory Income Management?
• Three legislative instruments have been made to operationalise
changes to enhanced Income Management.
• These instruments provide for all existing Income Management
participants to have the choice to move to enhanced Income
Management and access the modern technology of the SmartCard,
and for all newly eligible participants in existing Income
Management areas to be placed on enhanced Income
Management, ensuring no new participants are issued
a BasicsCard.
3
Modified 26/06/2024
OFFICIAL
• To demonstrate the Government's commitment to ongoing and
meaningful consultation on the future of Income Management, the
legislative instruments have been made for an appropriate amount
of time that will enable community-based consultation on the future
of Income Management to be completed, and decisions made
on future reforms.
• Once consultation is complete and further decisions are made
on what the future of the programs looks like, additional legislative
changes will be made. This will include reviewing the ongoing
requirement for these instruments.
How are you ensuring genuine consultation on the future of
Income Management?
• To ensure consultation with communities is culturally sensitive and
meets the needs of communities, my department has partnered
with First Nations organisation, ETM Perspectives (ETMP).
• The organisation is leveraging existing local knowledge and
relationships with communities to ensure the approach is respectful
and reflective of community requirements.
• To date, the department and ETMP have spoken to 3,995
community members in approximately 72 communities
across the Northern Territory (including APY lands), East
Kimberley region in Western Australia, and Shepparton in Victoria.
No further consultations have been undertaken since April 2024.
What is the Government’s reaction to the ANAO report on the
Transitional Arrangements for the Cashless Debit Card?
• The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has tabled the
performance audit of the Transitional arrangements for the
Cashless Debit Card (CDC) in Parliament.
• I thank the ANAO and my department for their collaborative efforts
in undertaking this audit.
• The purpose of the audit was to assess the transitional
arrangements from the CDC to the enhanced Income Management
(IM) program.
4
Modified 26/06/2024
OFFICIAL
• The ANAO has concluded that the transitional arrangements
managed by my department in the transition to enhanced IM
program were largely effective.
• The audit examined the effectiveness of the department’s
governance arrangements for the transition, the risk management
practices, the design of the enhanced IM program, and the
procurement processes in place to support the transition to the
enhanced IM program.
• My department has agreed to with the ANAO’s recommendations
and has taken steps to address the suggested opportunities for
improvement and has already implemented the recommendations
in relation to governance committees and risks in full.
• This will strengthen the department’s oversight of the enhanced IM
program.
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Income Management
• As at 3 May 2024, there are 17,375 participants on Income Management
across Australia. 86 per cent are First Nations people. All figures are
available on data.gov.au.
o There are 16,564 Income Management participants in the Northern
Territory (as at 3 May 2024).
•
There are 579 Income Management participants receiving Age Pension as
their primary payment type (total across Australia, as at 3 May 2024).
o 558 of these people are participating under the voluntary Income
Management measure.
5
Modified 26/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Enhanced Income Management
• The number of program participants by each site as at 3 May 2024 is:
Northern Territory
11,972
East-Kimberley (WA)
53
Goldfields (WA)
32
Greater Perth and Peel (WA)
39
Kimberley (WA)
38
NG Lands and Kiwirrkurra Community (WA)
25
APY Lands (SA)
67
Ceduna & Surrounds (SA)
16
Greater Adelaide (SA)
55
Playford (SA)
109
Bundaberg & Hervey Bay (QLD)
11
Cape York (QLD)
77
Logan (QLD)
398
Rockhampton and Livingstone (QLD)
107
Bankstown (NSW)
80
Greater Shepparton (VIC)
60
Other / Out of Area
207
Total
13,346
Enhanced Income Management legislative instruments
• The Income Management Reform Act requires certain criteria to be defined
in legislative instruments to ensure it operates effectively.
• The legislative instruments include operational elements for:
o voluntary enhanced Income Management participation,
o state and territory-based referral measures (Supporting People at Risk
and Child Protection), and
o compulsory measures (Long Term Welfare Payment Recipient,
Disengaged Youth and Vulnerable Welfare Payment Recipient (VWPR)
measures) and VWPR Principles.
• The legislative instruments make the enhanced Income Management regime
available in existing Income Management locations.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Patrick Boneham, Branch Manager
Income Management Policy and Data
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Patrick Burford
position):
Group Manager
Communities Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
26 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
26 June 2024
6
Modified 26/06/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 5
QB22-000016
Funding for financial wellbeing services
Issue
How is the Government supporting vulnerable people and
communities impacted by cost-of-living pressures and natural
disasters?
Headline response
• The Government is working hard to address cost of living
pressures and support people doing it tough.
• We also acknowledge the important role community
organisations play in providing direct assistance to vulnerable
Australians.
• I have been closely monitoring the impact of cost-of-living
pressures and natural disasters on the demand for frontline
services that people can access when in financial distress.
• This includes considering regular advice from the sector-led
National Coordination Group, to ensure we respond to the
emerging needs of communities in a timely manner.
• With cost-of-living pressures and natural disasters, we know
more people are experiencing acute financial crisis, which is
putting sustained pressure on services struggling to meet
demand.
• Strengthening frontline services and support for those in crisis
has been a key focus for our government. It is also important to
build longer-term financial capability and resilience, to prevent
people from reaching crisis point in the first place.
1
Modified: 24/06/2024
OFFICIAL
• We are committed to providing cohesive investment along a
continuum of support, from prevention and early intervention to
response and recovery.
• Since being elected, the Albanese Government has committed
an additional $177.2 million in financial wellbeing programs,
including emergency relief, food relief, financial counselling and
other supports like pre-crisis and early intervention programs.
• That means, from 1 July 2024, annual funding will total around
$145 per year, growing to $153 million per year in 2025, up
from the current $120 million per year.
• Our government’s investments are a clear illustration of our
ongoing dedication to be responsive in times of crisis, and to
support individuals before they get to crisis point.
IF ASKED – Will the Government increase base funding for
emergency relief and food relief services in response to
increased demand for food assistance?
Base funding
• Each year, the Government provides more than $51 million in
base funding for emergency relief, shared among 192 providers
and reaching around 460,000 people.
• This support can include direct financial assistance, part
payment of car rego, insurance or other utility bills and
immediate food relief.
• Food is the most common form of assistance provided. In fact,
food related support makes up 48 per cent of total support
provided by emergency relief providers, which means about $24
million per year of the base funding is going towards food related
support.
2
Modified: 24/06/2024
OFFICIAL
• The Government provides a further $1.4 million a year in base
funding so the three national food relief providers – Foodbank
Australia, Oz Harvest, and SecondBite – can increase
emergency relief providers’ access to a cost-effective supply
of food items.
Additional funding under this government
• With cost-of-living pressures and natural disasters, we know
more people are experiencing acute financial crisis, which is
putting pressure on services struggling to meet demand.
• That is why the Albanese Government has made significant
ongoing investments on top of the annual base funding.
• Since being elected, the Government has committed an extra
$153.9 million in financial crisis support, with the vast majority
directed to emergency and food relief.
• It is important to note the Government’s investment in
emergency relief and food relief is a contribution to the sector,
and not the sole source of funding. State and territory
governments also play a key role in funding these types of
services.
IF ASKED – Will the Government boost food relief support
within the Kimberley?
• The Government funds food relief support in the Kimberley
through the emergency relief and food relief programs.
• Nationally each year, the Government provides more than
$51 million in base funding for emergency relief, shared among
192 providers and reaching around 460,000 people. The main
type of assistance offered by emergency relief providers is food.
3
Modified: 24/06/2024
OFFICIAL
• The Government provides a further $1.4 million a year in base
funding so the three national food relief providers – Foodbank
Australia, Oz Harvest, and SecondBite – can increase
emergency relief providers’ access to a cost-effective supply
of food items.
• The 3 food relief providers have discretion to allocate funding
across Australia, based on an assessment of need and demand.
• Foodbank Australia distributes funding to its state-based
organisations, including Foodbank WA.
• The Government recently allocated $4.9 million in additional
2023-24 funding across all Commonwealth-funded emergency
relief and food relief providers to boost services nationally, in
response to cost of living pressures. This includes over $380,000
to boost emergency relief services within Western Australia.
ONLY IF PRESSED about why Foodbank WA’s funding
proposal for new distribution hubs in the Kimberely was
rejected by DSS:
• The Australian Government’s emergency and food relief
programs are geared towards providing immediate financial
support and material aid to people in need. Construction of food
hubs and other capital works are not in scope.
• The Commonwealth funds Foodbank Australia to increase
emergency relief providers’ access to a cost-effective supply of
food.
• Foodbank Australia has discretion to allocate funding across
Australia, based on an assessment of need and demand.
• Foodbank distributes funding to its state-based organisations,
including Foodbank WA.
4
Modified: 24/06/2024
OFFICIAL
• It is important to note the Government’s investment in
emergency and food relief is a contribution to the sector, and not
the sole source of funding. State and territory governments also
play a key role in funding these types of services.
CONTACT NAME: Mary Hodge
POSITION: A/g Branch Manager Financial
Wellbeing
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 24 June 2024
Patrick Burford
DSS Input Cleared By (include position): Group Manager
Communities Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
24 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
24 June 2024
5
Modified: 24/06/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 6
Financial Wellbeing
QB24-000019
Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity Review outcomes
Issue
What are the main outcomes of the recent departmental review
of Financial Wellbeing and Capability programs (the review)?
Headline response
• Following the review of the Financial Wellbeing and Capability
(FWC) Activity over the last 12 months, the Government has
announced an additional $138.0 million over 5 years in funding
for FWC activities:
o
$114.8 million over 5 years from 2023–24, and around
$27.7 million a year ongoing, to boost frontline crisis
supports for Australian households impacted by
cost-of-living and disasters.
o
$23.3 million over 4 years from 2024–25, and around
$7.7 million a year ongoing, for early intervention and
prevention supports, and enabling supports for the financial
counselling sector.
• This means a cohesive Government investment along the
financial wellbeing continuum, and across two key streams
of support: financial capability and resilience, and financial crisis
response and recovery.
• 5-year grant agreements will be offered for future FWC grants.
1
OFFICIAL
Financial Wellbeing
TALKING POINTS
• The review of Emergency Relief, Food Relief, Commonwealth
Financial Counselling and Financial Capability, and Financial
Resilience programs has recently finished.
• The review involved extensive stakeholder consultation including:
o
100 stakeholder and provider interviews.
o
80 client interviews and survey of
500 clients.
o
112 submissions to a public consultation paper.
• The review confirmed FWC services provide a vital support for
individuals and families in financial stress and hardship.
• Going forward, FWC supports will be delivered via 2 key streams:
1. Financial Capability and Resilience (prevention and early
intervention focussed activities); and
2. Financial Crisis Response and Recovery (remedy focussed
activities).
• The suite of FWC initiatives funded under the recently announced
$23.3 million funding boost include:
o $11.2 million over 3 years from 2025–26 to expand the
Saver Plus program to enable participants to build financial
skills, capabilities and resilience.
o $6.3 million over 3 years from 2025–26 for No Interest Loan
Scheme for Vehicles, providing safe and affordable loans
for people to purchase a vehicle for essential use.
o $4.7 million over 3 years from 2025–26 to increase access
to financial counselling services through the National Debt
Helpline (appointment booking system and online webchat),
to support individuals in personal financial difficulty.
2
OFFICIAL
Financial Wellbeing
• The $114.8 million funding boost will be mostly allocated
to Emergency Relief, Food Relief and Commonwealth Financial
Counselling programs, with the exact quantum still to be decided.
• Part of this funding will support the expansion of the Food Relief
program to supply cost effective material aid to Commonwealth-
funded Emergency Relief providers, in addition to food.
• It will allow local service footprints for some food and material relief
providers, to address service gaps, particularly in regional and
remote areas.
• The Government will also continue to provide support for STEPS,
a virtual workplace to help financial counselling students complete
220 hours of work placement to meet their diploma requirement.
• The Government is also reviewing Money Support Hubs to focus
on early intervention supports.
• The Government will also support Financial Counselling Australia
to increase capacity and capability supports for the financial
counselling sector.
• Ceasing microenterprise grants from 1 July 2025 will reprioritise
$4.7 million over 2025-26 to 2027-28, and an ongoing $1.6 million
per year thereafter, to other activities across the FWC Activity.
If ASKED – When will the new FWC Activity grant rounds open?
• The next FWC grant rounds are being designed by the
department, informed by the review, and sector feedback.
• It is expected grant rounds will be open for application in mid-2024,
with new grants commencing 1 July 2025.
• 5-year grants will be offered for providers from 1 July 2025.
3
OFFICIAL
Financial Wellbeing
• This will provide the sector the greater certainty and stability
needed to plan, innovate and attract and retain staff.
If ASKED – When will the review report be available?
• A summary of submissions to the FWC Review consultation paper
will be published on the DSS Engage website, along with
submissions.
If ASKED – What were the key findings from the review?
Key findings include:
• Ongoing high demand for services, from the compounding impacts
of COVID, cost-of-living, and natural disasters.
• New client groups are accessing FWC services, including people
with jobs and mortgages, and younger Australians.
• More clients are presenting with complex needs, such
as addiction, mental health, and family and domestic violence.
• Wrap-around and case managed services are considered best
practice for complex client needs.
• Service providers are experiencing rising operating costs.
• Staff recruitment, retention and uplift, is a key issue.
• Service gaps exist in regional and remote areas.
• Services play a key role in disaster response and recovery.
CONTACT NAME: Mary Hodge
POSITION: A/g Branch Manager, Financial Wellbeing
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 28 May 2024
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Mary Hodge, A/g Branch Manager Financial
Wellbeing
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Patrick Burford, Group Manager Communities
position):
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
28 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
4
FOI LEX 51051
Document 7
OFFICIAL
Gambling
QB22-000062
Gambling
Issue
Why has the Government not yet responded to the Murphy Inquiry?
Headline response
• The Albanese Government takes seriously our responsibility to protect Australians
– particularly children and young people – from the harms of online gambling.
• We are working diligently through the Committee’s 31 recommendations as we
develop the Government’s response.
• The underlying principle guiding our response is harm reduction. Since the report
was handed down, we have been consulting widely with stakeholders to
understand the impacts of each recommendation and ensure that any action does
not have unintended consequences.
• Reforms taken forward from the inquiry will build on the successive actions we
have taken since coming to office to create a safer environment for online
gambling.
• We have passed legislation to ban the use of credit cards for online gambling,
because you shouldn’t be able to bet with money you don’t have. This ban came
into effect on 11 June 2024.
• Last year, Minister Rowland and I launched BetStop, the National
Self-Exclusion Register. When you register with BetStop, you can immediately
exclude yourself from all online gambling services, for a minimum of three months
to a lifetime, with a single registration.
• Online gambling companies cannot open an account or accept a bet from people
who have self-excluded, and cannot send them marketing material.
• Over 24,000 people have signed up so far. Australians aged 40 years and under
represent the vast majority of registrants, and more than a third have chosen to
self-exclude for a lifetime. This is a game-changer when it comes to helping
individuals stay safe from gambling harm.
1
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Gambling
• Complementing BetStop, we have introduced mandatory pre-verification – meaning
companies must verify a customer’s identity when they register for a new account
and before they can place a bet. This strengthens protections for underage
Australians and those self-excluded through BetStop.
• With BetStop up and running, all ten measures under the National Consumer
Protection Framework are now in place, with significant action delivered by the
Albanese Government since May 2022.
• We have implemented monthly activity statements, compulsory staff training and
new evidence-based taglines that replace ‘gamble responsibly’ with stronger
messages about gambling harms.
• And the Government has worked with jurisdictions to update the classification rules
for online and video games, introducing mandatory minimum classifications for
electronic games containing gambling-like content from September 2024.
• State and territory governments play a key role in regulating online gambling. To
strengthen joint efforts, last year I convened two meetings of gambling ministers
from the Commonwealth, states and territories – the first of these meetings since
2017.
• Reducing harm from online gambling is not a set and forget exercise. I am proud of
the steps we have taken so far and I assure you the Albanese Labor Government
will keep working to protect Australians from gambling harm.
IF ASKED about links with suicide
• Gambling is linked to a number of social harms, including suicide.
• The Government is carefully considering its response to the inquiry report,
which includes recommendations and evidence on the relationship between
gambling and suicide.
• As part of the Commonwealth’s $50 million per year investment in financial
counselling services, around $6 million per year is for dedicated help with
gambling harm.
• The Government works closely with state and territory government on harm
minimisation, who fund a number of counselling services to help people
experiencing gambling harm.
2
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Gambling
National Framework
National Framework Measure
Responsibility
Date of effect
1. Prohibition of lines of credit –
Except by certain
Cwlth (ACMA)
17 Feb 2018
oncourse bookmakers.
2. Payday lenders – Discourages small amount credit Cwlth (ACMA)
17 Feb 2018
contracts.
3. Customer verification – pre-verification
Cwlth (AUSTRAC)
29 Sep 2023
commenced 29 September 2023.
(pre-verification)
2 May 2022
(72 hours)
26 Feb 2019
(14 days)
4. Offering of inducements – Prohibits all specified
States /Territories
26 May 2019
inducements.
5. Account closure – Available/accessible closing of
States /Territories
26 May 2019
wagering accounts.
6. Voluntary opt-out pre-commitment scheme –
States /Territories
26 May 2019
Consumer tool to pre-commit to deposit limits.
7. Activity statements – Meaningful monthly
States /Territories
31 July 2022
statements for consumers.
8. Consistent gambling messaging – evidence-
States /Territories
30 March 2023
based, consistent gambling messaging to replace
‘gamble responsibly’.
The 7 taglines are:
• Chances are you’re about to lose.
• You win some. You lose more.
• Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?
• What’s gambling really costing you?
• What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit
limit.
• Imagine what you could be buying instead.
• What are you really gambling with?
9. Staff training – Training of certain staff in delivery of States /Territories
30 March 2023
responsible online wagering services.
10. National Self-Exclusion Register – Self-exclusion Cwlth (ACMA)
21 August 2023
from all online wagering.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Mary Hodge
A/g Branch Manager
Financial Wellbeing
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include position):
Patrick Burford
Group Manager
Communities Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
20 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
21 June 2024
3
Modified: 20/06/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 8
Industry Funding Model for Financial Counselling
QB22-000020
Industry Funding Model for Financial Counselling
Issue
What is the Government doing to implement the industry funding
model for financial counselling recommended in the Sylvan Review?
Headline response
• Financial counsellors can act as a lifeline for people with financial
difficulty, and we are working to ensure they can meet the
demand for their services.
• The Government is partnering with industry stakeholders and the
financial counselling sector to implement an innovative industry
funding model to increase Australians’ access to financial
counselling services.
• In April, I announced the establishment of the Financial
Counselling Industry Fund, a new not-for-profit independent body
responsible for collecting, allocating and distributing industry
contributions. The Government has invested $1.5 million
to support the initial set up of this Fund.
• This follows the Government securing three-year funding
commitments from industry representatives and businesses from
the banking, finance, insurance, energy, online gambling and
telecommunications sectors.
• To date, industry funding commitments total almost $36 million,
or around $11.9 million per year.
• This will help around 30,000 more people each year access
services like face-to-face appointments with financial counsellors
and support through the National Debt Helpline.
1
Modified: 120/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Industry Funding Model for Financial Counselling
• Funding is expected to flow from late 2024 or early 2025.
• We continue to expect full sign on and are working to secure
contributions from other industry representatives, including from
the water sector, debt collectors and buyers, and other credit
providers.
• In addition, the Government has committed $10.5 million to
improve data collection and analysis to support the model’s
operations and an evaluation to inform the longer-term approach
to the model.
• Industry contributions are on top of the Government’s funding
of nearly $50 million a year for financial counselling services.
IF ASKED – Who set up the Financial Counselling Industry Fund
and who decided on the Chair and Board?
• Having been involved with the development of the model for over
two years, Financial Counselling Australia was tasked with setting
up the independent body.
• Financial Counselling Australia established a decision-making
steering committee with representatives from industry and the
financial counselling sector to make key decisions about the body’s
structure and governance arrangements.
• The steering committee agreed the inaugural board will have
seven members from both the financial counselling sector and
industry.
2
Modified: 120/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Industry Funding Model for Financial Counselling
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• In 2019, Ms Louise Sylvan AM led the
Countervailing Power: Review of the
coordination and funding for financial counselling services across Australia (the Sylvan Review).
• In response to the Sylvan Review, the former Government committed to
introduce an industry funding model, to provide increased funding
for the financial counselling sector.
• The Sylvan Review proposed additional funding from relevant industry
sectors of $45 million per year.
• DSS commissioned further demand modelling using a survey of unmet
demand that collected a significant amount of data from the financial
counselling sector on wait times for an appointment. DSS subsequently
revised the funding required to address unmet demand to $18.1 million in
2023–24, with the gap expected to increase over the following two years, to
$18.7 million in 2024–25, and $19.4 million in 2025–26 to reflect the wage
inflation forecast set by Treasury.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position: Mary Hodge, A/g Branch Manager,
Financial Wellbeing
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By:
Patrick Burford
Group Manager
Communities Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
20 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
21 June 2024
3
Modified: 120/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 9
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB24-000030
*NEW* Ceasing grants and measures
Issue
What are your intentions for departmental grants that are due to
cease 30 June 2024?
Headline response
• As at 31 May 2024, there are
3,889 grants due to cease by
30 June 2024.
• The total committed funding amounts for the life of the ceasing
grants across all activities is
$87,136,738 (ex GST).
• Of the
3,889 grants due to cease by 30 June 2024:
o
3,789 will cease as anticipated. Service providers have
either been notified, or do not require notification, as they
are time limited or for one-off funding. Of these,
3,604 are
Volunteer Grants.
o
96 grants are being extended with variations to the current
grant agreements, progressing through the Community
Grants Hub.
o New grant opportunities are underway for
3 of the ceasing
grants.
o My department is actioning
1 mutual termination at the
request of the service provider.
TALKING POINTS
• As at 31 May 2024, there are
3,889 grants due to cease by
30 June 2024.
• Of the
3,889 ceasing grants,
3,789 will cease as anticipated.
• Service providers have either been notified, or do not require
notification, as they are time limited or for off funding.
• The total committed funding amounts for the life of the
3,889
ceasing grants across all activities is
$87,136,738 (ex GST).
• I acknowledge the importance of confirming future funding
arrangements to support service providers in planning their
business and maintaining service delivery.
• My department endeavours to advise grant recipients of future
arrangements
6 months before the grant is scheduled to cease.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
If ASKED – Do you monitor ceasing grants?
• My department has robust and transparent grant processes in
place to ensure grants administration is conducted in a manner
consistent with the requirements and 7 key principles outlined in
the
Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 2017 (CGRGs)
and grant policy frameworks.
• My department actively monitors ceasing grants prior to the cease
date. This provides a sufficient timeframe for changes to program
design or performance measures to be considered.
If ASKED – How are you managing continuity of service for grants
that are ceasing?
• For grant activities where there are service continuity implications,
my department endeavours to advise grant recipients of upcoming
arrangements
6 months before the grant is scheduled to cease.
• For all service continuity related grants, my department aims to
have a final decision on selection processes and, where possible,
new grant agreements and variations provided to grant recipients
3 months prior to the grant activity ceasing.
CONTACT NAME: Mark le Dieu
POSITION: Group Manager
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 6/6/2024
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• The department has robust and transparent grant processes in place to
ensure grants administration is conducted in a manner consistent with the
requirements and 7 key principles outlined in the
Commonwealth Grants
Rules and Guidelines 2017 (CGRGs) and grant policy frameworks.
• The Community Grants Hub actively monitors ceasing grants prior to the
cease date. This provides a sufficient timeframe for changes to program
design or performance measures to be considered.
• Grant recipients have been notified of the future of their funding, except
those that were funded for time limited or for one-off funding.
• Data included in talking points and headline response is a point in time as at
31 May 2024. For detailed breakdown please refer to
Attachment A.
• Additional information related to a number of specific programs (with ceasing
grants) is detailed at
Attachment B.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Mark le Dieu
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Patrick Hetherington
position):
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
6 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
3
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 10
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB24-000029
Seniors Connected / Be Connected
Issue
What is the Australian Government doing to support older
Australians experiencing loneliness, social isolation and digital
exclusion?
Headline response
In October 2023, I announced $42 million to extend the highly
successful Be Connected program for an additional 4 years until
30 June 2028. The Be Connected program aims to increase the
confidence, skills and online safety of older Australians in using
digital technology. It empowers people to better connect with their
community and thrive in the digital world.
TALKING POINTS
• The Be Connected program empowers people to better connect
with their community and thrive in the digital world.
• It supports older Australians to connect with their friends and loved
ones, particularly when they are unable to leave the house, or
when they live far way.
• As part of the program extension, on 22 May 2024 I announced:
-
the Be Connected program has now supported over 2 million
Australians, and
-
the Good Things Foundation will continue to manage the
Be Connected network and grants, supporting over 3,800
local community organisations to deliver in-person digital
skills training.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
If ASKED – Why is the Australian Government cutting funding to the
Seniors Connected program?
• Funding of $10 million was allocated to the Seniors Connected
program from 2019-20 to 2023-24 to support community
organisations to deliver activities to address the loneliness and
social isolation experienced by many Australian aged 55 and over
(and First Nations people aged 50 and over).
• The Seniors Connected program was intended to be time-limited
to test a variety of interventions to address loneliness and social
isolation for older Australians.
• I understand 9 of the 12 Village Hubs have indicated they are
confident they will be able to continue providing elements of their
current Village Hub model once Australian Government funding
ceases.
• Learnings from the program will inform any future investment into
initiatives to address loneliness for older people in Australia.
• Older people can continue to access existing Government
supports, such as My Aged Care, Lifeline, Beyond Blue and
MensLine.
If ASKED – Was there an evaluation of the Seniors Connected
program?
• An independent evaluation of the Seniors Connected program,
conducted by Urbis Pty Ltd, was completed in October 2023.
• The report is not publicly available due to legal obligations including
in respect of information disclosure requirements.
If ASKED – What steps are being taken to ensure older people
experiencing loneliness and social isolation can access support?
• My department is working closely with the Seniors Connected
program service providers to ensure any existing services users
are referred to alternate supports, such as My Aged Care, Lifeline,
Beyond Blue, MensLine and other local support services.
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• My department has informed organisations funded under the
Seniors Connected program of opportunities to apply for future
grants via GrantConnect.
• In addition, it should be noted that states and territories are
considering and implementing local solutions to address the issue
of loneliness more broadly. For example:
o An Inquiry into Loneliness and Social Isolation in the ACT is
currently underway. The closing date for submissions was
23 February 2024. The reporting date for the inquiry is not
specified in the Terms of Reference and has not yet been
announced.
o The 2021 Inquiry into Social Isolation and Loneliness in
Queensland looked at how investment by the Queensland
Government, other levels of government, the
non-government, corporate and other sectors may be
leveraged to prevent, mitigate and address the drivers and
impacts of social isolation and loneliness across
Queensland.
▪ On 30 May 2024, the Queensland Government
announced $1.25 million in funding to the Council
on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland to establish
the first peak body for Seniors Social Isolation
Prevention.
CONTACT NAME: Emily Hurley
POSITION: Branch Manager, Community Cohesion
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 34 Julyne 2024
3
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Background and Key Facts
o The Seniors Connected program wasis a $10 million initiative funded over
5 years, from 2019-20 to 2023-24, aimed at supporting Australians aged
55 and over (and First Nations people aged over 50 years) experiencing
loneliness and social isolation. It compriseds 2 distinct elements:
o The
Phone Support Activity (G’day Line) offers senior Australians
an opportunity to call and have a free, anonymous, friendly chat with
a volunteer to alleviate loneliness ($0.802 million GST exclusive
allocated in 2023-24).
▪ This element of the program will cease on 30 September 2024,
operating for an additional 3 months to utilise unspent 2023-24
funds.
o The
Village Hub Activity compriseds a national network of 12 Village
Hubs established to improve the social connections of senior
Australians through peer-led social activities ($1.1 million allocated
in 2023-24).
▪ This element of the program will ceased on 30 June 2024.
Locational / place considerations
o Since March 2024, 3 Ministerial Correspondence items have been
received regarding the ceasing of the Seniors Connected Village Hubs,
specifically focussed on the Orange Village Hub located in the Calare
electorate:
o MC24-003318: The Hon Andrew Gee MP
o MC24-002642: The Hon David Littleproud MP
o MC24-004912: Mr Philip Donato MP
o On 13Since May 2024 a, 2 Ministerial Correspondence items washave
been received regarding the ceasing of the Phone Support Activity (G’day
Line):
o MC24-005751: Ms Kate Cahill, Griefline Executive
o MC24-007311: Mr Bridget Archer MP
Recent media
• Recent media in relation to the ceasing of the Village Hubs Funding, all
focussed on the Orange Village Hub, includes:
o 31 May 2024 – The Hon Andrew Gee MP –
Minister Shows no
Remorse in Ruthless Scrapping of Orange Seniors Village Hub
4
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
o 10 May 2024 – Central Western Daily –
Orange Seniors Village
Hub: More Spin from Minister!
o 19 April 2024 – Central Western Daily –
Federal Government’s
Seniors Funding Cut a Disgrace
o 19 April 2024 – Central Western Daily –
They don’t care about us
Petition
• Petition No. EN6046 was tabled in the House of Representatives and
recorded in the Hansard on 14 May 2024 by 135 petitioners.
• The petition seeks “Senior Village Hubs the right to rollover any unspent
funds at 30t June 2024 and receive ongoing funding to maintain core
operating costs for a coordinator to continue the hard work already done to
implement.”
• A response is due towas submitted to the Standing Committee on Petitions
within 90 days, by 12 August on 5 June 2024 (MC24-005801) and tabled in
the House of Representatives on 1 July 2024.
Question Time
• On 29 May 2024 during House of Representatives Question Time, Member
for Calare, the Hon Andrew Gee MP asked the following question:
Mr GEE (Calare) (14:47): To the Minister for Social Services, the Orange
Seniors Village Hub provides support, education and community for many
seniors in Orange, New South Wales, yet funding for the village hub
program has been cut, with no support for it in the recent budget. This has
devastated our seniors. Orange City Council has confirmed that the
alternative funding your department has suggested does not cover seniors
and will not support the Orange Seniors Village Hub. Will you restore
funding to the Orange Seniors Village Hub and support seniors in Orange
and across our region?
• Minister Rishworth’s response is outlined below. A recording of the Question
Time and the full Hansard transcript can be found on the APH website.
Ms RISHWORTH (Kingston—Minister for Social Services) (14:47): I'd like
to thank the member for his question. The Albanese government is
supporting older Australians and delivering cost-of-living relief to every
Australian. I recognise the important work that organisations like the
Orange City Council undertake in local communities across Australia
through the programs and services they deliver. The Seniors Connected
program which funded the seniors village hubs was always scheduled to
cease under those opposite on 30 June 2024. In saying that, the Albanese
Labor government is looking at ways we can support Australians to stay
5
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
connected to their family and friends and to confidently and safely use the
internet and other digital technologies. I'm happy to continue to work with
the member to ensure that we can look at other opportunities, but when it
comes to this program, the program was ceasing under those opposite and
the funding will finish on 30 June.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position: Emily Hurley
Branch Manager, Community Cohesion
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Letitia Hope
position):
Deputy Secretary, Families and Communities
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
3 July4 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
6
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 11
Support for Volunteering
QB22-000014
Support for Volunteering
Issue
• What is the Government doing to support and encourage
volunteering in Australia?
Headline response
• The Albanese Government is committed to supporting
the critical role of volunteers in communities across Australia.
• Between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2026, the Government
is investing around $81.4 million through its Volunteering and
Community Connectedness programs to support volunteering.
• The National Strategy for Volunteering, funded by my department
and developed by Volunteering Australia, was launched
by Volunteering Australia during the National Volunteering
Conference in February 2023.
• The National Strategy provides a blueprint for the next 10 years
that will enable volunteering in Australia to thrive by providing
strategic objectives for the sector and all governments to work
towards.
• The Government is embarking on a national advertising
campaign, for launch in 2024, to help boost participation
in volunteering.
1
Modified: 21/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Volunteering
TALKING POINTS
National Strategy for Volunteering
• The National Strategy is inclusive of the interests of volunteers,
Volunteer Support Services and volunteer involving organisations
across Australia.
• The Government provided Volunteering Australia $1.2 million
to consult, develop and co-ordinate implementation of the National
Strategy.
• My department is currently working with Volunteering Australia
on the approach for continued co-ordination and monitoring of the
National Strategy.
National Advertising Campaign
• The Government is investing $3 million on a national advertising
campaign, which will aim to build awareness of volunteering and
highlight the various ways in which young people can benefit
by contributing their time and skills and the benefits that
volunteering has in communities.
If asked, when will this campaign commence?
• The campaign is anticipated to launch in late 2024, pending
Government approval.
2
Modified: 21/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Volunteering
Volunteer Grants
• Each year the Government provides up to $10 million
in Volunteer Grants to help community organisations to support and
encourage volunteering in their communities.
• Over 3,600 Volunteer Grants are awarded annually.
• $66,225 is available to each electorate to provide funding
of between $1,000 and $5,000 to community organisations.
• Grant funds, expended to benefit volunteers, are often used for the
purchase of small equipment or fuel, screening and training,
to increase participation, and promote awareness of volunteering
opportunities and ensure volunteer safety.
• Members of Parliament from all 151 electorates conducted
an Expression of Interest process and nominated eligible
organisations for the 2023−24 Volunteer Grants round.
• My department invited those nominated organisations to apply for
grant funding from 6 November 2023 through to 4 November 2023.
• In 2023−24, the Government will provide up to $9.63 million
(GST excl.) in Volunteer Grants to up to 3,681 organisations around
Australia to support volunteers and encourage volunteering (refer
Minister Rishworth Media Release 11 May 2024).
• Members of Parliament were advised of the outcomes of the
2023−24 Volunteer Grant round in late April 2024.
Engaging Young People in Volunteering
• The Government has provided $1 million to Communiteer, a social
enterprise that connects, engages and mobilises volunteers,
to engage young people in volunteering.
3
Modified: 21/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Volunteering
If asked, why has funding been provided to Communiteer?
• Through the development of the National Strategy, we know young
people who engage in volunteering prior to entering the workforce
are more likely to have lifelong connection to volunteering.
• Communiteer has been provided this one-off funding, to help
address the urgent need to increase volunteer numbers.
• Communiteer is working with educational institutions and volunteer
involving organisations to match young people to volunteering
opportunities that align with their interests, passions and skills.
Volunteer Management Activity (VMA)
• From 1 July 2021, the Government is providing up to $40.1 million
(GST exclusive) over 5 years for the VMA.
• Since July 2021, state and territory volunteering peak bodies have
used their VMA funding to partner with community organisations
to reduce barriers to volunteering and to ensure these organisations
are able to effectively recruit, retain and train their volunteer
workforce.
• To support the VMA, and streamline online services,
Volunteering Australia also received funding of $3.4 million
to undertake a project to develop an online Volunteer Management
Platform, which will provide the sector with a centralised place
to access online resources and services.
• The Volunteer Management Platform, is expected to be complete by
2025.
4
Modified: 21/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Volunteering
Support to Volunteer Resource Centres (VRCs)
• The Government will provide $1.75 million to VRCs through their
state and territory volunteering peak bodies to assist VRCs to
continue to align their services with the current VMA and work in
partnership with their peak body.
o There will be 35 VRCs funded $50,000 (GST exclusive)
each for 2024-25.
• Prior to this, since 2021 the Government has provided $10.6 million
(GST exclusive) in funding for VRCs, comprising $6.6 million in
2021-22 and $4 million in 2022-23 and 2023-24, to enable them to
review and adapt their services to align with the changes to the
VMA.
o Of the $4 million, 35 VRCs were directly funded $100,000
(GST exclusive) each over the 2022−23 and 2023−24
period.
• My department is working with the 35 VRCs to support their
alignment to the new model.
National Volunteer Week
• Volunteering Australia has been provided $240,000 over 3 years
to support National Volunteer Week in 2023, 2024 and 2025,
which is held in May each year.
Small grants to VIOs
• The Government is providing $3.5 million (GST exclusive) to
state and territory volunteering peak bodies to administer small
grant rounds to volunteer involving organisations (VIOs).
5
Modified: 21/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Volunteering
• Small grants of between $10,000 and $20,000 each will support
building the capacity of volunteering programs that in turn support
the social and economic participation of vulnerable and
disadvantaged people. This funding will also support these
organisations with aligning their programs with the strategic
objectives of the National Strategy for Volunteering.
• This also complements the work of the VMA to help the sector to
recruit, train and retain volunteers.
• VIOs can contact their state or territory volunteering peak body
for more information.
Recent Media
Facebook - 4 June - Southern Volunteering SA
• I am aware of that the Chair of Southern Volunteering SA
released a statement on its Facebook page, notifying the change
of their service delivery model.
• Southern Volunteering SA are closing their Christie’s Beach
Office on 30 June 2024, and moving to a model where staff work
both from home and out within the community.
• Volunteering SA & NT are continuing to engage and partner with
Southern Volunteering on the VMA, and have offered for SVSA to
use their office space free of charge, whenever required.
• My department continues to engage with Southern Volunteering
as they transition to this new way of working in supporting
volunteering within the local community.
6
Modified: 21/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Volunteering
Contact Officer’s Name and
Emily Hurley, Branch Manager, Community
Position:
Cohesion Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Chris D’Souza, Group Manager,
position):
Community Policy and Engagement
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
21 June 2024
MO Clearance Date
To be completed by MO
7
Modified: 21/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 12
Entrenched Disadvantaged
QB23-000017
Targeting Entrenched Community Disadvantage package
Issue
What is the Australian Government doing to address entrenched
disadvantage in Australian communities?
Headline response
• The Government will deliver an almost $200 million integrated
package to address entrenched disadvantage in communities
by building on, and learning from, the success of existing
place-based and social impact investing initiatives.
• $100 million has been committed over 10 years from 2024−25
to implement the Commonwealth Outcomes Fund.
TALKING POINTS
• The Commonwealth has committed $100 million over 10 years
from 2024−25, with a further $5.5 million to implement, manage
and evaluate the Outcomes Fund (the Fund).
• The Fund delivers on the Australian Government’s 2023−24
Budget commitment to co-design a Fund with state and territory
governments, philanthropy, investors and service providers under
the Targeting Entrenched Disadvantage (TED) package.
• Following the co-design process in 2023−24, with over
100 stakeholders, the Fund will commence from 2024−25, and
extend from 5 years to up to 10 years, until 2033−34. This
is to account for timeframes required in negotiating
outcomes-based contracting and outcome delivery.
1
OFFICIAL
Entrenched Disadvantaged
• The Fund will make payments to states, territories and service
providers based on outcomes achieved through agreed social
impact projects.
• The Fund will support projects in 3 thematic areas, in alignment
with Commonwealth Government strategic priorities. These are:
o
Focus Area 1: Supporting positive outcomes for families and
children, to prevent cycles of intergenerational and
community disadvantage.
o
Focus Area 2: Overcoming barriers to employment and
broadening opportunities to support people, and communities
facing concentrated unemployment.
o
Focus Area 3: Supporting people facing or experiencing
homelessness through improved access to prevention and
early intervention services.
• Projects under the Fund will be selected through a series
of Expression of Interest (EOI) invitations to state and territory
governments and service providers.
• The first EOI process will bewas releasedopened on 28 in late -
May 202 and closes 4, closing on 2 August 2024
inviting state and territory governments with well-developed
projects to submit an EOI. States will be expected to contribute to
the Fund.
• The second EOI process will provide an opportunity for states with
less experience in outcome based contracting to submit an EOI.
This will give states additional time to prepare a proposal and seek
support to build their capability.
2
OFFICIAL
Entrenched Disadvantaged
• The third EOI process will invite service providers and social
enterprises to submit proposals to directly enter contracts with the
Commonwealth Government.
• On 7 May, together with Dr Anne Aly MP, I launched the
Early Years Strategy, noting the Fund targets the early years
as a key area for the Funds direction.
• At the launch, I noted that the Fund is different to how human
service programs are usually funded, and in practice, means
community organisations will be encouraged to be innovative in the
way they work.
• The Fund will provide the flexibility for service providers to adapt
and innovate their services, so they are tailored to the needs
of families and children to make a difference in the early years.
PROGRESS OF OTHER MEASURES UNDER THE TED PACKAGE
ANNOUNCED IN THE 2023-24 BUDGET
• Significant progress has been made in implementing the
Targeting
Entrenched Disadvantage package by the Department of Social
Services (the Department), the Treasury and the Australian Bureau
of Statistics.
Jointly led by the Department and the Treasury:
Whole of Government Framework to Address Community
Disadvantage (the Framework).
•
$7.8 million was provided over 2 years from 2023−24, to develop
a Whole-of-Government Framework to Address Community
3
OFFICIAL
Entrenched Disadvantaged
Disadvantage (the Framework). The Framework will outline
strategic objectives and key principles to guide how the Australian
Government partners with communities for more impactful and
targeted investment.
• The Framework will include a series of activities, including but not
limited to the development of strategies and principles to support
investment in and implementation of place-based approaches
across Australia, consolidating and sharing learnings from
place-based approaches and social impacting investing initiatives,
and identifying data needs and capabilities to improve communities
access to data and support the outcomes-based contracting.
• To inform the development of the Framework, officials from the
department and the Treasury have completed a stocktake
of place-based approaches currently funded across the
Commonwealth.
• The stocktake identified over 60 place-based approaches operating
in more than 300 locations across urban, regional and remote
communities, spending more than
$600 million each year.
• The findings highlighted the prevalence of place-based
approaches, the diverse reasons for their implementation, and the
challenges faced in achieving cohesive and impactful outcomes.
• These findings will underpin the development of the Place-based
Fundamentals Strategy, a key deliverable of the Framework.
• To further support the development of the Framework, the
Australian Government Actuary has been engaged to identify how
actuarial modelling could better inform how to measure avoided
costs and long-term savings from place-based approaches.
4
OFFICIAL
Entrenched Disadvantaged
Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children (IDAC)
• The Government has entered into a partnership with 20
philanthropic partners under the Investment Dialogue for Australia’s
Children (IDAC) at the Inaugural Investment Dialogue Roundtable
on 4 December 2023.
• Through IDAC, the Government will work in partnership with
philanthropy and communities to collectively support ways
of working that lead to an inclusive and equitable Australia where
all children, families and communities can fulfil their potential.
• Philanthropic partners have so far collectively invested $65 million
in initiatives to complement the Government's $200 million package
(statement at
Attachment A).
Led by the Department:
Stronger Places, Stronger People (SPSP)
•
$64 million for place-based partnerships, has been committed
over 6 years from 2023−24, to extend the Stronger Places,
Stronger People (SPSP) initiative in the existing 10 communities
for 10 years and enhance resourcing for shared decision making
and local solutions in 6 of these communities.
• SPSP partnerships empower community members to co-design
solutions which address their needs and aspirations, including
support for local initiatives which deliver better out-comes
in education and employment, child and maternal health, youth
justice, and participation.
5
OFFICIAL
Entrenched Disadvantaged
• The SPSP initiative continues to progress in partnership with state
and territory governments in Logan, Rockhampton, and Gladstone
(QLD); Bourke and the Macleay Valley (including Kempsey)
(NSW); Mildura (VIC); Burnie (TAS); the Far West Region
(including Ceduna) (SA); and the Barkly Region (including Tennant
Creek) and Gove Peninsula (NT). Refer to
Attachment C for
further community partner information and evidence of early
outcomes.
• New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmanian and
Northern Territory Governments have confirmed support for the
continuation of the SPSP partnerships. The department continues
to work closely with the Victorian Governments to confirm their
continued commitments.
• The implementation of local solutions funding, through shared
decision-making practices, will provide an opportunity to test and
refine practice and activities, and will include the development
of practice and evaluation frameworks to underpin progress and
demonstrate outcomes.
• The department is working closely with a range of governments
and other partners to consider broader approaches to place-based
partnerships in the context of Closing the Gap commitments and
the APS Reform agenda.
Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI)
•
$11.6 million has been committed over 3 years from 2023−24 for
a Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI).
• The SEDI comprises of 2 elements:
6
OFFICIAL
Entrenched Disadvantaged
o Provision of small grants (of up to $120,000 GST exclusive),
from June 2024, to build the capability of the social enterprise
sector administered through Impact Investing Australia, and
o Provision of education resources and mentoring services,
from June 2024, coordinated by Social Enterprise Australia.
• Impact Investing Australia opened a grant round seeking
applications for the capability building grants on 4 June 2024.
Impact Investing Australia will seek applications up until December
2025, allowing 6 months to complete activities prior to the end of
SEDI.
• The investments will help social enterprises better work with
vulnerable individuals and communities across the country.
• We want all Australians and communities – no matter the postcode
– to have the best opportunity to thrive, and social enterprises offer
innovative and tailored solutions to help tackle entrenched and
intergenerational disadvantage.
• This funding will help social enterprises to grow and attract more
capital and enables more of these innovative businesses to
prosper.
• By investing in these organisations to build on their capability, we
can ensure that more Australians in need can access support to
build better lives for themselves, and their communities.
• On 6 April I announced that:
o Impact Investing Australia (IIA) was appointed to administer
SEDI Capability Building Grants. IIA was selected through an
open selection process. The department is working with IIA to
finalise the grant application process.
7
OFFICIAL
Entrenched Disadvantaged
o Social Enterprise Australia (SEA) was appointed as the
Education Coordinator. They will draw on input from the
sector to gather resourcing in one accessible place to support
the sector, including social enterprises, intermediaries and
funders. SEA will also help coordinate communities
of practice and peer support networks (media release
at
Attachment A).
• The SEDI aligns with work being undertaken by Government
to support the social enterprise sector in boosting labour force
participation and economic development as recommended in the
Employment White Paper.
• The SEDI will also support building the supply of social enterprises
to meet the demand in employment services, including through
Workforce Australia and Disability Employment Service.
• The SEDI will enable social enterprises that focus on employment
and community benefit to expand. Like Jigsaw, who provide
employment for young people with disability, or Streat, providing
employment for young people experiencing disadvantage through
cafes, catering and horticulture businesses.
• Community benefit companies like Yackendandah Community
Development run a local shop, ensuring the community has access
to fuel and other rural supplies when the only outlet was closed.
• The grants have benefited social enterprises like Ability Made,
a for-purpose medical technology enterprise, who utilised a grant
to develop an impact measurement framework to strengthen their
capacity to measure and report on their impact outcomes, raising
$1.2 million in capital.
8
OFFICIAL
Entrenched Disadvantaged
• Jarjum, an Aboriginal preschool who used grant funding to build its
theory of change and impact measurement framework, as well
as develop a business model leading to external investment
in grants and donations of $1.2 million.
• The Government has also committed to ‘backing social enterprises’
to provide training and employment opportunities through the
Employment White Paper released in September 2023. This will
involve supporting the social enterprise market to grow,
in particular building the supply to meet the demand from
employment services.
Led by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS):
Life Course Data Initiative (the Initiative)
•
$16.4 million over 4 years from 2023−24, for a Life Course Data
Initiative (the Initiative), delivered by the ABS, to improve
understanding of how individuals experience disadvantage and
how to disrupt cycles of intergenerational disadvantage. Following
an expression of interest to State and Territory governments,
South Australia and ACT have agreed in-principle to partner in this
work and commence from late May 2024.
CONTACT NAME: Marnie Wettenhall
POSITION: Branch Manager, Community Partnerships
Branch
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 14 623 JuneMay 2024
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Marnie Wettenhall, Branch Manager, Community
Partnerships Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include position):
Marnie Wettenhall, A/g Group Manager,
Community Policy and Engagement Group Chris
D’Souza, Group Manager, Community Policy and
Engagement Group.
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
9
OFFICIAL
Entrenched Disadvantaged
s 47F
Clearance Date:
14 623 JuneMay 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MOTo be completed by MO
10
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 13
Closing the Gap
QB23-000002
Closing the Gap
Issue
What is the Social Services portfolio doing to contribute to the
Commonwealth efforts to implement Closing the Gap?
Headline response
• Closing the Gap is a top priority for the Albanese Labor
Government. We are committed to working in new ways.
• We can only close the gap for First Nations people by working
in genuine partnership and are committed to making a practical
difference with actions on the socio-economic targets, the disability
cross-cutting outcome, and the priority reforms.
TALKING POINTS
• On 13 February 2024, the Government publicly released the
Commonwealth Closing the Gap 2023 Annual Report and
2024 Implementation Plan.
• The Commonwealth Closing the Gap Annual Report and
Implementation Plan captures the Government’s commitment
to make real change and see progress in the coming year.
• To achieve Target 9a (appropriately sized housing), the Government
has contributed:
$9.2 million for the Housing Policy Partnership.
$111.7 million to a new one-year partnership led by the National
Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), with the Northern Territory
Government.
$1.1 billion under the National Partnership for Remote Housing
with the Northern Territory (NT) from 2018–2023.
1
Modified: 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Closing the Gap
$200 million from Housing Australia Future Fund for the repair,
maintenance and improvements of housing in remote Indigenous
communities led by NIAA.
$100 million to deliver urgent housing and essential infrastructure
on NT Homelands, through the Restoring Fund for NT Homelands
agreement delivers led by the NIAA.
• To reduce the rate of over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander children in out-of-home care (Target 12) we are:
Working to improve the lives of children, young people and
families experiencing disadvantage or who are vulnerable
to abuse and neglect through the
National Framework for
Protecting Australia’s Children 2021−2031 and Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan 2023–2026.
Investing $30 million to support 5 new initiatives which includes
developing a national child and family investment strategy,
building the evidence base for First Nations family and children
services, and improving advocacy for First Nations children and
young people.
Investing $5.9 million over two years to establish a National
Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children
and Young People to protect and promote children and young
peoples’ rights, interests and wellbeing.
Commitments, under Closing the Gap, to increase the number
of Aboriginal-controlled and Indigenous-led organisations
delivering services, and to better support mainstream
organisations to build their cultural capabilities and diversify their
workforces to work more effectively with First Nations clients.
2
Modified: 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Closing the Gap
• To reduce the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children (Target
13) we have:
Released the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan
2023–2025 under the National Plan to End Violence against
Women and Children 2022–2032 on 16 August 2023, with its
development led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Advisory Council. It focuses on addressing immediate family,
domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) safety needs
of First Nations families and communities and lays the
foundations for longer-term structural change.
Investing $262.6 million over 5 years from 2022–23 to 2026–27
towards First Nations family safety initiatives, including the
establishment of a FDSV National Peak Body and development
of a standalone First Nations National Plan.
IF ASKED – What is the Government doing to respond to the findings
of the Productivity Commission’s Review of the National Agreement?
• The Commonwealth welcomes the Final Report for the first three
yearly Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap from
the Productivity Commission.
• The Commonwealth agrees that overall progress by all partners
in implementing the Priority Reforms to date has not led to the
extent of change needed.
3
Modified: 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Closing the Gap
• It is important to recognise that there has been significant action
already in many areas. While the Commission’s report does point
to specific areas for improvement, we also need to take stock
of what is working and on the positive changes that the National
Agreement has delivered since 2020.
• The Commonwealth is carefully considering the Productivity
Commission’s recommendations, together with our Joint Council
Partners along with our state and territory government, and the
Coalition of Peaks. The Joint Council will provide a formal response
to the Productivity Commission within 6 months, as specified in the
National Agreement.
IF ASKED – What is the Social Services portfolio doing to drive
fundamental, transformational change across its agencies?
• The Department of Social Services (the department) made a public
submission in response to the Productivity Commission draft report.
• The submission noted the work on a stocktake of activities being
undertaken to drive transformational change in line with Priority
Reform 3, including activities related to grant reform,
shared decision-making and upskilling staff to build cultural
competency and service centre redesign (in Services Australia).
• This work is captured in a visual roadmap of over 80 activities being
undertaken to embed transformational change within the portfolio.
This work is also supported by theories of change outlining how
these activities will create the change and tracking the progress.
4
Modified: 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Closing the Gap
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Target 9a –
increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing
to 88 per cent, by 2031.
•
Nationally in 2021, 81.4 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people were living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing.
This is an increase from 78.9 per cent in 2016 (the baseline year).
•
Based on progress from the baseline, Target 9A shows improvement but
is not on track to be met. This assessment is based on a limited number
of data points.
Target 12 –
reduce the rate of overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander children (0-17 years old) in out-of-home care by 45 per cent,
by 2031.
•
Nationally, in 2023, the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
aged 0-17 years in out-of-home care was 57.2 per 1,000 children in the
population, which was above the previous year (56.8 per 1,000 in 2021)
and still above the 2019 baseline year (54.2 per 1,000). The Target
continues to be not on track to be met.
•
This data was publicly released in the Productivity Commission’s
Report
on Government Services 2024 on 22 January 2024.
Target 13 – the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children is reduced
by at least 50 per cent by 2031, as progress towards zero
• Nationally in 2018−19, 8.4 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
females aged 15 years or over experienced physical or threatened physical
harm. There is no new data since the baseline meaning no assessment
of progress is possible for the national target of ‘reducing all forms of family
violence by at least 50 per cent.
• There is no national approach to consistent data collection and reporting
practices across states and territories to adequately understand and
respond to the issue of family and domestic violence. This issue is further
compounded by inconsistent recording of Indigenous status
of victim-survivors.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Alexis Diamond, Branch Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include position): Chris D’Souza, Group Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Date last updated:
15 May 2024
Clearance Date:
15 May 2024
MO Clearance Date
15 May 2024
5
Modified: 15/5/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 14
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB24-000023
*NEW* Individual advocacy funding
Issue
Will the Australian Government commit additional funding for
individual disability advocacy in response to concerns of increasing
demand raised by the sector?
Headline response
Funding for individual disability advocacy programs is a
responsibility that is shared by Australian, state and territory
governments. The Government is working in partnership with states
and territories to undertake a range of actions to improve the
capacity and capability of individual disability advocacy providers
and improve outcomes for people with disability nationwide.
TALKING POINTS
• The Government recognises the importance of individual disability
advocacy in safeguarding human rights.
• The National Disability Advocacy Framework, under Australia’s
Disability Strategy, commits governments to collectively work
towards improved national consistency and access to advocacy
services for people with disability.
• In 2023–24, the Government has provided additional funding
compared to 2022–23 to increase capacity for individual disability
advocacy services.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• This includes additional funding for the Disability Advocacy Support
Helpline, the Indigenous Community Advocates Pilot, and
supplementary funding for the NDIS Appeals program.
• Both the Disability Royal Commission and NDIS Review have
highlighted the importance of ensuring nationally consistent access
to individual disability advocacy for people with disability.
• The Government is considering its response to the
recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission and NDIS
Review in relation to individual disability advocacy.
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
If ASKED – Will the Government commit to increasing funding for
Commonwealth-funded individual disability advocacy in the
2024–25 Budget to the level recommended by the Disability Royal
Commission?
• I am not going to pre-empt the Government’s formal interim
response to the Disability Royal Commission’s Final Report, which
will be released in mid-2024.
If ASKED – What actions are being taken now under the National
Disability Advocacy Framework to meet demand for individual
disability advocacy?
• The National Disability Advocacy Framework, accompanied by a
Work Plan, outlines 6 priority areas of work for all governments to
collaboratively support the outcomes listed in the Framework.
• An initial priority focus area is Work Area 3: Improving Service
Delivery. It will deliver a national dataset of disability advocacy
services funded by jurisdictions across Australia, which will be
integrated into a mapping tool, enabling jurisdictions to work
together to identify and address gaps in service delivery.
• Progress in the other work areas is continuing. A more detailed
annual progress report will be provided to the Disability Reform
Ministerial Council in mid-2024.
CONTACT NAME: Andrew Whitecross
POSITION: Group Manager, Disability and Carer
Programs
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 14 May 2024
3
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Background and Key Facts
• In November 2023, Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) submitted
a pre-budget submission calling for an additional investment
of at least
$91.225 million until the end of June 2025 for individual disability advocacy.
• DANA’s figure is substantially higher than the Disability Royal Commission’s
recommendation that the Australian Government commit to additional
funding for the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26 of
$16.6 million per
annum for the National Disability Advocacy Program and
$20.3 million per
annum for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Appeals
Program.
• The Government’s formal interim response to the Disability Royal
Commission’s recommendations will be released in mid–2024.
• Any response in relation to individual disability advocacy will be made with
consideration of related recommendations by the NDIS Review.
• In 2023–24, the Government committed
$46.3 million for individual disability
advocacy initiatives including the NDIS Appeals Program. This reflects an
indicative 29 per cent increase in funding for individual advocacy in
2023–24 compared to $35.9 million in 2022–23.
• In April 2023, Disability Ministers endorsed the new National Disability
Advocacy Framework 2023–2025 and associated Work Plan to
improve
national consistency and access to advocacy services.
• The National Disability Advocacy Framework was revised in consultation
with people with disability, families and carers, disability advocacy providers,
disability representative organisations and peak bodies, to support the
implementation of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 (ADS).
Locational / place considerations
• The Member for Clark the Honourable Mr Andrew Wilkie has written to you
on 2 occasions since October 2023 regarding his concerns that there are
insufficient individual disability advocates in Tasmania to support people with
Community Treatment Orders who are appearing before the Tasmanian Civil
and Administrative Tribunal.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Andrew Whitecross
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Robyn Shannon, Deputy Secretary
position):
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
14/05/2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
4
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 15
Systemic Disability Advocacy
QB23-000013
Systemic Disability Advocacy
Issue
Has the Government implemented the election commitment to
double funding for systemic disability advocacy?
Headline response
The Australian Government is delivering on its election commitment
to double funding for systemic disability advocacy over four years.
On 10 May 2024, I announced the outcomes of new Disability
Representative Organisation (DRO) grant funding, which included
additional funding totalling $11.3 million (including base funding of
$10.6 million to DROs and $0.7 million for the National Coordination
Function). This funding
will be distributed
over two years from
2024-25 to 2025-26.
Combined with our earlier funding boost delivered following the
October 2022 Budget, this latest round of grant funding delivers on
our commitment in full.
This significant funding boost will support these organisations to go
beyond engagement and empower them to contribute effectively
through a process of genuine co-design.
1
OFFICIAL
Systemic Disability Advocacy
TALKING POINTS
• Systemic disability advocacy seeks to remove systemic barriers
and address discrimination to ensure the rights and freedoms of
people with disability are upheld and promoted.
• The DRO program provides the capacity for all people with
disability, through their representative organisations, to have their
views communicated to the Government.
• Organisations funded under the DRO program participate in a
range of engagement activities with the Australian Government,
to ensure that disability issues and a diversity of voices are
represented in decision-making, legislation, policy development
and implementation of programs and policies that may affect
people with disability.
If ASKED – Why was the grant opportunity a targeted
competitive process?
• In order to effectively represent the diversity of people with
disability at a national level, the DRO program requires a mix
of organisations with specialised expertise.
• A targeted competitive process provides transparency and ensure
an appropriate mix of organisations with the capability and capacity
to consult with, and effectively represent, people with disability at a
national level.
If ASKED – Why was the grant opportunity only for 2 years?
• Through the October 2022 Australian Federal Budget,
the Government committed to double funding for systemic disability
advocacy over 4 years, from 2022-23 to 2025-26. This grant
opportunity fulfils this funding commitment.
• Decisions regarding the DRO program from 1 July 2026 are subject
to a future decision of Government.
2
OFFICIAL
Systemic Disability Advocacy
If ASKED – How were the cohort groups selected for the DRO
grant opportunity?
• Priority cohort groups are based on the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UN CRPD).
• People in cohort groups may face similar social barriers that may
hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal
basis with others, regardless of the medical cause of impairments.
If ASKED – How has funding been distributed under the DRO
program across different priority cohorts?
• The outcomes of this grant round will distribute funding more
equitably across different DROs and recognise the particular
communication and engagement challenge that some
organisations face in advocating for the people they represent.
• Funding is provided for major intersectional cohort (Women and
girls, First Nations people, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
people and Children and Young people).
• LBGTQIA+ people with disability are represented under the DRO
program directly for the first time by People with Disability Australia,
to represent for the unique challenges for this cohort.
• for the distribution of funds also takes account of impairment-based
cohorts: physical, sensory, intellectual and mental. This reflects
differences in the size and complexity of representing some
cohorts, and the expected drawdown on different organisations in
the context of current government priorities.
If ASKED – What new cohorts are now being directly funded
under this grant opportunity?
• Autistic people are being directly represented under the DRO
program by Autism Alliance National, with dedicated funding to
represent people with complex needs.
• People with psychosocial disability are being directly represented
under the DRO program by Community Mental Health Australia to
support people with disability associated with metal health
challenges.
• People with physical disability are being directly represented under
the DRO program by Physical Disability Australia.
3
OFFICIAL
Systemic Disability Advocacy
• People with Down syndrome are being directly represented under
the DRO program by Down Syndrome Australia.
CONTACT NAME: Andrew Whitecross
POSITION: Group Manager, Disability and Carer
Programs Group
PHONE:
LAST UPDATE: 14 May 2024
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Andrew Whitecross, Group Manager,
Disability and Carers Program Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Andrew Whitecross, Group Manager,
position):
Disability and Carers Program Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
14 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
14 May 2024
4
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 16
Support for Carers
QB22-000105
Support for Carers
Issue
How is the Government supporting Australia’s 2.65 million unpaid
carers?
Headline response
The Government is committed to supporting Australia’s 2.65 million
unpaid carers by:
• continuing to support carers through our social security system,
with around $11 billion per year provided through Carer
Payment and Carer Allowance,
• providing over $911 million over 4 years to 2026-27 for carer
support services, including the Carer Gateway,
• providing $3.8 million in funding to deliver a new National Carer
Strategy, which will recognise the significant contribution carers
make to the community,
• developing a Carer Inclusive Workplace Initiative, a $2 million
commitment to help employers develop and adopt practices
that support employees with caring responsibilities, and
• doubling the Young Carer Bursary Program, so that around
1,600 young carers receive support while studying.
1
Modified: 10/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Carers
If ASKED: What are the 2025 changes to the 25 hour per week
limit a Carer Payment recipient can cease caring to work?
• Carer Payment recipients will be able to work for up to 100 hours
over a 4-week period, while remaining eligible for payment.
• Should the 100 hour limit or the income threshold be exceeded,
Carer Payment will be suspended for up to 6 months, rather than
being cancelled.
• Alternatively, carers can choose to use one or more of their
annual 63 temporary cessation of care (respite) days.
• Restrictions on travel time, study or volunteering activities will
also be removed.
If ASKED: What is the progress of the Government’s announced
National Carer Strategy?
• The National Carer Strategy is part of the Government’s
commitment to delivering a coherent national agenda to support
carers in their caring role while maintaining their own wellbeing.
• A National Carer Strategy Advisory Committee is being
established to inform and guide work to support the development
of the Strategy.
• Public consultations will commence in the first half of 2024 and
will include a range of opportunities to engage including
community roundtables, working groups and a discussion paper.
If ASKED - How does the Carer Inclusive Workplace Initiative
improve employment outcomes for carers?
• The Initiative provides practical resources for both employers
and carers who wish to work. It helps improve the inclusivity of
workplaces for carers and employers’ understanding of carers’
particular responsibilities and needs.
2
Modified: 10/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Carers
• Once employers complete the relevant assessments, they will be
recognised as committed to carer inclusivity and be provided
with a Government-endorsed carer inclusive workplace logo to
display at their place of business and in their marketing
materials. Under this initiative, carers will also receive resources
on how to talk to their employer about their circumstances.
If ASKED – How is the Government supporting young carers?
• The Government is doubling its investment into the Young Carer
Bursary Program to promote future financial security for many of
our young carers across Australia.
• This investment of almost $10 million in additional funding will
increase the number of bursaries available each year by over
60 per cent, to around 1,600. The value of each bursary will also
increase by more than 25 per cent, from $3,000 to $3,768.
If ASKED – how is the Government raising awareness of the
supports and services available to unpaid carers?
• The national advertising campaign to raise awareness of Carer
Gateway services and supports continues to run until June 2024.
• The campaign has run across television, digital video and
display, social media, Tonic Health Media and Aboriginal Health
TV, and CALD, First Nations and print accessible radio.
If ASKED – when will the Government respond to the House of
Representatives Standing Committee’s inquiry report into the
recognition of unpaid carers?
• The Government welcomes the Committee’s tabled report, and
will respond in due course.
• The findings of this inquiry will inform development of the
National Carer Strategy.
3
Modified: 10/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Carers
CONTACT NAME: Lydia Ross
POSITION: Branch Manager
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 10 May 2024
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
The Carer Gateway
• In April 2020, 10 not-for-profit organisations commenced as Carer Gateway
service providers, delivering a free, Australia-wide network of carer support
services.
• On 16 October 2022 (at the commencement of National Carers Week),
a national campaign to raise awareness of Carer Gateway was launched.
• A 2-year extension of the Carer Gateway service providers was announced
on 19 October 2023.
• The total amount of grant funding provided to Carer Gateway service
providers is $660.8 million from 2024-25 to 2026-27.
National Carer Strategy
• There has been no Commonwealth carers’ strategy since 2015.
• The former Strategy (launched in 2011) sat alongside the previous National
Disability Strategy and current
Carer Recognition Act 2010, forming part
of the Australian Government’s National Carer Recognition Framework.
• The former Strategy was superseded in 2015 by the commencement of the
Integrated Plan for Carer Support Services (known as the Carer Gateway).
Carer Payment and Superannuation
• Carer Payment is designed as a safety net, and as an income support
payment rather than a workplace entitlement, it does not include
superannuation contributions.
• Legislative provisions support Carer Payment recipients to cease care
provision to undertake employment for 25 hours per week (changing
to 100 hours over 4 weeks in 2025).
• This enables carers with capacity to combine work with caring, to
supplement their payment and increase their superannuation contributions.
Contact Officer:
Lydia Ross, Branch Manager, Carers and
Early Childhood
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Cleared By:
Andrew Whitecross, Group Manager Disability
and Carer Programs
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
10 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
4
Modified: 10/5/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 17
Supported Employment
QB22-000063
Supported Employment
Issue
What is the Government doing to ensure people with high support
needs can achieve their employment goals?
Headline response
As part of the 2023–24 Budget, the Government invested
$52.7 million over 4 years to:
• assist the supported employment sector to evolve and offer
a wider range of employment opportunities, and
• provide people with disability with access to advocacy and
information about employment rights and options.
TALKING POINTS
• The Government is committed to ensuring people with disability
with high support needs continue to receive support to work.
• In the 2023–24 Budget, the Government introduced three new
grant programs related to supported employment.
•
$29.5 million over 3 years for a
Structural Adjustment Fund,
which will increase the range of employment opportunities and
pathways available to people with high support needs.
•
$11.7 million over 4 years to establish a
Disability Employment
Advocacy and Information program, which will provide
advocacy and information services to people with high support
needs and their families and carers, to increase their
understanding of their employment rights and options.
1
Modified: 18/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Supported Employment
•
$1.4 million over 2 years to pilot
Disability Employment Expos,
which will provide people with high support needs and their
families with information about various employment supports and
pathways, as well as the opportunity to connect with employers.
• All measures were designed in consultation with the sector, and
align with the guiding principles for the future of supported
employment. The guiding principles were developed in 2022,
in consultation with sector representatives, including people with
disability.
• At a high level, the guiding principles seek to ensure that people
with disability have genuine choice and control over their
employment, and a range of support options to assist them.
• The Government also worked with states and territories to develop
a Supported Employment Plan (the plan). The plan includes
a range of practical initiatives and actions, with a specific focus on
employment for people with disability with high support needs.
• The plan was endorsed by all state and territory disability Ministers
and published in January 2024.
If ASKED – When will the 3 grant programs commence?
Outcomes for the 3 grant rounds were announced on 23 April 2024.
The Expos and Advocacy grants will commence in mid-May 2024,
with the Structural Adjustment Fund grants to commence in mid-June
2024.
2
Modified: 18/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Supported Employment
IF ASKED – What kind of projects are being delivered through
the Structural Adjustment Fund?
Grants under the first round of the Fund will commence in June 2024.
30 projects were funded under this first round, at a total cost of
$14.52 million. The types of projects being funded include:
• funding organisations to hire staff with direct responsibilities for
liaising with open employers to find suitable employment
opportunities for people with disability;
• providing comprehensive paid training and industry placements for
people with disability; and
• expanding the types of work and range of roles available supported
employment workplaces.
The second grant round of the Fund will open for applications in the
second half of 2024.
If ASKED – How was the sector consulted on the initiatives?
• A discussion paper titled ‘The Future of Supported Employment’
was open for submissions from 11 August – 1 September 2023.
61 submissions were received.
If ASKED - Why is the government providing more funding
to a sector that pays low wages?
• This is about supporting the continuing evolution of the supported
employment sector. We all want high quality workplaces, and better
pay and choice about employment opportunities for supported
workers.
3
Modified: 18/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Supported Employment
If ASKED – Why have only 30 projects been funded when 32
projects were announced in the first round?
• On 23 April 2024, it was announced that 32 organisations would
receive a grant under the Structural Adjustment Fund.
• One grant will not proceed due to new information relating to
regulatory action in relation to the organisation in question . This is
prudent, and ensures that these grants are only provided to
suitable organisations.
• A second announced grant will proceed but will be delivered via a
sub-contracting arrangement rather than as a direct grant, reducing
the final number of grants provided under the first round to 30.
CONTACT NAME: Jacinda Still
POSITION: Branch Manager – Disability Employment
Reforms Branch
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 18 June 2024
4
Modified: 18/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Supported Employment
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Background and Key Facts
• There are around 160 organisations commonly known as Australian
Disability Enterprises (ADEs) providing supported employment to around
16,000 people with significant disability.
• Many employees and their families derive benefits from these jobs at ADEs.
However, ADEs are dealing with 3 main challenges:
o pressure from the community to increase wages;
o pressure from the community to move away from segregated settings;
and
o poor commercial viability.
Locational / place considerations
• The 2023-24 Budget measures will provide support to people with disability
with high support needs, their families and carers across Australia.
Adjustment to total grants offered
• The Department withdrew its offer of a funding agreement to Oak Tasmania, following
information received on 1 May 2024 that the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
had commenced civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court against Oak Tasmania for
contraventions of the
National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act).
- It is alleged Oak Tasmania failed on more than 600 separate occasions to report
incidents, including incidents that involved serious injury and neglect, within the
required timeframes under law.
• After discussion with the Jigsaw Group, the department also decided that the Jigsaw
Group project would will be delivered via a sub-contracting arrangement with Fighting
Chance rather than a direct grant. As Fighting Chance already had an offer of a structural
adjustment grant, the Jigsaw project will be a second activity under a single grant
agreement, reducing the final number of grants provided under the first round to 30.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Jacinda Still, Branch Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Kellie Spence, Group Manager, Disability
position):
Employment
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
18 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
21 June 2024
5
Modified: 18/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 18
Disability Employment
QB22-000064
Disability Employment
Issue
What is the Government doing to improve employment for people
with disability?
Headline response
The Government is investing more than $5.5 billion to strengthen
evidence-based approaches to disability support, driving quality
employment outcomes, and ensuring people with disability can
continue to seek independent advice and raise concerns or make
complaints in relation to their supports.
TALKING POINTS
• As part of the 2024–25 Budget, the Government has provided an
additional $253.6 million in funding over 4 years (from 2024–25)
through the
Disability Employment Services Reform measure to
support improved employment outcomes for people with disability.
• This Budget measure includes $227.6 million to support
implementation of a new specialist disability employment program,
$23.3 million to establish a new Disability Employment Centre for
Excellence, and $2.6 million to extend the National Disability Abuse
and Neglect Hotline (the Hotline) and Complaints Resolution and
Referral Service (CRRS).
1
Modified: 17/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Employment
New specialist disability employment program
• The Government has announced the details of a new specialist
disability employment program that will commence on 1 July 2025.
• The new program will remove access barriers, improve the quality
of the service, and provide tailored and flexible support that reflect
individuals’ diverse pathways to find and retain employment.
• As part of the 2024–25 Budget, the Government has provided
additional funding of $227.6 million over 4 years (from 2024–25) to
ensure the successful implementation of the new program.
• This funding is in addition to the existing funding provided for
disability employment of around $5.3 billion over 4 years.
• The unemployment rate for people with disability is more than
double that of working age people without disability. The gap has
remained relatively unchanged for decades and this is just not
good enough.
• People with disability should have equal opportunities in
employment and to the economic, social and psychological benefits
that work brings.
• The Government is committed to ensuring people with disability are
not left behind and employers can utilise an untapped workforce.
• To do this we have focused on a phased approach to reforming
disability employment services.
Reforming the Disability Employment Service
• The first phase of reform commenced with the release of the
Quality Framework in July 2023 to ensure the provision of a high-
quality service for people with disability was at the forefront of the
reforms.
2
Modified: 17/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Employment
• From 1 July 2025, the second phase will introduce a new program
that will:
o Expand voluntary access to the specialist disability
employment program to those who have a work capacity of
under 8 hours a week and those who are not on an income
support payment. An additional 15,000 people are expected to
benefit from the program each year and importantly, this
responds to a key recommendation from the Disability Royal
Commission.
o Provide more tailored and flexible support that meets the
needs of participants to help them prepare and look for work.
o Ensure a diversity of quality providers that have the capability
to support people with disability and employers and identify
employment opportunities.
• We want to create a system that emphasises the strengths of
people with disability in the workplace and empowers employers
to hire more people with disability.
• Employers will be supported through a simplified and increased
wage subsidy that provides up to $10,000 to support participants
and employers to achieve sustainable jobs.
• The new program also includes $166.3million for a new ICT build
that will lift system capabilities and improve the experience for
users.
• The new program has been informed by extensive consultation
with stakeholders and reviews of disability and employment
services.
3
Modified: 17/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Employment
Disability Employment Centre of Excellence
• The final report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse,
Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, reinforced that
ensuring people with disability have the opportunity to find and
keep meaningful employment is integral to an inclusive Australia.
• The Government is investing $23.3 million over four years from
2024-25 to establish the Centre of Excellence.
• The Centre of Excellence will be an evidence-informed, best-
practice hub that will focus on providing resources and tools to help
employment service providers deliver disability aware quality
services to both clients with disability and employers.
• The Government undertook an open consultation process on the
design and functions of the Centre of Excellence between October
and November 2023.
• A total of 89 submissions were received from individuals, families
and carers, employers, providers, non-government organisations,
peaks and universities.
• The submissions received highlighted that a Centre of Excellence
was needed to:
o increase employment outcomes for people with disability
o provide training and resources to disability employment
service providers and employers to increase their overall
capability
o include disability expertise and lived experience, and
o foster collaboration.
4
Modified: 17/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Employment
• The Government published a consultation report on Tuesday
23 April 2024 in response to the public consultation process.
• Papers and submissions from the consultation process can be
found on DSS Engage.
• The Centre of Excellence is expected to commence in March 2025,
to support the introduction of the new specialist disability
employment program from 1 July 2025. Evidence-based best
practice resources will start being shared from July 2025. A
dedicated online hub will be available by September 2025.
Extending the Hotline and CRRS
• The Hotline and CRRS will be continued to 31 December 2026.
Through continued support for the Hotline and CRRS, the
Government is keeping in place a robust complaints framework that
protects the rights and safety of people with disability. This will
ensure continued coverage and support for people with disability
with concerns or complaints, while the Government considers
future arrangements in the context of the broader reforms within
the disability sector.
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
New specialist disability employment program consultation timeline
Date
Action
18-19 June 2024
National Employment Services Association
First Nations Employment Conference 2024
11-13 June 2024
Disability Employment Australia Conference
2024 ‘Ready to Reform’
23 May 2024
Disability Employment Reforms post-Budget
briefing presentation
21 to 22 February 2024
Webinar on key design options
5
Modified: 17/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Employment
17 October 2023
Centre of Excellence Discussion Paper
released
23 August 2023
Disability Employment Career Pathways
Pilot commenced.
06 July 2023
DES Quality Framework released
01 July 2023
Disability Employment Tourism Local
Navigators Pilot commenced.
08 May 2023 - Current
Co-design DES/NDIS Pathways Pilot Co-
design starting with a workshop and
including ongoing engagement with sector
26 April 2023
Offer to extend the initial DES Grant
Agreement term closed
13 March 2023
Draft DES Quality Framework open
consultation closed
10 March 2023
DSS offer to extend the initial DES Grant
Agreement term to 30 June 2025 issued to
providers
20 December 2022
Memorandum of Understanding signed with
the Business Council of Australia to develop
a Disability Employment Career Pathways
Pilot
19 December 2022
Draft DES Quality Framework published for
open consultation
05 December 2022
DES Industry Briefing
25 October 2022
DES program extended under the October
2022-23 Federal Budget
01-02 September 2022
Australian Jobs and Skills Summit
22 August 2022
Disability Employment Roundtable
08 August 2022
Release of the Disability Employment
Support Model Public Consultation Report
08 July 2022
DES Reference Group’s final endorsed
recommendations provided to the
department
05 November 2021
Release of the Disability Employment
Support Model Public Consultation Paper
6
Modified: 17/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Employment
Centre of Excellence key facts
• In 2023-24 the Government committed $1.1 million to contribute to the
development of the Centre of Excellence.
• A public consultation process was undertaken between October and
November 2023 with 89 submissions provided in response to an options
paper.
• A consultation report and public submissions were published on Tuesday 23
April 2024 in response to the public consultation process.
• The submissions received highlighted that a Centre of Excellence was
needed to:
o increase employment outcomes for people with disability,
o provide training and resources to disability employment service
providers and employers to increase their overall capability,
o include disability expertise and lived experience, and
o foster collaboration.
• The Government has used the submissions provided to inform the design of
the Centre of Excellence.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Jacinda Still, Branch Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Robyn Shannon, Deputy Secretary, Disability and
position):
Carers
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
17 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
7
Modified: 17/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 19
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB23-000035
Disability Employment Services (DES) Quality Framework
Issue
What is the Government doing to ensure quality and effective
Disability Employment Services (DES) are being delivered to people
with disability?
Headline response
The DES Quality Framework (the Framework) was released on
6 July 2023 and quality ratings will be available from mid-2024.
The Framework will ensure that providing a high-quality service for
people with disability is placed at the forefront of the DES program,
and providers are consistently focused on driving meaningful and
sustained quality improvements in delivering their services.
TALKING POINTS
• The Government is focused on improving disability employment
outcomes and the participant experience of the service they
receive to support the fullest participation of all people with
disability in society.
• The release of the Quality Framework is key to the continuous
improvement of the quality and effectiveness of the DES
program.
• Quality assessment commenced in January 2024 with initial
assessment results due from mid-2024.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• Providers are being assessed against four quality elements
which focus on the quality of service being provided to people
with disability and employers in the achievement of employment
outcomes. This includes:
o The ability to inform participants of their rights and
responsibilities
o Meeting the needs of participants and employers
o The ability to innovate, adopt best practice approaches and
embed continuous improvement within their organisation
o How responsive they are to feedback and complaints.
• The Department of Social Services (the department) analysed
the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS) audit
results from 2023 against the relevant elements of the
Framework. The results indicate 85 per cent of providers are
meeting requirements and 15 per cent need to improve.
• The Framework and supporting Guidelines detailing the rating
approach are published on the department’s website.
If ASKED – How did the participant perspectives shape the DES
Quality Framework?
• The participant voice is a key component embedded within the
elements of the Framework and forms one of the key sources of
information to assess quality.
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• Development of the Framework included consultation with
Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) and a
Discussion Paper open for all Australians to provide comments
on, including participants.
• The department worked with Services Australia to conduct a
service user research project from September to November
2023. The research involved in-depth one on one and group
interviews with current and past DES participants from varied
backgrounds to explore participant perceptions and expectations
of a quality provider.
If ASKED – What consultation was done to develop the
Framework?
• The Framework was developed in consultation with the disability
employment sector and DROs. This includes:
o The DES Quality Framework Discussion Paper published in
December 2022, as well as a series of targeted stakeholder
engagement workshops held in June 2023.
o The Quality Framework Reference Group was formed in
August 2023, with representatives from a range of
providers and peaks who supported the approach to
implementation and development and testing of supporting
tools.
3
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
o Consultation continued throughout the implementation
process in the latter half of 2023, ensuring feedback of
those involved in the program is embedded into the
Framework and the supporting tools.
IF ASKED: When was the Quality Framework made available in
Easy Read?
• On 6 June 2024 the department released the Quality Framework
in an Easy Read accessible version.
CONTACT NAME: Pene Futcher
POSITION: A/g Branch Manager, Disability
Employment Programs
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 17 June 2024
4
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• The unemployment rate for people with disability has not shifted in more
than two decades and people with disability face a rate of unemployment
three times that of the general public.
• There are 4.4 million Australians with disability – 2.1 million of whom are
of working age.
• The DES Quality Framework underpins ‘KPI3: Quality’ as referenced in
Clause 155 of the Grant Agreement, setting the expectations of quality
through the:
o four quality elements providers will be assessed against (refer
below), and
o elements of good practice the department expects to see for each
quality element.
• The four quality elements of the Quality Framework are:
1. Participant Rights - Participants understand their rights and
responsibilities as DES participants, and the role of DES providers in
helping them access supports available to enable them to improve their
employability and achieve positive employment outcomes.
2. Understanding Quality - DES providers understand participants’ needs
and support participants to build capacity and achieve their
employment goals and aspirations. DES providers understand the local
labour market and the needs and expectations of employers, and work
with employers and community services to effectively support
participants.
3. Provider Capability - DES providers have a continuous improvement
culture with appropriate policies, systems, and processes, together with
staff and management capabilities to deliver quality services and
manage risk.
4. Compliance - DES providers use existing compliance and assurance
processes and associated outcomes to proactively support quality
service delivery and continuous quality improvement.
• The Framework was implemented from July 2023, with further
consultation to:
o Work through details of indicators and measures with providers and
peaks and to test the quality rating tool.
o Address industry concerns raised through ongoing engagement and
consultations to support sector ownership, encouraging providers to
drive their own quality servicing and continuous improvement.
5
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
o Minimising impacts on service delivery capacity and quality by
providing sufficient time to work with providers and peak bodies to
implement the Quality Framework elements.
o Ensure streamlining for existing Program Guidelines as part of the
Quality Framework implementation to remove any duplication.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Pene Futcher A/g Branch Manger
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include position): Kellie Spence, Group Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
17 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
6
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 20
National Autism Strategy
QB22-000075
National Autism Strategy
Issue
What progress is the Australian Government making toward
developing a National Autism Strategy?
Headline response
The Albanese Labor Government is committed to enabling better
outcomes and the full participation of Autistic people.
The National Autism Strategy will:
• improve services and supports to achieve better outcomes for
Autistic people
• address whole-of-life needs for all Autistic Australians, not just
those eligible for the NDIS, and
• develop a coordinated national approach to supporting Autistic
people.
TALKING POINTS
• Autistic people experience some of the poorest outcomes of any
cohort across a range of life domains, and a 20-year age gap in life
expectancy compared with the general population.1
• That’s why this Government committed $4.9 million in the
May Budget (May 2023–24) towards the development of a National
Autism Strategy, so no Australian with disability is left behind.
1 Hirvikoski, T., Mittendorfer-Rutz, E., Boman, M., Larsson, H., Lichtenstein, P., and Bolte, S. (2016) 'Premature mortality in
autism spectrum disorder',
The British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 208
1
Modified: 21/6/2024
OFFICIAL
National Autism Strategy
• The measure includes:
o $3.7 million in 2023–24 to undertake consultation and
research for the National Autism Strategy, and
o $1.2 million over 2 years from 2023–24 for development of the
National Roadmap to improve the health and mental health of
Autistic people (being led by the Department of Health and
Aged Care).
• This is in addition to the $5.3 million in the October 2022–23
Budget through the Better Support for People with Disability
package.
• The Strategy is being shaped by the diverse experiences of Autistic
people, their families and professionals.
• National consultations, co-led by Autistic people and/or local
trusted organisations, occurred between 4 September 2023 and
mid-November 2023.
• Insights from the 2023 national consultations were used to inform
the draft Strategy, which was released for public comment on
2 April 2024.
• The 2024 consultation period, on the draft Strategy, closed on
31 May 2024. Feedback is currently being analysed.
• The 2024 consultation process sought feedback to ensure the
Vision, Goals, Guiding Principles and Commitments outlined in the
draft Strategy resonate and appropriately reflect the views of the
community received through the 2023 consultation process.
• Specific actions to deliver on the Commitments will sit in
underpinning Action Plans which will form part of the final Strategy.
2
Modified: 21/6/2024
OFFICIAL
National Autism Strategy
• Development of the Strategy is also taking account of the Disability
Royal Commission, the NDIS Review and the experience of states
that have developed their own autism strategies.
If ASKED – What progress is the Government making toward
developing a National Autism Strategy?
• Following the October 2022 Budget announcement,
the Department of Social Services commenced consultation with
key autism sector representatives to develop a representative
approach to guide the development work.
• In May 2023, a newly formed National Autism Strategy Oversight
Council (Oversight Council), with majority of Autistic community
members, formally met for the first time to inform and guide work,
ahead of the national consultations to gather community insights on
the Strategy.
• Initial work was undertaken to develop the evidence base including
consideration of existing evidence, public submissions and other
consultation processes. National consultations, co-led by Autistic
people and/or local trusted organisations, occurred between
4 September 2023 and 30 October 2023, with additional targeted
consultations undertaken up to mid-November 2023.
• The 2024 consultation process on the draft Strategy included:
o opportunities for people to provide feedback via an online
survey, submission/email, or over the phone.
3
Modified: 21/6/2024
OFFICIAL
National Autism Strategy
▪ As at 17 June 2024:
• 1100 people responded to the online survey and
• over 130 submissions were received in response to
the draft Strategy. A small number of organisations
and individuals were given an extension, therefore
total submission numbers are not yet finalised.
o a public webinar about the draft Strategy held on 19 April
2024. The webinar had 342 participants.
• Oversight Council members also facilitated focus groups with the
following priority groups in May 2024:
o Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Autistic people,
o Women, girls and non-binary Autistic people,
o Autistic people who identify as LGBTIQA+, and
o Families and carers of Autistic people (including those with
complex and high support needs).
• The priority groups were identified by the Oversight Council and
around 100 people attended in total.
• Engagement activities were also undertaken with First Nations
Autistic people, researchers and professionals, Autistic children
and young people and the Public Sector Neurodiversity Community
of Practice.
• Input on the Strategy is not limited to this public engagement
process.
4
Modified: 21/6/2024
OFFICIAL
National Autism Strategy
• The Oversight Council is continuing to guide and inform the
development of the Strategy, and they are supported by Working
Groups which include members from the Autistic and autism
community, and government officials.
• Input from consultations, the Oversight Council and working groups
are helping shape the first action plan to deliver on the strategy
Commitments.
• A final Strategy and first action plan are expected to be presented
to Government by the end of 2024.
CONTACT NAME: Lisha Jackman
POSITION: Branch Manager, Foundational Supports
and Early Childhood Reforms
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 21 June 2024
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Lisha Jackman Branch Manager,
Foundational Supports and Early Childhood
Reforms Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Luke Mansfield, Group Manager, Disability
position):
Reforms and Royal Commission Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
21 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
5
Modified: 21/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 21
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31
QB22-000022
Australia's Disability Strategy 2021–2031
Issue
The Australian Government continues to drive reforms that
contribute to a more inclusive community where all people with
disability can participate as equal members of society, consistent
with
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031.
Headline response
• All governments in Australia have committed to driving change
to achieve the vision and objectives set out in
Australia’s
Disability Strategy 2021–2031 (ADS), and to transparently
report on progress.
o The first 2-year Implementation progress report, which
tracks overarching progress against all areas of ADS,
was published in December 2023.
• People with disability and representative organisations
continue to play a central and ongoing role in ADS through:
o consultations and design processes around system and
services reform and implementation;
o involvement in ADS National and state and territory forums;
o participation of diverse people with disability;
o involvement in improving data and outcomes reporting
around people with disability and
o our ADS Advisory Council.
TALKING POINTS
• ADS is Australia’s overarching disability policy framework that
at its heart is a commitment to create an inclusive Australian
society that ensures people with disability can fulfil their potential,
as equal members of the community.
1
Modified: 20/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31
• We are working collaboratively with states, territories and local
government on driving change in the areas identified by people
with disability as important in mainstream services. This includes
employment, education, housing, justice, health, community access
and community attitudes.
• All levels of government and all portfolios are jointly responsible for
supporting this vision, working closely with the disability
community, business, the non-government and services sectors.
• As policies and programs are developed and reformed, we are
committed to considering the specific needs of different
intersectional groups, including First Nations people with disability,
women, children, culturally and linguistically diverse and
LGBTQIA+ people with disability.
Implementation
• All governments in Australia are committed to working together
alongside people with disability, communities, business and the
non-government sector to implement ADS.
• Through the Department of Social Services, the Australian
Government is working to embed ADS across mainstream systems
of support. This involves leveraging established stakeholder
relationships across both the disability sector, and agencies and
governments to improve outcomes.
• The ADS Advisory Council, whose members have lived experience
of disability, provide government with direct advice
on the implementation and progress of ADS.
2
Modified: 20/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31
• ADS has a dedicated Engagement Plan to involve people with
disability throughout the life of ADS, including through national
and state and territory hosted forums, individual consultations and
ADS Advisory Council.
• Good practice guidelines for engaging people with disability have
also been developed to support the involvement of people with
disability in matters that affect them.
• This ensures people with disability have regular opportunities
to provide their views in ways that influence the direction and
outcomes of ADS.
Budget Measures
• The Australian Government made an initial investment
of $250 million to support the implementation of ADS.
• In the 2023–24 Budget, the Australian Government committed
a further $10.2 million over 4 years to establish a Central
Coordination of Disability Policy function in the Department
of Social Services.
• This Central Coordination function is driving whole of Australian
Government action to advance the vision and objectives of the
ADS and embed its principles.
• The 2023–24 Budget also provided an additional $68.3 million
to deliver the National Disability Data Asset (NDDA), which will
streamline and improve disability data collection.
Reporting
• All governments in Australia have committed to deliver more
comprehensive and visible reporting of progress against ADS.
3
Modified: 20/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31
• This is being achieved through:
o outcomes reporting against ADS priorities through accessible
and interactive webpages, with data updated quarterly, and
annual reports, produced by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare
o annual Targeted Action Plan Reports which will track progress
against individual actions that each government has
committed to deliver
o two-yearly Implementation Reports, which will be tabled to the
Australian Parliament, and will document what action has
been taken and what progress has been made; and
o state, territory and local government reports under
jurisdictional disability inclusion plans.
Evaluation
•
A targeted review of ADS is being undertaken in 2024, and will
take into account the findings and recommendations of the Royal
Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of
People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission) and Final
NDIS Review, consistent with commitments made to the disability
community when ADS was established.
•
The approach to this review has been developed between the
Australian and state and territory governments, and is focusing on
practical improvements to implementation, processes, and
artefacts.
•
Targeted Action Plans (TAPs) under ADS apply an intensive focus
over one to 3 years to achieve specific deliverables which improve
outcomes for people with disability.
4
Modified: 20/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31
•
The current 5 TAPs will cease in 2024. New TAPs will be
developed in consultation with states and the disability community
during 2024.
•
As part of the ADS Review work, a revised Data Improvement Plan
(DIP) will be produced and published by the end of 2024. It will
provide a update on how we are tracking in addressing the data
gaps in ADS Outcomes Framework since the release of the initial
DIP in 2022.
•
There is current analysis occurring on all existing advice and
feedback from people with disability, their representative
organisations, and ADS Advisory Council, on what they would like
to see in future development of TAPs.
•
There is also a major Independent Evaluation of ADS planned for
2025–26, which will focus on outcomes against policy objectives
and vision.
CONTACT NAME: Luke Mansfield
POSITION: Group Manager, Disability Strategy
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 20/6/2024
5
Modified: 20/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
•
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 (ADS) was released in December
2021 after being endorsed by all First Ministers.
• ADS builds and expands on the original
National Disability Strategy
2010-2020, adding new key features to drive more action and accountability.
• ADS has a stronger focus on employment than its predecessor – which is
why an Associated Plan,
Employ My Ability was released alongside ADS.
• Community attitudes and safety are also seen as key issues for people with
disability and have been given a stronger focus under ADS.
• An initial investment of $250 million was made in 2021 to support
implementation of ADS. This includes:
- $76.8 million over the life of ADS for Targeted Action Plans
o $21.7 million over 3 years for the first set of Targeted Action Plans:
▪ $7.6 million for employment;
▪ $3.3 million for community attitudes;
▪ $8.3 million for early childhood; and
▪ $2.5 million for Safety.
- Up to $72 million in reporting, data and research
o $12.5 million for the National Disability Research Partnership
▪ Plus an additional $2.5 million from the 2022–23 October Budget,
taking the total funding to $15 million as per ‘
Better support for
people living with disability’ election commitment. (Note, if the
original $2.5 million for the 2019–20 one-off grant is taken into
account, then the total funding amount to date to support
establishment of the NDRP is $17.5 million);
o $19.5 million reporting and measurement – includes Australia’s
Disability Strategy Survey (on community attitudes); and
o up to $40 million for the National Disability Data Asset.
- $81.2 million to continue the Disability Information Gateway.
- $10.1 million for engaging people with disability in the implementation of
ADS.
- $9.9 million to improve individual advocacy
• The data improvement plan (DIP), endorsed by Disability Reform Ministers
on 13 December 2022, sets out how to improve the data needed to track
progress against ADS Outcomes Framework, with a focus on collecting data
for future measures. The DIP was published on Australia’s Disability Strategy
Hub website on 27 January 2023.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position: Jodi Cassar, Branch Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By:
Luke Mansfield, Group Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
20 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
20 June 2024
6
Modified: 20/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 22
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB24-000014
*NEW* Early Childhood - Pre-emptive early intervention pilots
Issue
What progress is the Australian Government making toward
implementing the pre-emptive early intervention pilots for young
children announced in the 2023-24 Federal Budget?
Headline response
The Government is committed to ensuring children and families can
access appropriate supports and services, even prior to receiving a
formal diagnosis.
The Government is implementing the 2023-24 Budget measure of
$22.1 million over four years to deliver two pre-emptive early
support pilots for infants showing early signs of difference in social
communication.
The first of these pilots will be in South Australia and is based on the
Inklings program. Up to 1,300 South Australian infants aged from 6
to 18 months with developmental concerns, and their families, will
be among the first to benefit from this initiative.
TALKING POINTS
• The early years are critical for children’s development and
continued success over their lifetime.
• The Government is committed to ensuring all children get a good
start in life, including children with disability or developmental
difference. The early years are a window of opportunity to positively
influence children’s development.
• In the 2023-24 Budget, the Government committed $22.1 million
over 4 years for two pilots aimed at bolstering support for parents
of infants where there are early signs of difference in social
interaction and communication development.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• The Government will provide up to $8.4 million, complemented by
investment from the South Australian Government, to deliver the
first pilot in South Australia. This will be based on the Inklings
program.
• Delivery of the pilot was a key recommendation of South Australia’s
Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care.
• These pilots will further test best practice approaches aimed at
supporting great connections between parent and their baby where
infants show early differences in their social interaction and
communication development.
• The model and location for the second pilot is under consideration.
• A separate Inklings pilot was commenced in Western Australia late
last year, supported by the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA).
If ASKED: Will Government halt the South Australian pilot following
claims from the Autistic and Autism communities it is harmful to
children?
• I am aware some parents have expressed concerns that the pilot is
aimed at changing children or cutting costs.
• I can categorically say it is not.
• The program is about supporting parents as first teachers, and in
child-led play and interactions.
• All children with early differences in their social interaction and
communication development can benefit from this program,
whether they have, or may in the future, have a diagnosis of Autism
or not. It is about supporting their early development.
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• These pilots and the Government’s broader work to implement an
Early Years Strategy, aim to help children to get a good start in life
so they can reach their full potential.
• We want to support a future where all children are accepted,
understood, supported and able to thrive.
• The Australian Government, South Australian Government, and
relevant departments are supportive of an iterative process in
implementation to ensure that we are able to respond to issues
raised, by the Autistic and Autism communities.
IF ASKED: If the program seeks to mask neurodivergence
• The pilot will seek to support neurodivergence as it aims to help
parents understand the unique skills and abilities of their baby, and
helps grow their confidence in engaging with their baby in a way
that makes their child feel understood.
• It is about supporting the connection between parent and baby to
enhance language outcomes and reduce developmental barriers in
the baby.
• The Inklings Program has been developed over two decades by an
international team of health professionals and researchers through
a systematic process of rigorous research in the United Kingdom
and Australia
3
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
If ASKED: Doesn’t a program like this blame the parent?
• Autism emerges because of differences in genetics, which makes
the brain develop in a different way to others. Parents are not the
cause of autism.
• All parents can benefit from affirming support along the important
journey of raising infants and children.
• This is what this program is about.
CONTACT NAME: Lisha Jackman
POSITION: Branch Manager, Foundational Supports
and Early Childhood Reforms Branch
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 14 May 2024
4
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Background and Key Facts
• The Australian Government will invest $8.4 million in the South Australian
pilot.
• The 2023-24 Federal Budget allocated $22.1 million over four years to
deliver two pilots for infants showing early sings of difference in social
communication.
• Some members of Autistic and Autism communities have expressed
concerns about whether the Inklings program is ‘best practice’ and the
possibility of adverse impacts of the pilot on Autistic babies.
Locational / place considerations
• The South Australian pilot will be delivered in Northern Adelaide, Adelaide
metro and regional areas Lower Eyre and Far North (regional and remote).
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Lisha Jackman Branch Manager,
Foundational Supports and Early Childhood
Reforms Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Luke Mansfield, Group Manager, Disability
position):
Reforms and Royal Commission Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
14 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
5
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 23
Disability Royal Commission
QB22-000021
Disability Royal Commission
Headline response
• The voices of people with disability, their families, and disability
organisations are heard by this government.
• The Disability Royal Commission enabled us as a nation to better
understand what needs to change to prevent violence, abuse,
neglect and exploitation of people with disability.
• The Government is committed to driving change across the
country to ensure the right of people with disability to live free
from harm is upheld.
• The Government is carefully considering the Disability Royal
Commission’s final report and its 222 recommendations.
• Addressing the very serious issues raised requires a national
effort.
TALKING POINTS
• The Commonwealth and 7 jurisdictions have agreed to respond
to joint recommendations of the Royal Commission final report
by mid-2024.
• We have been engaging with people with disability, their
families, carers, service providers, unions and the broader
community to inform our response to the Royal Commission
recommendations.
• On 13 March, we released the
Australian Government Progress
Update on the Disability Royal Commission.
1
Modified: 8/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Royal Commission
• The Progress Update highlights the steps the Government has
already taken to improve outcomes for people with disability
while the DRC was running.
IF ASKED – Why has the Government delayed its response to
the DRC Final Report – won’t the delay cause more violence,
abuse and harm to people with disability? When will the
government act to address these issues?
• The Government did not wait for the Disability Royal Commission’s
final report before progressing a range of important initiatives
dedicated to improving support for, and inclusion of, people with
disability.
• This includes investing $124.4 million in a range of actions under
Australia’s Disability Strategy; including measures to boost
workforce participation; doubling the systemic advocacy program;
progressing the National Disability Data Asset and Research
Partnership; and development of the National Autism Strategy.
• The Government also established the new Disability Services and
Inclusion Act, to provide greater safeguards for people receiving
disability supports outside the NDIS.
• The Government has committed more than
$900 million over
5 years to improve the effectiveness and delivery of the NDIS,
including
$142.6 million to support the NDIS Quality and
Safeguards Commission to better protect the safety of NDIS
participants.
2
Modified: 8/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Royal Commission
• Given the scale and complexity of the reform recommended by the
Disability Royal Commission, and the importance of consulting
widely and understanding implications, it is critical we take the time
to ensure the development of a strategic responses to
recommendations that drive meaningful and lasting change to
make Australia safe, accessible and inclusive for people with
disability.
• The Commonwealth and 7 jurisdictions have agreed to respond to
joint recommendations of the Royal Commission final report by
mid-2024.
• In the interim,
the Australian Government Progress Update on the
Disability Royal Commission was released on 13 March 2024 and
is available on the Department of Social Services website,
including in accessible versions.
• The Progress Update highlights the steps the Government has
already taken to improve outcomes for people with disability while
the DRC was running.
IF ASKED: What support is available for people with disability
who have been impacted by the Disability Royal Commission
now that it has been released?
• People with disability requiring advocacy support can continue to
access services through the National Disability Advocacy Program.
• These services provide people with disability, their families and
carers support to:
– Self-advocate, wherever possible
– Identify and address situations of violence, abuse, neglect or
exploitation
3
Modified: 8/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Royal Commission
– Understand and/or access the NDIS, Centrelink and other
government services
– Find and use community services, including legal services
– Request extra support (such as reasonable adjustments) at
school or work.
IF ASKED – What is the Government doing to stop violence
against people with disability (If asked about Disability
Representative Organisations’ End the Violence Campaign)
• The voices of people with disability are heard by this Government.
• We have been following the Disability Royal Commission closely,
and we are committed to driving change across Australia to stop
violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability.
• Systematically addressing these issues requires a national effort.
• This includes all governments and all parts of our community,
including businesses, non-government organisations, service
providers, workers and carers that support people with disability.
• The Government is carefully considering the Disability Royal
Commission’s final report and will work collaboratively to progress
the necessary reform to make Australia safe and inclusive for all
people with disability.
If ASKED – How will the Government reconcile the different
views of Disability Royal Commissioners, or the advice expected
soon from the Independent NDIS Review?
• Many of the issues considered by the Disability Royal Commission
are complex and the Commission heard a diversity of views and
experiences from people with disability, their families and carers on
a number of matters.
• In a similar way, the NDIS Review Panel considered a range of
complex issues to improve the NDIS so that it can continue to
transform the lives of participants.
4
Modified: 8/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Royal Commission
• As an initial response to the Review, National Cabinet agreed all
governments will work together to implement legislative and other
changes to the NDIS to improve the experience of participants and
restore the original intent of the Scheme to support people with
permanent and significant disability, within a broader ecosystem of
supports.
• National Cabinet agreed– as part of this broader ecosystem of
supports – to co-design and co-fund new foundational support
services for people with disability outside the NDIS.
• The Government will carefully consider the recommendations
provided through both of these processes, paying respect to the
diversity of views presented in forming its response.
If ASKED – What is the role of the Commonwealth Disability
Royal Commission Taskforce?
• In recognition of the significant scale of the reforms recommended
by the Disability Royal Commission, the Government has
established a Commonwealth Disability Royal Commission
Taskforce.
• The Taskforce is coordinating the Australian Government's
response, particularly focused on the recommendations that are
directed towards the Commonwealth.
5
Modified: 8/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Royal Commission
• The Taskforce will be critical in assessing how the individual
recommendations are linked together, understanding the broader
implications of these recommendations and sequencing the
Government's response.
• This work will be done in close consultation with the disability
community and stakeholders.
• A total of $4.25 million over two years is allocated to the taskforce
to undertake this important work. The Taskforce has its own
dedicated staff, drawn from a range of Commonwealth agencies
to strengthen its whole-of-government focus.
6
Modified: 8/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Royal Commission
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
– The Disability Royal Commission was announced on 5 April 2019. The final
report was provided to the Governor-General on 28 September 2023 and
was tabled in the Australian Parliament and publicly released on
29 September 2023.
– The Disability Royal Commission held 32 substantive public hearings.
– A total of
$599.3 million over 5 years (2018–19 and 2023–24) was
allocated to fund the Disability Royal Commission and related support
services.
o The department received
$165.4 million over 5 years, which
included
$144.6 million of administered funding for advocacy and
counselling support services for people participating in, and affected
by, the Disability Royal Commission, the remaining funding
(
$20.8 million) being for departmental purposes in administering
these support services and for engaging with and responding to the
Disability Royal Commission.
o Departmental funding was also provided to the National Disability
Insurance Agency
($47.8 million) and the National Disability
Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission
($7.1 million) to support their engagement with and responses
to the Disability Royal Commission.
o The remaining funding (
$379 million) was provided to the Attorney-
General’s Department to establish and administer financial and legal
support services, and the Disability Royal Commission itself.
– On 29 September 2023, the Government announced the establishment of
the Commonwealth Disability Royal Commission Taskforce.
$4.25 million over two years has been committed to fund the Taskforce.
Support services usage data
– Disability Royal Commission individual and systemic advocacy support
services ceased on 30 June 2023.
– As at 30 June 2023:
o advocacy support was accessed by 4,615 individual clients and
15,603 group clients across 82, 627sessions.
o in-person counselling services have been accessed by 3,976
individual clients and 661 group clients across 67,480 sessions.
– Disability Royal Commission counselling support services ceased on
31 December 2023.
o As at 31 December 2023 (weekly reporting data), the National
Counselling and Referral Service received 34,383 calls, delivered
18,429 counselling sessions and made 4,909 phone referrals since
it was established.
7
Modified: 8/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Disability Royal Commission
Locational / place considerations
Nil.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Luke Mansfield, Group Manager, Disability
Reform and Royal Commission
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Luke Mansfield, Group Manager, Disability
position):
Reform and Royal Commission
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
8 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
8
Modified: 8/5/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 24
NATIONAL DISABILITY DATA ASSET
QB23-000032
National Disability Data Asset (NDDA)
Issue
The Government announced it has committed $68.3 million for the
analysis, research and delivery of the National Disability Data Asset.
What is the Government doing to ensure the NDDA will be aligned
with community expectations?
Headline response
The NDDA is co-governed with the disability community through the
NDDA Council and panels that support them. The Council will also
oversee adherence to an NDDA Charter which contains principles
and rules for use of the asset which align with community
expectations.
TALKING POINTS
• As a key pillar of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031, the
NDDA will build the evidence base that supports the delivery
of better and more responsive services for people with disability.
• The Australian Government’s commitment of $68.3 million the
National Disability Data Asset will mean that, for the first time
in Australia, a variety of existing Commonwealth, state and territory
government data will be linked together to support a better
understanding about the improvements we can make to support
better outcomes for people with disability.
• This includes secure de-identified data around education, health,
employment, the NDIS and other community services.
1
OFFICIAL
NATIONAL DISABILITY DATA ASSET
• The NDDA will help all governments across Australia to improve
research, policy development, service delivery, ensure funding and
the design of services are targeted to achieve outcomes for people
with disability.
• All states and territories have signed up to deliver the NDDA,
which includes an agreement to supply data and to co-govern the
NDDA with the disability community. With all jurisdictions now
signed up to supply data, governments are holding productive
discussions on how to best share data, with appropriate safeguards
in place.
If ASKED – How are you working with the disability community
and representatives on the NDDA?
• Engaging people with disability and their representatives is critical
to the success of the NDDA.
• The Department has worked closely with Disability Representative
Organisations, the NDDA Pilot Disability Advisory Council and
National Disability Research Partnership Working Party to establish
co-governance arrangements for the enduring asset.
• The NDDA Council met on 19 February 2024, and again on 12
April 2024 and 6 May 2024, with a focus on finalising the NDDA
Charter that governs use of the asset and establishing the
specialist panels under the Council.
• The Council includes disability community members, disability and
data experts and government officials.
• The NDDA Council will provide strategic oversight of the NDDA
and provide advice to disability ministers.
2
OFFICIAL
NATIONAL DISABILITY DATA ASSET
• Several expert panels will support the Council’s work. A Disability
Indicators Panel has been established to provide advice on how
disability indicators should and should not be used from a human
rights perspective, to support appropriate communication of
insights.
If ASKED – What protections will be in place for the use of this
data?
• The Government understands concerns the disability community
may have in relation to data usage.
• That is why all the data in the NDDA will be de-identified, with
strong ethical oversight and privacy protections in place in addition
to NDDA Council co-governance arrangements with the disability
community.
• The NDDA will be governed by a Charter, developed with the
disability community, that sets out how NDDA data can be used.
The Charter has been endorsed by the NDDA Council and will
be taken to disability ministers for endorsement in mid-2024.
Access to the NDDA will not be granted until the Charter is in
place.
If ASKED – You have disability representative organisations –
why can’t you use their insights for policy development?
• The disability community, including representative organisations,
has long called for governments to address the gaps in data
around the experiences and outcomes of people with disability.
• The NDDA is a new way of connecting data and will help address
these gaps. It will enable richer conversations with disability
3
OFFICIAL
NATIONAL DISABILITY DATA ASSET
representative organisations, grounded in data and evidence to
support government to work collaboratively with the disability
community to identify potential solutions.
CONTACT NAME: Jodi Cassar
POSITION: Branch Manager, Australia’s
Disability Strategy
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 8 May 2024
4
OFFICIAL
NATIONAL DISABILITY DATA ASSET
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Background and Key Facts
• The NDDA project was informed by an 18-month Pilot conducted between
April 2020 and December 2021. An expert Disability Advisory Council,
chaired by Australia’s former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Ben
Gauntlett guided the Pilot.
• The Department of Social Services is leading the development of the NDDA,
in partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
• The first results from the NDDA will be available in 2024 and the NDDA
is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025.
• The NDDA Council includes community nominated representatives
to ensure the disability community have an ongoing decision-making role in
the NDDA.
• The Council co-chairs are: Catherine McAlpine (community) and Luke
Mansfield (government).
• The community Council members are Dr Scott Avery and Giancarlo de Vera.
• The expert Council members are Professor Bruce Bonyhady AM,
Commissioner Rosemary Kayess and Professor Julian Trollor.
• The state and territory government Council members are Zoe Dendle,
Marion Hailes-MacDonald, and Carley Northcott. The Australian
Government Council members are Dr Phillip Gould and Gemma van
Halderen PSM.
• All states and territories have signed their bilateral jurisdiction schedules and
Multilateral Data Sharing Agreement.
• While the previous Government announced it would provide up to
$40 million for the NDDA on 3 December 2021, only $19.3 million was
appropriated.
• The underlying technology for the NDDA has the potential to be used for
other data assets in the future, for example it could support education or
health data assets.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Jodi Cassar, Branch Manager, Australia’s
Disability Strategy
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Luke Mansfield Group Manager
position):
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
8 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
5
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 25
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB24-000004
Foundational Supports
Issue
What is the government doing to ensure disability support for
Australians outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme
(NDIS)?
Headline response
• This government is committed to improving outcomes for people
with disability, families and carers. Consistent with National
Cabinet’s agreement of 6 December 2023, my department is
working with states and territories and the disability community to
develop additional Foundational Supports outside the NDIS and
to get the NDIS back on track to deliver positive outcomes for
participants for generations to come.
TALKING POINTS
• The NDIS has improved the lives of many people with disability and
the Government is committed to restoring the NDIS to its original
intent and improving the experience of the more than 600,000
participants accessing the Scheme.
• There are around 2.5 million Australians with disability under
65 years and it was never intended that the NDIS would be the only
support for people with disability.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• As identified by the Independent Review of the NDIS, more needs
to be done to create a stronger disability ecosystem, with a range
of supports available for people with disability, not just those with
individual NDIS packages.
• In early December 2023, First Ministers agreed at National Cabinet
that the Commonwealth and states and territories will work together
to jointly design and fund additional Foundational Supports for
people with disability.
• While significant consultation was undertaken with the community
through the Independent Review into the NDIS, governments
understand that consultation with people with disability and their
families, representative organisations and the broader disability
sector is critical to the success of Foundational Supports.
• We are actively and collaboratively working with states and
territories on the approach to designing and engaging with the
disability community and sector on what additional Foundational
Services should look like, drawing on the Independent Review into
the NDIS and what has been heard from people with disability
during the Royal Commission and NDIS Review.
IF ASKED – What are Foundational Supports?
• The Independent Review into the NDIS found there are many
people with disability who require different or a higher level of
support than is provided by inclusive and accessible mainstream
services, but who do not require the level of specialist
individualised support provided as part of NDIS.
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• Foundational Supports are intended to help address this gap.
• Changes are about improved access to the right information and
advice, as well as early intervention, prevention and low intensity
support, where that can help people or specific groups build
capacity and inclusion and allow them to thrive.
• The Review has presented a number of ideas for the kind of
support, including who they should be targeted to and what kinds of
outcomes they should seek to improve.
• Governments are working thought these recommendations and will
consult with the disability community in 2024 to inform decision
making and implementation.
IF ASKED - When will the Foundational Supports changes
happen?
• The Review proposes a 5-year implementation plan for changes to
the Scheme and improvements to the broader disability ecosystem.
• It is expected that additional Foundational Supports will be
established through a combination of new and reformed or
expanded Commonwealth and state/territory programs.
• Participants in the scheme will continue to access supports while
we work with the disability community on how the changes will be
designed and implemented.
IF ASKED –Will educators and schools deliver these supports?
• Where appropriate, Foundational Supports will be delivered in a
way that is connected with existing service settings and for children
and their families this may include settings like play groups, early
childhood education, schools and other community settings.
3
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• This does not mean educators would be asked to deliver these
services.
• This is about bringing more specialist low intensity supports into
and around spaces where children live, play and learn as well as
supporting families and caregivers.
• Foundational Supports do not remove the need for mainstream
settings, including schools, to be inclusive and accessible.
• The Government will continue to work with states and territories,
through the implementation of Australia’s Disability Strategy, to
improve inclusion across mainstream service systems.
IF ASKED – When will consultation with the disability
commence?
• Commonwealth and state and territory governments are planning
the approach to support meaningful engagement with people with
disability, families and carers, representative organisations and
other stakeholders in relation to the design of Foundational
Supports.
• First, they are working to settle a shared understanding of the
approach to the undertaking the design of foundational supports,
including detailed work on definitions, sources of data that can
inform design considerations and the phasing of work.
• This is essential to support meaningful engagement, and over the
medium term, to be able to clearly communicate with the disability
community on what this reform means for them, on what supports
are available and how they can be accessed.
IF ASKED - why has legislation been tabled when Foundational
Supports are not ready?
4
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• Rule changes under the NDIS Act that are linked to access will be
developed alongside the development of Foundational Supports
and won’t take effect until relevant Foundational Support are in
place. These rules will be developed in consultation with the
disability community.
• For children, while it is proposed that some changes are made to
the pathway into the NDIS for children under 9 with developmental
delay, these changes would not occur before appropriate supports
are established in the foundational and mainstream settings.
IF ASKED – will children with autism or developmental delay be
left without support?
• This NDIS Amendment Bill does not change a child’s participant
status or remove access to the NDIS based on a particular
disability type.
• There will be a new early intervention pathway for children who
enter the Scheme under the early intervention requirements (s.25).
• The NDIA is undertaking work on best-practice early childhood
supports to inform work on definitions of ‘substantial developmental
delay’ and ‘likely to benefit’.
• Government will work with the disability community to develop the
new early intervention pathway, in addition to working with people
with disability and families around Foundational Supports.
CONTACT NAME: Lisha Jackman
POSITION: Branch Manager, Foundational Supports
and Early Childhood Reforms
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 8 May 2024
5
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• The NDIS Review recommended all levels of government co-fund
Foundational Supports for people with disability.
• The NDIS Review recommended 2 categories for Foundational Supports:
- General Supports, for all people with a disability and their carers. These
focus on things like information, advice and capacity building.
- Targeted Supports, primarily for specific groups of people with disability,
and focused on people not eligible for the NDIS.
• National Cabinet is yet to agree on the detailed scope, eligibility and design
of Foundational Supports. This will occur following design work between the
Australian and state and territory governments and other stakeholders.
• The Government will work with Disability Representative Organisations,
service providers, workers and professional bodies, people with disability
and their family and carers as services are designed and implemented.
• The final details of funding arrangements between the Commonwealth and
State and Territory Governments will be oversighted by the Council of
Federal Financial Relations, which includes the Commonwealth and state
and territory treasurers.
• While the Scheme remains demand-driven, the NDIS Financial Sustainability
Framework agreed by National Cabinet will provide an annual growth target
in the total costs of the Scheme of 8 per cent by 1 July 2026, with further
moderation of growth as the Scheme matures.
• Foundational Supports aim to reduce the overreliance on the Scheme by
providing alternative support options for people with disability where this is
appropriate.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Lisha Jackman, Branch Manager, Foundational
Supports and Early Childhood Reforms
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Luke Mansfield, Group Manager, Disability
position):
Reforms and Royal Commission
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
8 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
6
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 26
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB24-000033
Family and domestic violence filicide
Issue
On 2 July 2024, Australia’s National Research Organisation for
Women’s Safety (ANROWS) published
Filicide in a domestic and
family violence context 2010-2018 which showed 76% of filicide
cases occurred within a family and domestic violence context.
What is the Government doing to prevent children being killed?
Headline response
The
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
2022-2032 (the National Plan) recognises children and young
people as victim-survivors in their own right and acknowledges the
important role of early intervention in stopping violence from
escalating and protecting them from both immediate and long-term
harm.
The National Plan is underpinned by a key principle of accountability
and holding men who use violence against women and children to
account.
TALKING POINTS
• I would like to take a moment to acknowledge all the lives lost due
to family and domestic violence including the 106 children
referenced in this report.
• This Government is committed to ending gender-based violence
once and for all and it is the responsibility of all of us to work
together, to stand united in saying this has to stop.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• This report by ANROWS highlights, yet again, the devastating
impact of family, domestic and sexual violence. It is abhorrent that
our children are being killed by the people who are meant to love
and protect them the most.
• The National Plan is driving change and the Government has
invested a record $3.4 billion to end violence against women and
children.
• The First Action Plan 2023-2027 includes a range of programs and
initiatives to support families, parents and children at risk of or
experiencing violence.
• On 1 May 2024, National Cabinet met to discuss the national crisis
of gender-based violence.
• An outcome of the 1 May National Cabinet meeting was that First
Ministers agreed to strengthen accountability and consequences
for perpetrators, including with high-risk perpetrators and serial
offenders.
• In support of this work, the Government has funded the Australian
Bureau of Statistics to develop a new longitudinal and enduring
dataset in collaboration with police enforcement, criminal courts
and adult corrective services departments.
• This dataset will have the potential to provide critical information on
high-risk and repeat offenders of family, domestic and sexual
violence.
• National Cabinet also agreed to strengthen and build on prevention
work through targeted, evidence-based approaches.
• On 28 May we established an expert panel to provide practical
advice to Government on further action to prevent gender-based
violence.
• The panel is currently reviewing existing evidence and best-
practice approaches and will identify opportunities to strengthen
prevention efforts and approaches across all forms of violence
against women and children, including a particular focus on
homicides.
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• To further support this work, ANROWS is leading a rapid
environmental scan of the research, evaluation and data landscape
on the perpetration of violence.
• As part of the $4.3 million announced in the 2024-25 Budget,
ANROWS will undertake further research on perpetration to fill
critical knowledge gaps.
CONTACT NAME: Tim Crosier
POSITION: Branch Manager, National Policy
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 3 July 2024
3
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Government funded initiatives and programs
•
The Specialised Family Violence Services (SFVS) program that uses a whole of
family approach to strengthen family and community functioning and improve personal
and family safety by providing support to individuals, couples, children and families
who are experiencing or are at risk of family or domestic violence (FDV). SFVS is a
component under the Families and Children Program. This includes specialist
services:
•
children as victims in their own right
•
for individuals who use violent or abusive behaviour
•
delivered by Aboriginal and Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs)
delivering culturally safe services in the Northern Territory (NT)
•
SFVS is funded up to $54.6 million over 5 years from 2022-23 to 2026-27. In 2022-
23, SFVS was delivered by 38 providers, through 127 outlets.
•
National Perpetrator Referral Database
o Online national perpetrator referral database of services, to increase the
number of perpetrators being referred to, attending and completing intervention
programs, enhancing accountability and stopping violence from escalating.
•
Perpetrator Risk Assessment Framework
o Develop a national risk assessment framework for service providers to
accurately identify, assess, monitor and manage the risk posed by perpetrators,
as well as facilitate safe and consistent information sharing between services
and jurisdictions. The measure will include training to apply framework as an
evaluation of the framework.
•
Children’s Policy Package - Targeted Communication to Support and Improve
Parenting Practice
o Assist parents and carers to understand the importance of child development,
learned parenting and to reduce the stigma associated with seeking support.
•
Children’s Policy Package - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre for
Excellence in Child and Family Support
o The development and delivery of specific targeted policies for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander youth at risk of, or who have experienced Family
Domestic and Sexual Violence.
•
Children’s Policy Package - National Advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Children and Young People
o The establishment of a National Advocate to report on the effectiveness of the
National Framework and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children and young people within both Commonwealth and State and Territories
services and systems.
•
Extending DV-alert training
o DV-alert is a free nationally accredited training program designed to help
health, allied health and community frontline workers better understand and
identify domestic and family violence and improve their referral and support
skills.
•
MensLine Australia – Changing for Good - extension
o Extended funding for counselling support for men who want to stop using
violence in their family and relationships.
•
No to Violence extension
o National coverage for the Men’s Referral Service, a direct telephone and online
support for men who use violent and controlling behaviour, and the Brief
Intervention Service, telephone-based counselling for men who use violence.
4
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
As this service can be delivered virtually, it supports men living in regional
Australia who may have not counselling support in a reasonable distance or are
unable to attend a counselling service in person.
•
500 additional frontline service and community workers (DSS)
o Funding for 500 additional frontline service and community workers supporting
women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence. As a
result of the associated funding boost, victim-survivors, including in regional,
rural, and remote areas, we have greater access to critical support services.
This funding will create new employment opportunities for case managers in
shelters, financial counsellors in community organisations and support workers
for specialist women’s services. Half of the jobs will be allocated to rural,
regional and remote areas, in recognition of the greater frequency and severity
of violence and increased barriers to accessing services, experienced by
women and children in rural communities.
Recent Media
•
2 July 2024, SBS News How can we curb the 'alarming frequency' of parents
killing their children in Australia? | SBS News Ria Pandey, Elfy Scott
• 2 July 2024, SBS News Australia fails to address tragedy of parents killing their
children | SBS News Sam Dover
• 2 July 2024, ABC News, Intimate partner violence a major risk factor for filicide
but researchers say new data provides a roadmap to intervention - ABC News
Claudia Long
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Tim Crosier
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include position): Anna Lutz, Group Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
03 / 07 / 2024
MO Clearance Date:
3 July 2024
5
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 27
NATIONAL PLAN 2022-2032
QB22-000038
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-
2032
Issue
How will the
National Plan to End Violence against Women and
Children 2022-2032 (National Plan) end gender-based violence
in one generation?
Headline response
• Ending violence is an issue for all governments, businesses and
the community.
• The Australian Government is providing the focus and national
leadership needed to prevent violence and ensure appropriate
support is available to people who need it, when they need it.
• The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
2022-2032 (the National Plan) is a joint Australian, state and
territory government document that sets the national policy
agenda for addressing violence against women and children.
• To escalate collective efforts to end gender-based violence,
the Prime Minister convened a National Cabinet on 1 May 2024,
where First Ministers agreed to strengthen accountability for
perpetrators, build on existing prevention efforts and maintain
a focus on First Nations women and children.
• In the 2024-25 Budget, the government has invested a further
$1.1 billion dollars towards ending gender-based violence,
bringing the government’s total investment to $3.4 billion under
the National Plan.
1
Modified: 3/7/2024
OFFICIAL
NATIONAL PLAN 2022-2032
TALKING POINTS
• Actions to implement the National Plan are outlined in the First
Action Plan 2023-2027 and a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Action Plan.
• An Activities Addendum detailing the investments governments
are making under each Action accompanies the First Action Plan.
• New measures announced in the 2024-25 Budget will be included
in the Activities Addendum when the update is published later this
year, along with implementation updates for existing measures.
New measures announced as part of the May 2024-25 budget:
• $925.2 million over five years to provide financial support and
support services for victim-survivors leaving a violent intimate
partner relationship through the Leaving Violence Program
• $1.3 million for a rapid review of targeted prevention approaches
to end violence against women, with a panel of experts to provide
advice to Government on preventing gender-based violence,
including a focus on homicides.
• $4.3 million in 2024-25 for ANROWS to further build the evidence
base on pathways into and out of perpetration of family, domestic
and sexual violence.
• $3.9 million over four years in additional resourcing for the Office
for Women to support whole of government coordination efforts
and complement the work of the Department of Social Services to
deliver on the government’s continued response to gender-based
violence.
2
Modified: 3/7/2024
OFFICIAL
NATIONAL PLAN 2022-2032
• $44.1 million in 2024–25 to provide an immediate funding boost to
the legal assistance sector to ensure that more Australians have
access to justice and equality before the law.
• $19.4 million over two years to establish a National Student
Ombudsman to help to eradicate gender-based violence from
universities and $18.7 million over four years to establish a
National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to
Gender-Based Violence.
• $13.1 million in targeted investments to support refugee and
migrant women, including for the Settlement Engagement and
Transition Support program and to support visa holders
experiencing domestic and family violence.
• $11.7 million over two years to extend the First Nations Family
Dispute Resolution pilot to support Aboriginal Community
Controlled Organisations to deliver culturally-safe family dispute
resolution services.
• $6.5 million in 2024-25 for the Age Assurance Pilot to Protect
Children from Harmful Online Content.
• $6 million over two years for the provision of local outreach
trauma-informed healthcare support to women and children
experiencing domestic and family violence or homelessness,
provided through Primary Health Networks on the Central Coast.
National Cabinet
• In recognition of the need to escalate collective efforts to end
gender-based violence, the Prime Minister convened a National
Cabinet on 1 May 2024, so that the Commonwealth and all states
and territories are able to come together on this critical issue.
3
Modified: 3/7/2024
OFFICIAL
NATIONAL PLAN 2022-2032
• First Ministers agreed to build on and strengthen efforts currently
underway under the National Plan, including strengthening
accountability and consequences for perpetrators, strengthening
and building on prevention work through targeted, evidence-
based approaches and maintaining a focus on missing and
murdered First Nations women and children.
If asked – How do we know if the First Action Plan is working?
• The First Action Plan was launched on 16 August 2023, and it is
too early to gauge the impact at this stage.
• The Outcomes Framework sets out 6 measurable national targets
that will allow us to track, monitor, and report our progress and
changes over the life of the National Plan.
• The Performance Measurement Plan will provide a road map for
measuring progress towards the achievement of outcomes under
the National Plan.
CONTACT NAME: Anna Lutz
POSITION: Group Manager, Ending Gender-
Based Violence
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 3/7/2024
4
Modified: 3/7/2024
OFFICIAL
NATIONAL PLAN 2022-2032
RECENT MEDIA
Saturday 29 June, The Saturday Paper, The case for a federal minister for
children. Rosie Batty and academic Kate Fitz-Gibbon outline the need for a
federal minister for children in order to provide a cross-portfolio and system
focus on children to deliver safe outcomes. Notes the National Plan recognises
children as victim-survivors in their own right, but recent policy announcements
and reforms neglect children and leave them invisible. Provides example of the
2024-25 Budget measure Leaving Violence Program (LVP), which is only
eligible to people 18 years of age and over.
Saturday 29 June, The Sydney Morning Herald, Police took nearly an hour to
respond to triple-zero call while woman lay dying. This article discussed the
case of domestic violence in Casino in Northern Rivers where the woman’s
partner has since been charged with murder. The NSW Police Commissioner
has asked for an independent review of this investigation as to why it took
police nearly an hour to acknowledge the triple-zero call, what that delay was
and if it was justified or otherwise.
Friday 28 June, The Canberra Times, 'Profound responsibility' for new victims'
commissioner. Rebecca O'Connor has been appointed Queensland's first
victims' commissioner in a role designed to advocate for the rights of vulnerable
people and provide a platform for their voices to be heard in the justice system.
The role was a recommendation from the Women's Safety and Justice
Taskforce's Hear Her Voice report following the stark rise in violence against
females in Queensland.
Thursday 6 June 2024, Herald Sun, Coordinated, community-wide response
needed to tackle domestic, family and sexual violence. Comprehensive article
outlining past and current approaches to addressing FDSV in Australia,
including the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children and
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan. Includes discussion
around shifts in men’s attitudes and behaviours and a call from No To Violence
CEO, Mr Phillip Ripper, for a separate national strategy that focuses on men’s
use of violence.
Wednesday 5 June 2024, ABC News VIDEO: Family violence legal services call
for increased ongoing funding
Ms Elena Rosenman, Chair, National Women’s
Legal Services criticises the lack of funding, saying services are turning away a
1000 women a week. References the Independent Review of the National Legal
Assistance Partnership (Mundy Report) and the need for Government to
consider how to contribute greater funding to the sector.
Tuesday 4 June 2024, The Advocate, Help for women to flee, but cuts to
services they will need. Ms Kirsten Wylie, Director, Tasmania Legal Aid (TLA)
criticises the lack of new funding under National Plan for frontline services in
5
Modified: 3/7/2024
OFFICIAL
NATIONAL PLAN 2022-2032
Tasmania, and cites need for increased funding for legal aid services, as part of
Leaving Violence Payment.
Sunday 2 June 2024, ABC News, Federal government to introduce ban on
sharing of non-consensual deepfake pornography. The Albanese government
will introduce new laws banning the sharing of deepfake pornography and
imposing a six-year prison term. The legislation will be introduced this coming
week. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says the non-consensual sharing of such
images is a "damaging and deeply distressing form of abuse".
Friday 31 May 2024, ABC News, Government must defy alcohol lobby to help
end family violence, say advocates and MPs. Criticism from independent MPs
(Zali Steggall and David Pocock) and advocates (Caterina Giorgi, CEO of the
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education) that Government and the
National Plan are not doing enough to reduce the influence of alcohol on
domestic and family violence. Discusses research conducted by ANROWS on
the link between alcohol and violence.
Friday 31 May 2024, Shepparton News, Women and kids can’t wait. Discusses
comments made by Michael Salter on Thursday 30 May calling for more short-
and medium-term strategies to tackle domestic violence, including alcohol and
pornography regulations and accountability for perpetrators. Also discusses
research by AIHW, ANROWS and AIC on link between violence and alcohol,
gambling and pornography.
Tuesday 28 May 2024, The Australian, Anthony Albanese tasks team of experts
to tackle gender-based violence. Expert Panel to meet for first time as part of
Rapid Review, to be headed by Domestic, Family, Sexual Violence
Commissioner, Micaela Cronin, and Executive Director for Office for Women,
Padma Raman PSM, and Social Services Secretary Ray Griggs.
Tuesday 28 May 2024, ABC News Breakfast discussion. Political Reporter Tom
Lowry discusses criticism of the National Plan by some sector advocates and
Federal MP Kate Chaney, and announcement new Expert Panel.
Monday 27 May 2024, The Sydney Morning Herald, Anne Summers says rise in
domestic violence ‘horrific’. Chief Political Correspondent David Crowe
discusses new Dr Anne Summers role in new Expert Panel and her concern
about the increase in technology facilitated abuse.
Thursday 16 May 2024, The Australian, Backlash over lack of help for DV
victims. Peak women’s groups (Safe Steps, Fair Agenda, Centre for Women's
Safety and Wellbeing, National Council of Single Mothers and their Children)
criticise government for lack of funding for domestic, family and sexual violence
services in the budget.
6
Modified: 3/7/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 28
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
QB23-000030
500 workers
Issue
Workers are not being recruited fast enough under the 500 new
workers initiative. What is being done to address this issue?
Headline response
• As at 30 June 2024, 108 new workers have commenced.
• States and territories have been progressing to allocate funding
to their selected frontline organisations to recruit new workers.
• There are some challenges with recruiting to the family, domestic
and sexual violence workforce.
• The Australian Government is working closely with states and
territories to better understand the challenges.
TALKING POINTS
• $169.4 million has been committed over 4 years from 2022-23 to
2025-26 to generate 500 new frontline and community sector
workers to support victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual
violence (FDSV).
• Funding is being delivered to state and territory governments
(states) through an extension of the
National Partnership on
Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses (FDSV National
Partnership). This allows states to leverage their existing funding
arrangements with frontline organisations. States have not been
asked to contribute matched funding to this initiative.
• All states have agreements in place and have received their
2022-23 and 2023-24 payments.
All jurisdictions except Victoria executed agreements in late
2022-23.
To finalise the agreement with Victoria, I agreed to re-profile
new worker targets and allow Victoria to meet targets by
2025-26 (rather than 2024-25).
1
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
• Ongoing funding has been provided - therefore all of the 500 new
workers will be funded into the future.
• As of 30 June 2024:
All jurisdictions have executed a multilateral agreement and
submitted project plans, resulting in payments 1 and 2 being
made.
$58.094 million has been paid to states.
In line with the Multilateral Schedule, all states have provided their
February 2024 Progress Reports.
▪ The Schedule of Victoria’s Agreement included that it
would provide its progress report in August 2024.
108 new workers have commenced nationally.
IF ASKED - What is the Commonwealth doing to progress this
initiative?
• My department and I remain closely engaged with all states on the
500 new workers initiative to ensure recruitment progresses as
agreed through the states’ project plans and regular progress
reporting.
• Further, to ensure transparency, my department is working with
states to publish data on the 500 workers initiative on the first
business day of each month on the Departments website. The first
report was published on 3 June 2024. The next monthly report was
published on 1 July 2024.
IF ASKED - Has the government failed to meet its election
commitment of delivering 500 new workers by 2024-25?
• The Australian Government has undertaken and completed its full
commitments and actions to implement this initiative.
• Jurisdictions have all executed the agreement and are progressing
activities to recruit new workers.
• The timeframe for delivery of the full complement of 500 new workers
has been extended, with Victoria to engage its final share of new
workers in 2025-26.
• The commitment is to build the frontline workforce over-time and
new workers will be employed over the life of the agreement,
reaching 500 in the final year of the agreement.
2
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
• I acknowledge the challenges presented by the current labour
market conditions.
• My department is working closely with jurisdictions to understand
and, where possible, address these challenges. Efforts are being
directed to explore solutions that will ensure frontline services can
attract and retain staff effectively.
• Most importantly though, we need to ensure the 500 new workers
are well equipped to provide the needed supports for
victim-survivors who are very vulnerable and managing a high
level of trauma.
If ASKED – Why was Victoria given a different arrangement?
• The total number of workers to be recruited in Victoria remains the
same, including the locations and priority cohorts.
• Victoria indicated it would be unable to execute the agreement
without targets being pushed back by 12 months.
If ASKED – Will other states and territories be given flexibility?
• The department will continue to work closely with jurisdictions
on ongoing delivery of the initiative.
• Consistent with the terms of the agreement, the department will
consider any requests for flexibility on a case-by-case basis.
CONTACT NAME: Kate Hamilton
POSITION: A/g Branch Manager, National Programs
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 1/07/2024
3
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Total
Total
Total
Funding
funding
workers
workers
State
received to
to
recruited as
Status as at 30 June 2024
to
date ($m)
2025-26
at 30 June
2025-26
($m)
2024
New South Wales expects remaining contracts
NSW
$17.118
$48.8
148.4
6
to be in place by 30 June 2024.Recruitment will
commence once contracts are in place.
The recruitment of new workers is progressing
in line with Victoria’s plan:
• 11 workers have been employed,
• 4 further offers have been confirmed, and
VIC
$10.920
$32.5
101
11
• 20 further roles are currently being
recruited.
Family Safety Victoria is working with peak
bodies on the next stage of this important
project.
• Queensland is implementing a range of
Commonwealth and State funded
workforce-related initiatives across the
domestic, family and sexual violence
service system to strengthen responses to
victim-survivors and people who use
violence.
• Queensland, like other jurisdictions, is
experiencing challenges in attracting,
recruiting and retaining appropriately
qualified specialist frontline domestic,
family and sexual violence workers.
• Given this, Queensland has implemented a
phased approach to the rollout of all
QLD
$13.285
$37.2
111.6
30
initiatives.
• In Phase 1 Queensland has allocated
funding to employ 64 FTE workers.
• Recruitment of the remaining
35 FTE continues.
• Queensland is continuing to work with
services who are experiencing recruitment
challenges.
• A procurement process is nearing
finalisation for Phase 2 to allocate funding
to services for up to 45 additional FTE
workers.
• A separate purchasing process for
LGBTIQA+ community health organisations
will also be undertaken later this year.
As at mid-May, service contracts with
WA
$5.499
$16.2
50
7
organisations have been awarded for all
4
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
Total
Total
Total
Funding
funding
workers
workers
State
received to
to
recruited as
Status as at 30 June 2024
to
date ($m)
2025-26
at 30 June
2025-26
($m)
2024
workers. Recruitment is in progress with
organisation progress ranging from positions
advertised to organisations having offered
employment contracts 6 FTE commenced are
funded through the state co-contribution.
All Service agreements now executed.
Organisations are now recruiting and working
SA
$4.298
$12.2
36.8
25
towards having full FTE as soon as possible
noting that workforce availability remains an
ongoing challenge.
Recruitment is underway with Tasmania
expected to achieve close to their 2023-24
TAS
$3.371
$8.6
24.6
17
target and are on track to deliver their full FTE
worker number of 24.6 FTE workers by end of
2024-25.
2 workers commenced with YWCA Canberra
and employed to deliver Domestic Violence
Support Services
ACT
$0.871
$2.5
7.6
5
3 workers commenced with Canberra Rape
Crisis Centre (CRCC), with an additional 1 FTE
expected to be recruited.
ACT have advised they will fulfil their
commitment of 6 workers in 2023-24.
Grant agreements with 11 crisis
accommodation services have been executed
and funding paid out for 12 children’s workers
(one of the services nominated 2 workers).
Grant agreements with 2 service providers for
3 co-responder model workers have been
executed, and funding is in train.
NT
$2.732
$7.0
20
7
Grant agreements for 2 services for 2 victim
survivor specialist court workers have been
developed and are in the process of execution.
The final worker is for the Women’s Safety
Worker for the new Men’s Behaviour Change
Program in Katherine, which is expected to
commence in 2024-25. It is likely that this
worker will be commissioned as part of the
overall commissioning in early 2024-25.
• The Government has committed a number of new community sector workers to support
priority groups experiencing violence.
250 jobs will be allocated to rural, regional and remote areas,
60 jobs will support First Nations people,
5
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
60 jobs will support the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community,
15 jobs will support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex,
queer/questioning, asexual (LGBTIQA+) community,
15 jobs will support women with disability, and
funding for the remaining 100 positions may be allocated to other FDSV services
experiencing high demand based on jurisdictional needs and demand.
• In addition to these cohorts, the Government announced 337 of the new workers will be
allocated to several regions according to need (
Attachment A refers).
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Kate Hamilton, A/g Branch Manager, National
Programs
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By:
Anna Lutz, Group Manager,
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
1 July 2024
MO Clearance Date:
1 July 2024
6
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 29
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
QB23-000020
Consent and Sexual Violence
Issue
What is the Australian Government doing to address the issue of
sexual violence and consent?
Headline response
The Australian Government is investing $3.4 billion towards
implementing the
National Plan to End Violence against Women
and Children 2022-2032 (National Plan). This includes funding for
a range of initiatives that specifically address the issue of sexual
violence and consent, including:
•
$40 million for the National Consent campaign (the campaign),
which was launched on 26 May 2024.
•
$8.2 million for Community-Led Sexual Violence Pilots to build
the evidence base on what works to prevent sexual violence.
•
$6.5 million for a pilot of age assurance technologies to protect
children from harmful content, like pornography and other
age-restricted online services.
TALKING POINTS
• One in 5 women has experienced sexual violence since the age of
15.
• Actions 1 and 6 of the First Action Plan under the National Plan
include a focus on preventing and addressing sexual violence and
sexual harassment in all settings.
1
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
• The Australian Government has launched a new campaign on
consent to improve community understanding and attitudes on
consent and respectful relationships to reduce the incidence of
sexual violence in Australia.
• The campaign targets adults who have young people (10-17 years)
in their lives and who may have questions or feel nervous or
unsure about the topic of consent and how to approach the
conversation with young people.
• The campaign aims to help adults get on the same page about
consent so that they feel comfortable and confident having
conversations with young people.
• The campaign was developed after extensive developmental
research with more than 2600 Australians.
• An Expert Advisory Panel was consulted throughout to ensure
campaign messaging is accurate and appropriate.
• The campaign will run across television, online video, cinema,
social media, search and out of home channels.
• CALD and First Nations audiences will be reached through
dedicated channels.
• Campaign advertising will be supported by a below-the-line public
relations strategy, including media engagement, tailored resources
and tools, community engagement, social media and a campaign
website.
2
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
If ASKED – Why is the Consent campaign needed?
• Sexual consent is not usually a topic that adults openly discuss.
Research shows that there is confusion amongst adults about their
understanding of consent.
• The campaign provides nationally consistent messaging about
consent. It will help to ensure that consent is well understood,
healthy sexual relationships are the norm and contribute to
reducing sexual violence. This requires a shift in thinking – from
consent being a problem needing to be solved, to a suite of skills
foundational to healthy sexual relationships.
CONTACT NAME: Dani Chatillon
POSITION: A/g Branch Manager, Prevention and
Early Intervention
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 1 July 2024
3
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• Evidence shows that:
o 1 in 12 teenagers had experienced sexual abuse by someone they
were dating. Sexual abuse is more prevalent among females
(AIFS, 2023).
o 1 in 2 women in their 20s has experienced sexual violence (
ANROWS,
Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, 2022).
o Since starting university, 1 in 20 students have been sexually assaulted
and 1 in 6 has been sexually harassed (
National Student Safety
Survey, 2021).
o First Nations women are at a higher risk of sexual violence, with
First Nations women reporting three times as many incidents of sexual
violence (
ANROWS, 2016).
o Women with disabilities are twice as likely to experience sexual
violence over their lifetime than women without disabilities (
Personal
Safety Survey (PSS), 2021-22).
o Women who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or who used a different
term such as asexual, pansexual or queer were more likely to have
experienced sexual violence (13%) than women who identified as
heterosexual (2.4%) (
PSS, 2021-22).
• Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows:
o 1 in 5 women (22 per cent) and 1 in 16 men (6.1 per cent) have
experienced sexual violence since the age of 15 (
PSS, 2021-22).
o 53 per cent of women and 25 per cent of men have reported being
sexually harassed during their lifetime (
PSS, 2016).
o In the most recent incident of sexual assault by a male, the perpetrator
was more likely to be someone the woman knew (85 per cent) than
a stranger (16 per cent). (
PSS, 2021-22).
o The number of victims of sexual assault in Australia increased by
11 per cent between 2022 and 2023. Of this, 84 per cent of victims
were female and around 2 in 5 were family and domestic violence
related.
(Recorded Crime: Victims, 2024).
o For victims and offenders of sexual assault, the most common age for
the incident to occur is between 10-17 years. (Recorded Crime: Victims
2024; Recorded Crime: Offenders, 2023).
o Young people aged between 10 and 17 years make up 41 per cent of
all victims of sexual assault, the majority of whom are female.
Recorded Crime: Victims, 2024).
4
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
• Findings from the National Community Attitudes towards Violence against
Women Survey (2021) shows a concerning persistence of attitudes that
objectify women and disregard consent. For example:
o 1 in 4 Australians (28 per cent) believe that when a man is sexually
aroused, he may not even realise that the woman does not want to
have sex.
o Nearly 1 in 5 Australians (18 per cent) believe that if a woman sends a
naked picture to her partner, then she is partly responsible if he shares
it without her permission.
• According to research conducted for the national consent campaign, the
majority of Australians (77 per cent) feel that the topic of sexual consent is
important to them, with almost 9 in 10 (86 per cent) agreeing adults should
talk to young people about it more (Kantar, 2022).
Relevant Australian Government Funding Commitments
• $1 billion (approximately) was committed in the 2024-25 Budget to
accelerate efforts to end family, domestic and sexual violence. This includes
$6.5 million to conduct a pilot of age assurance technologies to protect
children from harmful content, like pornography and other age-restricted
online services.
o This investment builds on $2.3 billion in measures from the 2022-23 and
2023-24 Budgets.
➢ The 2023-24 Budget included:
▪ $8.2 million to design, deliver and evaluate multiple small scale
trials to prevent sexual harm and violence.
▪ $3.5 million to support Teach Us Consent to develop and
distribute social media resources for young people aged 16 years
and above about sexual violence and consent.
▪ $6.5 million to work with states and territories to strengthen and
harmonise sexual assault and consent laws, and improve
criminal justice responses for victim-survivors (being delivered by
the Attorney-General’s Department).
➢ Other initiatives targeting sexual violence and consent include:
▪ More than $35 million to implement recommendations from the
Respect@Work report.
▪ $6.4 million to continue training medical and non-medical frontline workers
on how to respond appropriately to victim-survivors of sexual violence.
▪ $83.5 million for the Consent and Respectful Relationships Education
(CRRE) measure which aims to ensure that students from Foundation to
Year 10 receive age-appropriate education on positive, respectful
relationships and consent (being delivered by the Department of Education).
5
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
▪ Of this, $77.6 million will be provided to states and territories and non-
government school sectors to support their investment in delivering expert
developed CRRE that suits their jurisdictions.
▪ $3.5 million to help provide school-aged boys with greater understanding of ways
to have healthy relationships with masculinity and to better equip this cohort to
develop healthier and more satisfying relationships.
▪ $12.1 million over 5 years to 2027-28 to establish the Forced Marriage
Specialist Support Program, which will provide targeted, needs-based
support to those at-risk of, or who have experienced, forced marriage.
▪ $2.2 million over 4 years to extend Speak Now to 2027-28. Speak Now is
delivered by Anti-Slavery Australia and is Australia’s national forced
marriage community education service.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position: Dani Chatillon, A/g Branch Manager,
Prevention and Early Intervention
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Anna Lutz, Group Manager, Ending
position):
Gender-Based Violence
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
1 July 2024
MO Clearance Date:
1 July 2024
6
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 30
PREVENTION
QB24-000022
Prevention
Issue
What is the Government doing to prevent family, domestic and
sexual violence (FDSV)?
Headline response
The Australian Government is investing $3.4 billion to support the
implementation of the
National Plan to End Violence against
Women and Children 2022-2032 (the National Plan).
We are taking a system-wide approach with funding covering
prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery and healing
initiatives.
This comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy supports the
achievement of our goal of ending violence in one generation by
focusing on:
• shifting attitudes and behaviours in relation to gender inequality
and disrespect
• supporting services to hold perpetrators to account and to
respond to risk factors, and
• breaking the cycle of violence.
TALKING POINTS
• Achieving our shared goal of ending gender-based violence in one
generation requires a comprehensive, whole-of-society effort.
o The Australian Government has invested over $3.4 billion to
achieve that goal.
• The National Plan drives and co-ordinates collective action by all
governments and stakeholders to end FDSV.
1
OFFICIAL
PREVENTION
• However, the National Plan does not work in isolation.
o It sits alongside related plans and strategies that contribute to
its goal, such as Safe and Supported, the National Agreement
on Closing the Gap, and Australia’s Disability Strategy.
• The National Plan recognises that a systemic approach is required
to end gender-based, covering prevention, early intervention,
response, recovery and healing.
• Prevention is critical and the Australian Government is providing
funding for a range of primary prevention activities, including:
o $100.4 million for Our Watch to provide leadership and drive
national change in attitudes and behaviours.
o $46 million to continue the Stop it at the Start campaign.
o $40 million for the National Consent Campaign.
o $3.5 million for the Healthy Masculinities Trial and Evaluation.
o $3.5 million to support Teach Us Consent to develop and
distribute social media resources for young people.
• The National Plan recognises the importance of
early intervention
to respond to red flags and known risk factors, and stop violence
from escalating, protect victim-survivors from harm and prevent
violence from reoccurring.
• We have invested in early intervention initiatives including:
o $3.6 million for a pilot to support children aged 6 to 12 years
who are struggling to reach developmental, social and
educational milestones due to family and domestic violence.
o $34.8 million for a national early intervention trial for young
men and adolescent boys.
o $8.5 million for measures including:
▪ a directory of perpetrator support services,
▪ a national perpetrator risk assessment framework, and
▪ extending funding for MensLine Australia’s Changing for
Good support service.
o $27 million to partner with states and territories to apply
innovative approaches to address perpetrator behaviour.
o $39.7 million to extend DV-alert training.
2
OFFICIAL
PREVENTION
• The
Response domain of the National Plan aims to hold
perpetrators to account, keep victim-survivors safe and reduce the
reoccurrence of violence. Our investment in this domain includes:
o The recently announced $925.2 million to permanently
establish the Leaving Violence Program.
o $100 million to extend the Safe Places Emergency
Accommodation program.
o $57.9 million to continue the Keeping Women Safe in their
Homes and Safe Phones programs.
o $28.5 million for increasing capacity of crisis accommodation
services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
o $14 million for family, domestic and sexual violence programs
in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled
Organisations.
• The fourth domain under the National Plan is
recovery and
healing, which recognises that victim-survivors need additional,
often life-long, supports to recover and heal from trauma and the
physical, mental, emotional and economic impacts of violence.
Investment in this domain includes:
o $37.5 million to establish community-led men’s wellness centres
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
o $67.2 million for the supporting recovery pilot which trials a trauma-
informed recovery care approach for victim-survivors of violence.
o $23.2 million for the Healing for Families Cultural healing
initiative which will support families impacted by violence and at
risk of engaging in the child protection system, through delivery
of 7 place-based, trauma-aware and culturally responsive
healing programs.
Rapid Review Panel
• A rapid review panel has been established by the Government to
conduct a Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches and provide
practical advice to Government on further action to prevent
gender-based violence.
3
OFFICIAL
PREVENTION
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Research
• The Australian Institute of Criminology’s Homicide in Australia 2022-23
report indicates one woman is killed every 11 days by her current or former
partner.
• The Personal Safety Survey found:
o 3.9 million women have experienced at least one form of violence in
Australia.
▪ Of these 2.2 million women reported experience sexual violence
and 3.1 million women reported experiencing physical violence.
▪ Women mostly experience violence perpetrated by men, and
people who are known to them, while men mostly experience
violence from other men.
o Intimate partner violence:
▪ 1 in 4 women have experienced this since the age of 15.
▪ Almost 1 in 14 men have experienced intimate partner violence
since the age of 15.
• There is some evidence which demonstrates improvements in attitudes and
behaviours across the community.
o The 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey1 showed that for women, the
12-month prevalence rate of intimate partner violence decreased from
2.3 per cent in 2016 to 1.5 per cent in 2021-22; sexual harassment
decreased from 17 per cent in 2016 to 13 per cent in 2021-22.
o The 2021 National Community Attitudes Survey2, towards Violence
against Women Survey shows that since 2013 Australians’
understanding and attitudes regarding violence against women and
gender-inequality have improved significantly but slowly over time.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Lara Purdy, BM Prevention and Early
Intervention
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Anna Lutz, GM Ending Gender-Based
position):
Violence Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
1 July 2024
MO Clearance Date:
1 July 2024
1 Personal Safety, Australia, 2021-22 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)
2 National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (ncas.au)
5
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 31
INTIMATE PARTNER HOMICIDE
QB23-000051
AIC intimate partner homicide dashboard
Issue
The
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
2022-2032 (National Plan) includes a national target to reduce
female intimate partner homicide by 25% each year, however, the
current data source from the Australian Institute of Criminology
(AIC) is based on 2020-21 data. What is the Government doing to
facilitate real time reporting?
Headline response
On 26 June 2024, the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC)
released the intimate partner homicide dashboard with the first
quarter of data which now provides more timely reporting on female
intimate partner homicides.
TALKING POINTS
• I would like to take a moment to acknowledge all the lives lost due
to intimate partner homicide.
• This Government is committed to ending gender-based violence
once and for all and it is the responsibility of all of us to work
together, to stand united in saying this has to stop.
• I would also like to acknowledge our State and Territory colleagues
and that change would not be possible without the continued
shared commitment of all governments to ending gender-based
violence.
• We know that to end gender-based violence, we need to be able to
measure it.
• We have seen how quickly things can change and governments
must be able to make evidence-informed decisions based on the
most current data.
1
OFFICIAL
INTIMATE PARTNER HOMICIDE
• The AIC, Australia’s national research and knowledge centre on
crime and justice, is changing the reporting landscape with the
release of the new dashboard that will help us to better understand
the scale of the issue by providing accurate, verified and closer to
real-time data.
• The dashboard, released on 26 June 2024, shows there have been
5 female victims of intimate partner homicide between 1 January
and 31 March 2024.
o This compares to 8 victims between 1 January and 31 March
2023.
• The dashboard will be updated quarterly and will present a
cumulative, national total of the number of females that were
victims of murder or manslaughter by a current or former intimate
partner over the current calendar year compared with the previous
year.
• The next update will be in early August 2024.
• The dashboard is based on incidents where an offender has been
charged, or would have been charged if they were alive, with a
homicide offence. This method engenders robustness in the count,
verifies the nature of the relationship between the victim and
primary offender, and enables comparison with trend data on
intimate partner homicide published in the AIC’s
Homicide in
Australia series.
• The AIC continues to work with states and territories on the supply
of data and, as such, are taking an incremental approach to
reporting, starting with quarterly reporting with the intention to move
to real-time reporting in the future.
• We want this dashboard to help drive change. It quantifies in visual
terms the number of woman who lose their lives unnecessarily
every year because of intimate partner violence.
• The National Plan Outcomes Framework 2023-2032 which
includes 6 national targets and one of the targets is reducing
female intimate partner homicide.
• This Government has invested a record $3.4 billion to end violence
against women and children but I’m deeply saddened that it is
needed in the first place.
2
OFFICIAL
INTIMATE PARTNER HOMICIDE
• I call to action every man in this room, every man in Australia to
start engaging in this conversation. Talk with your sons, your
brothers, your fathers, your friends. Gender-based violence and
abuse is never okay.
CONTACT NAME: Tim Crosier
POSITION: Branch Manager, National Policy
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 27 June 2024
3
OFFICIAL
INTIMATE PARTNER HOMICIDE
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• The AIC intimate partner homicide dashboard was released on 26 June 2024 and is at
the following: https://www.aic.gov.au/statistics/homicide-in-australia.
• On 5 November 2023, Minister Rishworth, the Attorney General and the Minister for
Women announced the development of the intimate partner homicide dashboard.
• Recommendation 12 of the Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence
recommended the Australian Government lead the development of a national family,
domestic and sexual violence death toll.
• The AIC has been leading this work and working with State and Territory police to secure
agreement to the project.
• The dashboard will be delivered within the AIC’s existing resources.
• On 22 November 2023 the AIC received agreement from all Police Ministers at the Police
Ministers Council meeting to progress this work.
• The AIC wrote to all Police Commissioners in Dec 2023 to seek support for the provision
of data for the dashboard.
• The administration of the dashboard is contingent on support from all state and territory
police services to release key data (homicide victim and offender, sex and relationship
between victim and offender) to the AIC on a ‘real-time’, or as soon-as-practicable basis.
• The data received by the AIC for the National Homicide Monitoring Program includes the
age of the victim, gender of the victim, and the relationship between each victim and the
primary offender. This can be found in the
Homicides in Australia report published yearly.
• The timelines for determining an intimate partner homicide are often longer than the
timelines for determining a road related death.
• There are numerous factors, including intent, which must be properly investigated before
charges can be brought against an individual.
• Unsubstantiated media reports could still continue to report different figures after the
dashboard is implemented.
National Plan targets
• The 6 targets introduced in the
Outcomes Framework 2023-2032 are:
o 25 per cent annual reduction in female intimate partner homicide
o 2 point increase in the mean ‘Understanding of Violence against Women Scale’
score every 4 years
o 2 point increase in the mean ‘Attitudes towards of Violence against Women
Scale’ score every 4 years
o 2 point increase in the mean ‘Attitudes towards Gender Inequality Scale’ score
every 4 years
o 2 point increase in the mean ‘Sexual Violence Scale’ score every 4 years
o By 2031, the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander women and children is reduced at least by 50
per cent, as progress towards zero.
Recent Media
• Wednesday 26 June 2024, The National Tribune, New Dashboard on intimate Partner
Homicide
• Wednesday 26 June 2024, The Mirage, New Dashboard on Intimate Partner Homicide
Contact Officer’s Name and Position: Tim Crosier
Phone/Mobile: s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include position): Anna Lutz, Group Manager
Phone/Mobile: s 47F
Clearance Date: 27 June 2024
MO Clearance Date: 27 June 2024
4
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 32
WOMEN’S SAFETY
QB24-000021
Engagement with Men
Issue
What is the Government doing to engage men in ending violence
against women?
Headline response
The Government is delivering programs to support men become
more involved in ending gender-based violence.
This includes building knowledge and understanding about
respectful relationships and healthy forms of masculinity, as well as
how to be active bystanders and hold each other accountable when
we see or hear disrespectful attitudes and behaviours.
Ending gender-based violence is everyone’s responsibility and we
need all members of the community to play an active role.
The programs sit across the four domains of the
National Plan to
End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2023 (the National
Plan) as part of a system wide approach to prevention, early
intervention, response, recovery and healing.
TALKING POINTS
• Our ability to achieve the goal of the National Plan to end gender-
based violence in one generation requires all members of our
communities, and all parts of society, to play an active role.
1
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY
• We need to acknowledge this violence exists, teach our young
people about healthy relationships and consent, recognise that
gender stereotypes harm both men and women, and hold each
other accountable when we witness disrespectful behaviour and
attitudes.
• The Government is taking a multi-layered and comprehensive
approach to engaging with men and boys through prevention, early
intervention, response, recovery and healing activities that focus on
changing attitudes and behaviours to stop violence from occurring,
re-occurring and escalating.
• This includes:
o $100.4 million funding for Our Watch to design and test new
approaches to working with men and boys to prevent gender-
based violence;
o $3.5 million for the Healthy Masculinities Trial and Evaluation
(Healthy MaTE) to support school-aged boys and young men
to have healthy relationships with masculinity;
o $3.5 million for Teach Us Consent to promote consent and
healthy sexual relationships via social media to young people
aged 16 years and over;
o $46 million for a fifth and sixth phase of Stop it at the Start and
$40 million for a National Consent campaign to educate the
public on consent and respect for women;
o continued funding for MensLine Australia and the Men’s
Referral Service telephone supports for men seeking
assistance with relationships, attitudes and violent behaviours;
2
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY
o $34.8 million for an early intervention trial for adolescent boys
who have experienced family and domestic violence and may
be using or at risk of using violence in their relationships; and
o $37.8 million to establish Community-led Men’s Wellness
Centres for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
CONTACT NAME: Dani Chatillon
POSITION: A/g Branch Manager, Prevention and
Early Intervention
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 17 June 2024
3
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Background and Key Facts
• The
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032
notes that:
o 95 per cent of people who have experienced physical or sexual
violence name a man as the perpetrator of at least one incident of
violence.
o Around 4 in 5 family and domestic violence offenders are men.
o 84 per cent of respondents in an Australian study of LGBTIQA+ people
who had experienced sexual assault said their most recent experience
of sexual assault was perpetrated by a cisgender man.
• In 2022-23, 1 woman was killed every 11 days by their current or former
intimate partner.
• Research has found that:
o about 25 per cent of young males are looking up to online influencers
promoting disrespect and condoning violence against women (the
Man Cave survey, January 2023).
o almost 4 in 10 men feel pressure to conform to socially dominant
forms of masculinity (The Man Box 2024, Jesuit Social Services).
• Research on
‘Being a young man online’ conducted by the eSafety
Commissioner (June 2024), found that young men:
o Engage with influencers to shape their identities but there is a lack of
diverse role models for them to look to for inspiration and guidance.
Andrew Tate is a key social media figure.
o Access and navigate social connections online, including with friends
and family. However, these spaces can be harmful.
• On 17 June 2024 the Australian Government launched a new phase of the
Stop it at the Start campaign.
o This new phase
Hidden Trends of Disrespect aims to educate parents
and caregivers of young people aged 10-17 years about the new and
hidden forms of disrespect young people are engaging with every day
online, and helps adults to have meaningful discussions with young
people.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Dani Chatillon, A/g Branch Manager
Prevention and Early Intervention
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Anna Lutz, Group Manager
position):
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
19 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
24 June 2024
4
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 33
Women’s Safety Measures
QB24-000007
Family, domestic and sexual violence investment - Northern
Territory
Issue
What is the Australian Government doing to support the Northern
Territory (NT) to address family, domestic and sexual violence?
Headline response
• The Government is committed to making sure investment
in family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) goes towards
areas of greatest need.
• Data tells us that the NT has higher rates of FDSV.
• In 2022, the victimisation rate of family and domestic violence
related homicides in the NT was
6 times the national average.
• Additional funding of
$10.73 million under the National
Partnership on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses
2021-27 (FDSV National Partnership) was provided to the
NT in February 2023.
• The NT has received a total of
approximately $15.510 million
under the FDSV National Partnership from 2021-22 to 2022-23,
which is 5.7% of total funding for this period, and significantly
more than other jurisdictions receive per capita.
• On 8 April 2024, the NT received $1.581 million under the
2023-25 FDSV National Partnership.
• The NT will receive a total of
$28.835 million from 2021-22
to 2026-27 under the FDSV National Partnership, which amounts
to 4.652% of total funding across Australia.
1
OFFICIAL
Women’s Safety Measures
TALKING POINTS
• Ending FDSV must be a priority for us all in Australia.
• The Government has a plan to end violence towards women and
children within one generation, including First Nations women and
children.
• The
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
2022-2032 (National Plan) sets out a shared vision to end
gender-based violence in one generation.
• The 2023-24 Budget has committed $157.2 million over 2 years
from 2023-24 to 2024-25 for the FDSV National Partnership to
support frontline FDSV services.
• This includes the 500 new frontline workers initiative with
20 to be allocated in the NT and additional funding for the Safe
Places Emergency Accommodation Program with a focus on First
Nations women and children.
• Of the total
$28.835 million the NT will receive from 2021-22
to 2026-27 under the FDSV National Partnership – this includes
$7.022 million for the 500 workers initiative and $3.374 million for
the innovative perpetrator responses Initiative.
IF ASKED: The NT has said there should be needs-based funding
- why don’t we have it?
• Funding allocated under the FDSV National Partnership was
agreed between the Commonwealth and all state and territory
governments.
2
OFFICIAL
Women’s Safety Measures
• Any needs-based funding model would need to be carefully
developed to allow for factors such as the methodology for
determining need and availability of data, and would require
support from all state and territory governments.
• Currently, we do not have an agreed way of measuring need
across the different jurisdictions. However, we are open
to discussing this further with jurisdictions to identify different
approaches to any allocating future funding.
IF ASKED: What is the scope of funding NT has received from
the Australian Government under the FDSV National
Partnership?
• The NT will receive a total of $28.835 million from 2021-22
to 2026-7 under the FDSV National Partnership, which amounts
to 4.652% of total funding across Australia.
• This is significantly higher than the NT would receive under a per
capita allocation; the NT’s population is 0.9 per cent of the national
population.
• It reflects that the Commonwealth is responding to the need for
additional investment in the NT.
IF ASKED: About the Housing Affordability Future Fund
• The Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) will support the delivery
of 30,000 new social and affordable homes in the first five years of
operation.
3
OFFICIAL
Women’s Safety Measures
• Of the 20,000 social homes that will be delivered under the HAFF,
4,000 will be allocated to women and children fleeing family and
domestic violence and older women at risk of homelessness.
An additional $100 million will be allocated to the same cohort
to support crisis and transitional housing options.
• We are also providing additional funding for Safe Places
Emergency Accommodation Program through the Inclusion Round.
o The Inclusion Round will focus on improving access
to appropriate emergency accommodation, including for
First Nations women and children.
o The Inclusion Round opened for applications on
GrantConnect (www.grants.gov.au) on 21 September 2023
and closed on 14 November 2023.
• The Commonwealth is working with states and territories
to increase the supply of all housing including social and affordable
housing. State and territory governments currently prioritise women
and children escaping family and domestic violence (and other
cohorts) within their social housing sectors.
• Housing issues affecting women and children escaping family and
domestic violence will be considered in the development of the
National Housing and Homelessness Plan (the Plan).
• The Plan will set out a shared vision to inform future housing and
homelessness policy in Australia.
• The Plan will be a 10-year strategy that will outline the key short,
medium and longer-term reforms needed to address housing and
homelessness challenges.
4
OFFICIAL
Women’s Safety Measures
IF ASKED: About the NT Coronial Inquest
• I note the NT Coronial Inquest held an extra hearing on
20 May 2024 to better understand what progress has been made
and what roadblocks have remained to addressing FDSV in the
NT.
• I note, following this extra hearing, there have been renewed calls
for the establishment of a Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
Peak Body in the NT to facilitate consultation with the frontline
sector. The establishment of an NT Peak Body is best considered
by the NT Government.
• The Inquest has now adjourned.
• I also note that on 6 November 2023, Micaela Cronin, inaugural
Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, appeared
at the NT Coronial Inquest.
• I note the Commissioner’s comment that it is critical for all
government and non-government agencies to work together
to address FDSV in the NT.
• The Commonwealth is familiar with the remit of the inquest and
closely followed the hearings in 2023. We will consider any relevant
recommendations arising from the inquest.
• The Commonwealth is working with the NT government,
community sector organisations and other key stakeholders
to address FDSV in the NT, through the National Plan which sets
out the shared vision to end gender-based violence in one
generation.
5
OFFICIAL
Women’s Safety Measures
• The 20 new workers allocated to the NT will help to better support
the significant number of victim-survivors experiencing violence.
It also creates new employment opportunities for case managers
in shelters, financial counsellors in community organisations and
support workers for specialist women’s services.
6
OFFICIAL
Women’s Safety Measures
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Funding provided to the NT under the FDSV National Partnership
The NT has been allocated a total of $28.835 million from 2021-22 to 2026-27
under the FDSV National Partnership, which amounts to 4.652% of total
funding:
• FDSV National Partnership 2021-23: funding split is calculated
on a loaded population basis, which is per capita funding of a 3:1 loading
for remote and a 4:1 loading for very remote. It also includes additional
funding of $10.73 million provided to the NT in 2022-23.
• 500 workers: the allocations for the 500 workers seek to align as closely
as possible with a loaded population approach, while honouring
commitments made during the election.
• Innovative perpetrator responses: funding is equally split across
jurisdictions.
• FDSV National Partnership 2023-25: funding split is calculated
on a loaded population basis, which is per capita funding of a 3:1 loading
for remote and a 4:1 loading for very remote.
Innovati
FDSV
ve
FDSV
National
500
perpetrat National
TOTAL
Partners
workers
or
Partners
($m)
hip 2021-
($m)
respons hip 2023-
23 ($m)
esǂ
25 ($m)
($m)
2021-22
1.195
0
0
0
1.195
2022-23
14.315^
0.910
0.500
0
15.725
2023-24
0
1.822
0.781
1.581
4.184
2024-25
0
2.113
0.781
1.347
4.241
2025-26
0
2.178
0.656
0
2.834
2026-27
0
0.000
0.656
0
0.656
NT FUNDING
$m
15.51
7.022
3.374
2.928
28.835
TOTAL
NATIONAL
FUNDING $m
270.730
164.981
26.990
157.174
619.875
NT actual
allocated %
5.7%
4.3%
12.5%
1.9%
4.7%
^ This includes additional funding committed in the 2022-23 Budget for a one-off
funding boost of $10.73 million in 2022-23.
NT Coronial Inquest
• NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage is holding a coronial inquest into the
deaths of 4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, Miss Yunupingu,
Ngeygo Ragurrk, Kumarn Rubuntja and Kumanjayi Haywood.
• 8 weeks of hearings were conducted in 2023.
7
OFFICIAL
Women’s Safety Measures
• An extra hearing was conducted on 20 May 2024, to add another day
of evidence. The intent of this extra hearing was for the Coroner to better
understand what progress had been made and what roadblocks remained
to addressing FDSV in the NT.
• The extra hearing has led to renewed calls for the establishment of a
Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Peak Body to facilitate consultation
with the frontline sector.
• Following this extra hearing, written submissions by all parties will be filed
by 10 June 2024, with the coroner to hand down her findings and
recommendations in the coming months.
• The department is currently monitoring for release of a report with findings
and recommendations.
• On 6 November 2023 the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
Commissioner, Micaela Cronin, spoke at the hearings.
• The Commissioner also provided a formal statement
on 6 November 2023. In this statement, the Commissioner:
o Summarised her role and the role of the Commission, discussed the
role of the National Plan and the
First Action Plan 2023-2027, and
summarised the dedicated
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Action Plan 2023-2025;
o Discussed the importance of stakeholder engagement and listening
to peoples’ lived experiences, and noted the role of the Commission
in engaging with stakeholders;
o Discussed the use of ‘co-responder’ models for frontline services
(where multidisciplinary teams work together to address FDSV); and
o Noted the impact of vicarious trauma on workers.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Tim Crosier, Branch Manager, National Policy
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Anna Lutz, Group Manager, Ending Gender-
position):
Based Violence
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
18 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
24 June 2024
8
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 34
1800RESPECT
QB22-000030
1800RESPECT
Issue
What is the Government doing to make sure 1800RESPECT is delivering
a quality service for people impacted by family, domestic and sexual
violence (FDSV)?
Headline response
• The Australian Government has made women’s safety a national
priority which is providing the focus and national leadership needed to
deliver real change.
• 1800RESPECT continues to provide high-quality support for people
affected by FDSV.
• Improvements to the service are being progressively implemented
over time, including the addition of two new service channels, SMS
and video, alongside ongoing continuous improvement activity.
• The new SMS service channel was launched on 8 December 2023,
and the video call service channel was launched on 12 March 2024.
TALKING POINTS
• The Australian Government is committed to ongoing support for
1800RESPECT, the national counselling, information and support
service for people affected by FDSV. It’s available 24/7.
• Telstra Health is delivering the service with the support of specialist
organisations DVConnect, 54 Reasons (part of Save the Children
Australia Group), Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre (Marnin)
and Lifeline Australia.
1
Modified: 18/6/2024
OFFICIAL
1800RESPECT
• 1800RESPECT is continuing to meet the diverse needs of service users
through progressive implementation of a number of improvements,
including the addition of two new service channels, SMS and video.
New SMS and Video Call Service Channels
• The SMS channel, launched on 8 December 2023, and the video call
channel, launched on 12 March 2024, introduced new ways for people
experiencing FDSV to connect with 1800RESPECT.
• Early insights suggest the new channels are attracting new service users
who have not previously reached out to the service for support.
If asked: Why is the video call service not available 24/7?
• The new video call channel is currently available between 9am to 5pm
(AEST) from Monday to Friday, excluding national public holidays.
• It is anticipated the video call channel will expand its operation hours in
the future pending key learnings from the initial stages of the channel’s
launch.
Service Restriction
If asked: Have any service users been blocked from 1800RESPECT?
• Service users who frequently and repeatedly contact 1800RESPECT
that display abusive, harassing and threatening behaviours may be
blocked from the service.
• Blocking a caller is a last resort and only occurs when there is an
immediate threat or risk to the welfare of counsellors and all other
support options for the caller have been exhausted.
• This forms part of Telstra Health’s escalation processes to manage
abusive and threatening behaviours. The decision is clinically informed
and follows specific assurance and governance processes.
2
Modified: 18/6/2024
OFFICIAL
1800RESPECT
• The department is aware that a small number of service users have
been blocked from the service.
Independent Evaluation 1800RESPECT
• The Australian Government has announced $0.5 million in 2024-25
to conduct an independent evaluation of 1800RESPECT.
• The evaluation will consider the extent to which 1800RESPECT
is achieving its strategic outcomes, with a focus on practical advice
and recommendations that can be applied to improve the service.
2024-25 Women’s Budget Statement
• 1800RESPECT has been highlighted in the 2024-25 Women’s Budget
Statement outlining the Government’s ongoing investment in services
and programs that support women affected by FDSV.
• Noting 1800RESPECT is demand driven, the contract value over the life
of the contract was announced in January 2022 as around $200 million.
• As of 10 April 2024, the 5 year contract value on AusTender has been
updated to $241 million.
Qualification and accreditation requirements for counsellors
If asked: Why are 1800RESPECT counsellors expected to meet such
high qualification and accreditation requirements?
• The capability of 1800RESPECT’s counsellor workforce is of the highest
importance to ensure that the service continues to support those in need
and services are delivered by counsellors with appropriate qualifications
and experience.
• 1800RESPECT’s counsellors need to meet minimum qualification and
experience requirements relevant to their role and the level of support
provided to service users.
3
Modified: 18/6/2024
OFFICIAL
1800RESPECT
• Telstra Health is responsible for ensuring that all counsellors meet these
requirements in managing the service on behalf of the Government.
1800RESPECT – subcontracted organisations
Only if asked: Are there changes to sub-contractual arrangements?
• Telstra Health is working with its specialist organisations to ensure the
sub-contractual arrangements are fit for purpose and continue to provide
high quality support to service users.
• As part of its contractual obligations, Telstra Health is keeping the
department updated throughout this process and will ensure service
continuity is maintained.
CONTACT NAME: Kate Hamilton
POSITION: Acting Branch Manager, National
Programs
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 18/6/2024
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• On 24 January 2022, Telstra Health was announced as the successful tenderer.
Telstra Health will now deliver 1800RESPECT for 5 years with the possibility
of extension.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Kate Hamilton, Acting Branch Manager,
National Programs
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Tim Crosier, A/g Group Manager,
position):
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
18 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
24 June 2024
4
Modified: 18/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 35
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB24-000020
Leaving Violence Program
Issue
Can the Minister explain how the Leaving Violence Program will
address violence against women?
Headline response
• The Australian Government is investing $925.2 million over
5 years to establish the Leaving Violence Program as an
ongoing financial support program for victim-survivors leaving
a violent intimate partner relationship.
• The Leaving Violence Program provides eligible victim-
survivors, regardless of visa status or gender, individualised
financial support of up to $5,000, including a cash payment of
up to $1,500 and the remaining funds in goods and services.
• The program will also provide short-term referral services, risk
assessments and safety planning.
• The Leaving Violence Program is based on the successes and
learnings from the Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) trial and
the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot (TVP).
• Both the EVP trial and the TVP will be extended until
30 June 2025 to ensure the payment continues to be available
until the Leaving Violence Program is established.
• The Leaving Violence Program is anticipated to commence in
mid-2025 following an open, competitive procurement process.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
TALKING POINTS
• The Leaving Violence Program will add to the Government’s record
$2.3 billion in measures to address violence against women.
• The program complements existing Government-funded support
services for people experiencing family, domestic and sexual
violence such as 1800RESPECT, Safe Places, and Keeping
Women Safe in their Homes.
• The Leaving Violence Program builds on existing measures being
delivered to improve financial security of women, including
expansion of the single Parenting Payment, 10 days paid domestic
violence leave, and investment in crisis accommodation and
affordable housing for women and children escaping violence.
If ASKED - Why has the program eligibility criteria not been expanded
to include family and domestic violence?
• Research shows that intimate partner violence is the most common
form of family, domestic and sexual violence.
• Since the age of 15, one in 4 women and one in 14 men in
Australia have experienced violence perpetrated by an intimate
partner.
• Economic insecurity is a key barrier to women seeking to leave a
violent intimate partner relationship.
• The Leaving Violence Program, like the EVP trial, will continue to
support victim-survivors found to be ineligible for the program
through the provision of safety planning and referrals to other
relevant services.
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• The Government closely considered the findings of the Escaping Violence
Payment (EVP) trial independent evaluation released in September 2023,
and other stakeholder engagement in the development of the Leaving
Violence Program.
• One of the most significant findings of the independent evaluation was the
ongoing need for a financial support program to help reduce the financial
barriers faced by some victim-survivors seeking to leave a violent
relationship.
• The evaluation showed the effectiveness of payments and support services
in giving victim-survivors of intimate partner violence greater autonomy and
choice about when to leave a violent relationship, establish feelings of
normalcy and a safe home.
• The Department of Social Services (the department) heard through
consultation that the use of the word ‘escaping’ in the EVP trial name
caused concern and confusion for some victim-survivors and service
providers. The new program uses the word ‘leaving’ to better reflect the
intent of the program.
• The Leaving Violence Program is not a crisis payment. Rather, it provides
financial support packages to victim-survivors who are seeking to leave, or
have recently left, a violent intimate partner relationship regardless of gender
or visa status.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
s 47F
, Executive Director, Safety
Payments
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Anna Lutz, Group Manager,
position):
Ending Gender-Based Violence
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
17 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
4
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 36
Escaping Violence Payment trial
QB22-000040
Escaping Violence Payment trial
Issue
The Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) trial and announcement of
the Leaving Violence Program (LVP)
Headline response
• The EVP trial commenced in October 2021 and has provided over
$229 million in financial assistance to over 48,000 eligible victim-
survivors to date.
• The EVP has been an important trial as reflected by the Prime
Minister’s 1 May 2024 announcement of $925 million over 5 years
to establish the Leaving Violence Program as a permanent and
ongoing program.
• The Leaving Violence Program will commence in mid-2025. The
EVP has been extended to 30 June 2025 to ensure that valuable
support remains available to victim-survivors.
• This financial year, 1 July 2023 to 30 April 2024, 17 percent of
applications received have not progressed due to ineligibility.
TALKING POINTS
• Establishing the LVP as an ongoing program recognises the need
to support victim-survivors.
• The LVP builds on the learnings from the EVP trial and Temporary
Visa Pilot (TVP).
• The LVP supports victim-survivors of intimate partner violence
(IPV) to make choices about leaving a violent relationship by
removing financial barriers.
1
Modified: 23/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Escaping Violence Payment trial
• The LVP will support eligible victim-survivors through the provision
of a financial support payment of up to $5,000, and safety planning,
risk assessment and referral services for up to 12 weeks.
IF ASKED – What is the demand for the EVP trial ?
• There continues to be high demand and the EVP trial is reaching a
new cohort of victim-survivors who have not accessed formal
support before.
• Application rates are at an average of over 6,000 per month.
• This is a significant increase above the original estimate of 12,000
packages per year for the trial.
• Since the initial investment in 2021-22, the Government has
invested an additional approximately $490 million to extend the
EVP trial and increase resourcing, ensuring the program continues
to meet demand for eligible victim-survivors.
• On average, an eligible applicant is receiving an initial payment
within 15.3 calendar days from application.1
• Even where an individual is not eligible for the EVP, part of the
support received through the application process is referral to
appropriate support services.
IF ASKED – why would an application be assessed as ineligible ?
• The primary reasons for an application being assessed as
ineligible is because a victim-survivor;
o has accessed the EVP in the last 12 months,
o is not planning to change or has not changed their living
arrangements within the last 12 weeks due to intimate
partner violence or
1 This average is based on 3-month data between January and March 2024 (inclusive).
2
Modified: 23/5/2024
FOI LEX 51051
Document 37
QB22-000110
Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Against First Nations
Women and Children
Issues
How will the Government address the disproportionate rates of
violence, including murder, against First Nations women and
children?
Headline response
• I want to acknowledge the First Nations women and children who
have lost their lives to family violence or had their lives irreparably
changed as a result.
• I pay my respects to them and extend my deepest condolences
to those they have left behind.
• We are investing $262.6 million into the safety of First Nations
women and children.
• We are listening to, and working in partnership with, First Nations
leaders to address the unacceptable rates of violence against our
First Nations women and children.
• It is critical that our national policy response to addressing
violence in First Nations families and communities is led by
First Nations peoples.
TALKING POINTS
• Ending family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) must be
a priority for us all in Australia.
• The Australian Government is committed to Target 13 of the
National Agreement on Closing the Gap (Closing the Gap),
to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and
households are safe.
• The
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023-2025
(Action Plan) under the
National Plan to End Violence against
Women and Children 2022-2032 (National Plan) was launched on
16 August 2023. Its development was led by the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council on FDSV. The Action Plan
addresses current needs and sets the foundations for longer-term
change.
• The First Nations National Plan will be a substantial policy piece
comparable in scale to the National Plan and will guide a whole of
society approach to addressing the unacceptable rates of violence
against First Nations women and children.
• The First Nations National Plan will be developed through
extensive nationwide consultations that supports genuine
partnership and shared decision-making as articulated in Closing
the Gap.
• Development of the First Nations National Plan will be led by
SNAICC in collaboration with the First Nations National Plan
Steering Committee.
• The Steering Committee will work in genuine partnership with all
levels of government to embed the voices and experiences of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the First Nations
National Plan.
What will the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan
deliver?
• Implementation of the Action Plan will include:
• $103.4 million of funding directly to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander organisations around Australia for crisis accommodation
services, FDSV programs in ACCOs, men’s wellness centres,
and community prevention campaigns for children.
• $41.9 million over 2 years for expansion of the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Escaping Violence Payment Place-based
Trial in Cairns to include 3 new sites – Broome, Darwin and
Dubbo. The department will consult with potential service
providers to identify the organisations to deliver the trials and will
undertake a grant process for implementation. In the interim,
eligible victim-survivors from any location in Australia can
continue to access the national EVP trial through the national
provider.
• $7.7 million over 3 years for the establishment of a national First
Nations FDSV Peak Body.
• $68.6 million over 2 years to continue funding for Family
Violence Prevention Legal Services (NIAA initiative).
• $23.2 million over 4 years for place based healing programs
(NIAA initiative).
• $17.6 million to extend funding for one year for community-led
First Nations family safety activities and to undertake service
system mapping, community needs assessment and gap
analysis in up to 5 regional and remote locations (NIAA
initiative).
• $15 million research investment to initiate large-scale research
projects on primary prevention of family, domestic and sexual
violence, including technology abuse against Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples and continue existing data
development and harmonisation efforts to measure progress on
Closing the Gap Target 13.
• New funding announced in the 2024-25 Budget, including
$15.4 million for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal
Services and an additional $8.6 million to Family Violence
Prevention Legal Services, to provide an urgent funding injection
for legal assistance services, as part of the Attorney-General’s
$44.1 million funding boost to the legal assistance sector.
What will the First Nations National Plan deliver?
• The Plan will follow the foundations set in the Action Plan and will
guide a whole of society approach to addressing the unacceptable
rates of violence against First Nations women and children.
• In January 2024, I appointed 24 First Nations leaders and
government members to the First Nations National Plan Steering
Committee to guide the development of the Plan. The Steering
Committee has met 3 times since January 2024.
• Consultations on the Plan will occur in mid-2024, with the Plan
expected to commence by mid-2025.
• $4.1 million committed over 2 years to engage a First Nations
Secretariat to undertake consultation and support the development
of the Plan. SNAICC has been contracted to be the Secretariat.
CONTACT NAME: Tim Crosier
POSITION: Branch Manager, National Policy
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 15/3/2024
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Tim Crosier, Branch Manager, National Policy
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include position):
Anna Lutz, Group Manager, Ending Gender-
Based Violence
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
23 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
28 May 2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 38
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
QB23-000026
Support for male victim-survivors of domestic violence
Issue
What is the Government doing to support male victim survivors of
family, domestic or sexual violence?
Headline response
The Australian Government has zero tolerance for domestic, family
and sexual violence. Everyone, regardless of gender, has the right
to live free from harm and without fear of violence or abuse.
TALKING POINTS
• The
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
2022-32 (National Plan) acknowledges that boys and men can and
do experience discrimination and violence, including family,
domestic and sexual violence.
• The National Plan also acknowledges that gender stereotypes and
harmful expectations of masculinity can mean that men
experiencing mental and physical health issues sometimes do not
seek help when they need it.
• It is important that all people experiencing family, domestic and
sexual violence, including men, are able to access supports to
leave violent relationships if and when they choose to do so.
• That is why the Government funds a range of services that support
male victim survivors of violence.
• 1800RESPECT provides free telephone and online counselling and
support for all people affected by domestic, family and sexual
violence, their family and friends and frontline workers.
1
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
o The service can be contacted on 1800 737 732 or
www.1800respect.org.au.
• Men who are victims of family, domestic and sexual violence and
men who wish to support friends or family members who are
impacted by this violence are welcome to contact 1800RESPECT
for support.
• MensLine Australia provides a national telephone and online
support, information and referral service for men with family and
relationship concerns, including men experiencing domestic
violence.
o MensLine can be contacted on 1300 789 978.
• The Escaping Violence Payment provides up to $5,000 in support
to all eligible victim survivors of intimate partner violence,
regardless of gender or identity.
• Similarly, through the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing
Violence Pilot, victim-survivors of intimate partner violence can
receive support of up to $5,000 to help them leave a violent
situation. This payment is available and accessible to people
regardless of gender or identity.
• All employees experiencing family and domestic violence can
access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave (paid
FDV leave) each year. This includes full-time, part-time and casual
employees. Paid FDV leave provides important practical support
within the broader suite of options available to help victim-survivors
to leave a violent relationship and access the supports they need
for recovery and healing.
2
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
If ASKED – Why is the National Plan so focused on ending
violence against women and children?
• The National Plan points to the importance of all people
experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence, including men,
being able to access support and services and to leave violent
relationships if and when they choose to do so.
• However, the evidence is clear that most perpetrators of this
violence are men and most victims are women.
• Men’s violence against women, including intimate partner violence,
is more prevalent, more often used repeatedly and more likely to
lead to serious injury, disability or death.
CONTACT NAME: Belinda Duffy
POSITION: A/g Branch Manager,
Response and Behaviour Change
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 28 August 2023
3
OFFICIAL
WOMEN’S SAFETY MEASURES
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• The
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 notes that:
o 95 per cent of people who have experienced physical or sexual violence name a
man as the perpetrator of at least one incident of violence.
o Around 4 in 5 family and domestic violence offenders are men.
o While men can also be victim-survivors of family, sexual and domestic violence,
they are more likely to experience violence perpetrated by a male stranger.
o In instances where women do use violent behaviours, research shows that it is
usually motivated by fear, and used in self-defence to protect them against
violence that their male partners are already perpetrating.
o 84 per cent of respondents in an Australian study of LGBTIQA+ people who had
experienced sexual assault said their most recent experience of sexual assault
was perpetrated by a cisgender man.
• The Personal Safety Survey (ABS, 2021-22) notes:
o 43 per cent of men aged 18 years and over have experienced physical or sexual
violence since the age of 15.
o 12 per cent of men (1.1 million) aged 18 years and over have experienced physical
and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or family member since the age of
15.
o Of men aged 18 years and over:
▪ 7.3 per cent (692,600) experienced violence by an intimate partner
▪ 5.5 per cent (526,600) experienced violence by a cohabiting partner
▪ 5.9 per cent (560,600) experienced violence by a family member
o Women were more likely than men to experience violence by an intimate partner,
cohabiting partner, and boyfriend/girlfriend or date.
• Due to sensitivities with men accessing Women’s Legal Centres, male clients accessing
the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot can generally only access the
$5,000 in financial support, not the free migration and family law advice.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Belinda Duffy, A/g Branch Manager,
Response & Behaviour Change
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Greta Doherty
position):
Group Manager, Women’s Safety
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
28/08/2023
MO Clearance Date:
13/05/2024
4
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 39
ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FDSV
QB23-000052
Calls for a Federal Royal Commission into Family, Domestic and
Sexual Violence
Issue
Will the Government establish a Royal Commission to investigate
gender-based violence?
Headline response
• The Government is providing the focus and national leadership
needed to prevent violence and ensure appropriate support is
available to people who need it, when they need it.
• The
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
2022-2032 (National Plan), was jointly released by the Australian,
state and territory governments on 17 October 2022.
• The National Plan was developed, through extensive
consultation, to provide the national policy framework needed for
real, lasting change.
• But it is not a set-and-forget plan.
• That is why the Prime Minister called an emergency meeting of
National Cabinet to accelerate our collective efforts to ending
violence.
• Following National Cabinet, First Ministers announced a number
of new initiatives to build on existing work already underway –
and agreed to continue meeting and working together on
individual and joint efforts to end gender-based violence.
TALKING POINTS
• The National Plan was informed by broad consultation over a
period of around 2 years, hearing from more than 3,000 advocates,
1
OFFICIAL
ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FDSV
sector representatives, research experts, business leaders, people
with lived experience of violence and members of the broader
community.
• The valuable insights gathered through the consultations helped us
to ensure the National Plan appropriately reflects the priorities of
the Australian public and is robust in its evidence base.
• The National Plan acknowledges there will be emerging areas of
need and emerging forms of violence that will need to be
addressed over the life of the National Plan.
• The Outcomes Framework, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Action Plan, and First Action Plan, are helping provide the roadmap
needed for investment over the next 5 years.
• New activities to respond to emerging areas will be captured in the
First Action Plan Activities Addendum which is updated annually.
If asked – How does the Government listen to the voices of
survivors and the sector?
• Voices of victim-survivors were at the centre of the National Plan’s
development.
• The criticality of victim-survivor voices and experiences is
embedded in the underlying Action Plans and Outcomes
Framework.
• The DFSV Commission has established a Lived Experience
Advisory Council as a formal mechanism for embedding victim-
survivor engagement at the national level.
• The DFSV Commission will provide annual reports to Federal
Parliament measuring progress towards the National Plan.
2
OFFICIAL
ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FDSV
If asked – How will the Government respond to emerging
evidence, and emerging areas of need?
• The Australian, state and territory governments are jointly
responsible for implementing the National Plan through the actions
and activities of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action
Plan 2023-2025 and the First Action Plan 2023-27 (the First Action
Plan).
• Work to progress implementation of the Action Plans is coordinated
through a governance structure providing oversight, strategic
direction and progress tracking.
• The governance structure includes cross-jurisdictional ministerial
oversight by the Women and Women’s Safety Ministerial Council;
independent oversight by the Domestic, Family and Sexual
Violence Commission; and input from a range of expert advice and
consultation bodies.
• A strategic review of governance under the National Plan is being
jointly undertaken by the Department of Social Services and the
Office for Women, to ensure the governance arrangements for the
National Plan remain fit-for-purpose to provide the needed
accountability, support evidence-based approaches, and drive
whole of government and cross-jurisdictional action on areas of
highest priority.
CONTACT NAME: Tim Crosier
POSITION: Branch Manager, National Policy
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 9 May 2024
3
OFFICIAL
ROYAL COMMISSION INTO FDSV
RECENT MEDIA
• Thursday 2 May 2024, The Sydney Morning Herald, Perrottet backs royal
commission, Max Maddison, Alexandra Smith And Michael Mc Gowan
[references call for a federal and NSW royal commission]
• Tuesday 30 April 2024, ABC News, 'We're not making change': Mother of
alleged DV victim lashes 'privileged' politicians for lack of action, Jason
Whittaker [References call for a NSW royal commission]
• Saturday 27 April 2024, The Guardian, Violence against women rallies:
thousands attend protests as Mark Dreyfus rules out royal commission,
Mostafa Rachwani
• Saturday 25 November 2023, the West Australian, There is No Time to
Waste, Anthony Albanese.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
s 47F
Director, National Engagement and Strategy
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Anna Lutz
position):
Group Manager, Ending Gender Based
Violence
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
9 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
4
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 40
Paid FDV Leave
QB22-000098
Paid Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) Leave
Issue
How is the Government giving effect to its election commitment to
legislate 10 days’ paid FDV leave per year?
Headline response
• Women’s safety and economic security is at the heart of the
Government’s agenda.
• The Government is taking strong action to ensure women are not
disadvantaged in the workplace as they deal with the impacts of
family and domestic violence.
• Women experiencing violence should never be forced to choose
between their safety and their wages.
• Since 1 February 2023, employees of large businesses including
casuals have had access to this new leave. Small businesses
received an extra 6 months to implement this entitlement from
1 August 2023.
TALKING POINTS
• Paid FDV leave provides important practical support within the
broader suite of options available to help victim-survivors to leave
a violent relationship and access the supports they need for recovery
and healing.
• Our shared vision is to end gender-based violence in one generation.
• To achieve this vision, the Government, along with all states and
territories, released the
National Plan to End Violence against
Women and Children 2022–2032 (the National Plan
) and the
1
Modified: 08/05/2024
OFFICIAL
Paid FDV Leave
Government has invested over $3.2 billion towards implementing the
National Plan and other women’s safety initiatives.
What supports will be available for employers to assist
victim-survivors?
• The Small Business Assistance package announced in the 2022-23
Budget provided
$3.4 million over 4 years to deliver a range of
holistic supports to help small businesses implement paid FDV leave.
• In addition, specialist family and domestic violence information,
support and training, through the existing 1800RESPECT and
DV-alert programs, is also available to small businesses so they can
assist victim-survivors access support services.
• In partnership with Lifeline Australia, the department developed
a 10 episode podcast titled:
Small business, big impact: how to
support employees experiencing family and domestic violence.
• The podcast was delivered within Lifeline’s existing program funding
for the DV-alert program at the total cost of $0.265 million.
• It provides practical, accessible advice for small businesses, so small
businesses can support their employees.
• Developed especially for small business, the podcast development
was guided by experts from the family, domestic, and violence
sector, representatives from small business and their peak bodies,
and unions. The podcast was launched on 1 August 2023.
• In February 2024, further promotion of the podcast was undertaken
by Lifeline Australia, with approximately 1500 additional downloads
across all 10 episodes.
2
Modified: 08/05/2024
OFFICIAL
Paid FDV Leave
• Together, these measures will ensure small businesses can access
the right advice at the right time to provide the best support to their
employees experiencing family and domestic violence.
What consultations have taken place to support small businesses
to implement paid FDV leave?
• In December 2022, Department of Workplace Relations,
the Department of Social Services and the Fair Work Ombudsman
consulted unions, representatives of the family and domestic
violence sector, legal services sector providers, and employer
groups on delivery of resources and supports to assist small
businesses implement and understand the paid FDV leave
entitlement and the review of the entitlement to commence in 2024.
What arrangements are in place for the legislated independent
review?
• In preparation for the statutory review of the paid FDV leave
entitlement in 2024, the Department of Employment and
Workplace Relations (DEWR) held information sessions with
unions, representatives of the family and domestic violence sector,
legal services service providers, small business peak bodies and
employer groups in December 2023.
• The review will, among other matters, consider the impact the
entitlement has had on small business.
• The Department understands that an independent reviewer has
been procured by DEWR, and that the review will commence
shortly.
3
Modified: 08/05/2024
OFFICIAL
Paid FDV Leave
• DEWR is leading this review, with important from a number of
agencies and Departments including the Department of Social
Services.
CONTACT NAME: Jennie Armstrong
POSITION: Branch Manager, National Programs
Branch
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 08/05/2024
4
Modified: 08/05/2024
OFFICIAL
Paid FDV Leave
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Definition of family and domestic violence
For the purposes of 10 days’ paid FDV leave, and to align with other entitlements
under the
Fair Work Act 2009, such as carers leave, the definition of family and
domestic violence has been broadened to account for household members who
are not immediate family members.
2022-23 Budget announcement
•
$3.4 million over 4 years to deliver a range of holistic supports to help
small businesses implement paid FDV leave. This funding supports:
o Updates to resources, tailored guidance for small business and
increased workplace relations advice and education.
o Commissioning an independent review of the paid FDV leave
entitlement in 2024.
Independent review
• Under the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence
Leave) Act 2022 (the Act), the Government is required to commission a
review of the legislation. The review must consider:
o the operation of the amendments
o the impact of the amendments on small businesses, sole traders and
people experiencing family and domestic violence
o both quantitative and qualitative research.
• The review will also be an opportunity to consider the effectiveness and
scope of the legislation, adequacy of support to business and views and
voices of victim survivors.
• The review is anticipated to be delivered in the first half of 2024. The review
must commence as soon as is practicable one year after the
commencement of the Amendment Act.
• The review must be completed and provided to the Minister within 3 months
of commencement.
• The review must be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting
days after the report is given to the Minister.
Recent Media/ Media Releases
• 27 February 2024: Safe Work Australia updates its information sheet on how
employers can help workers experiencing family and domestic violence, as
well as including information on Paid FDV Leave.
• 1 September 2023: SafeWork South Australia (SA) notes from
1 September 2023 victim-survivors of domestic and family violence working
under public sector industrial relations laws can access 15 days paid leave
in a 12-month period.
• 29 February 2024: the Minister for Social Services and the Assistant
Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for Prevention of Family
Violence issued a media release promoting the podcast.
Locational / place considerations: Nil
5
Modified: 08/05/2024
OFFICIAL
Paid FDV Leave
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Jennie Armstrong, Branch Manager National
Programs
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Anna Lutz, Group Manager, Ending Gender-
position):
Based Violence
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
8 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
6
Modified: 08/05/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 41
National Memorial
QB22-000054
National Memorial for Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child
Sexual Abuse
Issue
What is the Government doing to meet the Royal Commission into
Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission)
recommendation 17.6 to establish a National Memorial for Victims
and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (Memorial).
Headline response
• The Department of Social Services (the department) has
engaged the National Capital Authority (NCA) to administer the
design selection and construction of the Memorial.
TALKING POINTS
• Funding of
$6.7 million over
4 years was committed in the 2020-21
Federal Budget to establish a national memorial in Canberra.
• On 16 April 2024, the Government committed a further $1.1 million
toward the Memorial. This funding increases the Memorial’s construction
budget to $4.7 million and ensures that the quality of the Memorial is not
diminished by inflation increases in the construction sector since the
project originally commenced.
• This funding injection brings total administered funding for the Memorial
to
$7.9 million.
• The Memorial will recognise the courage of all people with lived
experience, and those who spoke up to fight for justice and
to be believed.
1
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
• The testimonies of victims and survivors to the Royal Commission were
confronting and showed the lifelong impacts that child sexual abuse
can have on individuals and their families.
• The Australian Government thanks victims and survivors for coming
forward to help our country learn the truth, and is committed to preventing
past failures from happening again to other children.
• The Memorial, to be located on Acton Peninsula, will provide a place
of reflection, contribute to healing, and educate future generations.
If ASKED - When will construction of the National Memorial
commence?
• Construction of the Memorial has been delayed due to significant
technical challenges with the design chosen in a competition held
in 2021. The National Capital Authority undertook a feasibility
assessment process of the design after the competition that revealed
unacceptable buildability risks.
• Following consultations with the National Capital Authority, the National
Memorial Advisory Group, and the Hon Peter McClellan AM KC (Chair
of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual
Abuse, and the Memorial's Design Competition Jury), the Government
decided to commence a new design selection process, in partnership
with victims and survivors and their families.
• The new design process will commence in 2024, with construction to
commence in early 2025, and completion expected by early 2026.
• Information on the new design process is available on the department’s
website.
2
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
If ASKED - What progress has been made on the new design process?
• The Department of Social Services and the National Capital Authority
have been working closely with the National Memorial Advisory Group on
the development of the new design procurement process.
• On 20 May 2024, the National Capital Authority published an Approach to
Market in AusTender that included a request for expression of interest,
inviting potential suppliers to participate in the new design procurement.
Design teams had until 20 June 2024 to submit materials.
If ASKED - Why has the Government decided to commence a new
design selection process?
• Assessments of the selected design concept ‘
Transparency and Truth’,
identified unacceptable delays out to 2028, and complex technical
challenges due, to the unique and innovative use of glass in the design.
• The Department of Social Services worked with the National Capital
Authority and National Memorial Advisory Group to explore options to
resolve the design challenges. This consultation determined the selected
design presented unacceptable technical risks to feasibility and durability,
and a protracted and uncertain timeframe of at least 4 years.
• In accordance with the competition guidelines, the Government,
in consultation with the Advisory Group, decided a new design selection
process was required in order to ensure the completion of the Memorial
as soon as possible.
• As the new design selection is an ongoing procurement process it is not
appropriate for me to provide any commentary on the process or
applicants.
3
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
If ASKED - Why can’t the selected design be modified to make it
feasible?
• The Department of Social Services, National Capital Authority and
Advisory Group discussed the challenges and options to progress the
Memorial design, including remodelling the Memorial design.
• This option would have required a significant change to the original
design selected and was not considered the fairest way to proceed.
IF ASKED - Why weren’t the challenges to design implementation
picked up during the design selection process?
• Architectural design competitions overseen by the National Capital
Authority usually comprise two phases:
o In phase one, design submissions are evaluated against the design
intent, or in this case, against the Memorial’s commemorative intent,
and relies on the designer’s compliance with the Design
Competition Brief.
o In phase two, after the design competition, the National Capital
Authority oversee assessment of selected designs for their
buildability, timeframe, durability and cost compliance, along with
other factors.
• The National Capital Authority led an assessment process that revealed
the selected design concept presented complex technical challenges,
and a protracted and uncertain timeframe due to the unique and
innovative use of glass.
4
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
• In 2023, the Department of Social Services, the National Capital Authority
and the National Memorial Advisory Group explored a range of options to
resolve the challenges. After careful consideration of all options, a new
process was considered the fairest way to proceed.
• Under the new design selection process independent professionals
procured by the National Capital Authority will assess design
submissions and advise an evaluation panel on the feasibility
(buildability, durability, timeframe, costs) of the designs. The evaluation
panel will comprise members of the National Capital Authority and a
representative of the Department of Social Services.
• The Advisory Group will perform a key advisory role to the evaluation
panel in both stages of the selection process to ensure the design
genuinely reflects the voices and experiences of victims and survivors
and meets their needs.
If ASKED - How are voices of victims and survivors to be reflected
in the final design of the National Memorial?
• In October 2020, the National Memorial Advisory Group was appointed
comprising lived experience advocates and experts to assist the
Department of Social Services and the National Capital Authority to
establish the Memorial.
o In April 2024, Mr McClellan was formally appointed as a member of
the Advisory Group.
• A national online survey was conducted in November 2020 to enable
victims, survivors and others impacted by institutional child sexual abuse
to have their say on the Memorial’s development.
5
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
• In early 2024, victims and survivors were consulted to confirm the
Memorial intent, core values and features obtained through the 2020
public consultation process were still relevant.
• Engagement with First Nations representatives has been undertaken and
will continue throughout the project.
• The department is working closely with the Advisory Group who will
perform a key advisory role to the evaluation panel in both stages of the
procurement process to ensure victims and survivors have voice at each
step of the new design selection process.
• This partnership will ensure the selected Memorial is a beautiful,
meaningful and enduring national landmark focussed on healing and
remembrance.
If ASKED – Why couldn’t another design from the last competition be
used?
• The Department of Social Services, the National Capital Authority and
National Memorial Advisory Group explored several options to deliver the
Memorial, from the design competition in 2021.
• However, potential risks remained for the other designs as they have not
been further tested.
• After careful consideration of all options, a new process was considered
the fairest way to proceed.
6
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
If ASKED – Where was the expression of interest advertised and who
could apply?
• The open Approach to Market for a Design Consultant Services has
commenced with the publication of the Request for Expressions of
Interest (REOI) on AusTender (www.tenders.gov.au).
• All suitable designers are encouraged to apply, including those parties
that made submissions to the first design competition.
• Any specific questions relating to the procurement process should be
directed to the National Capital Authority.
If ASKED - What is the budget for Memorial?
• Total administered funding for the Memorial is $7.9 million.
• Funding of $6.7 million over 4 years was committed as part of the
2020-21 Federal Budget to establish a national memorial in Canberra.
o A 2019 20 Budget measure also committed $0.48 million to
undertake project initiation activities, including potential site
investigations.
• In 2024, the Government committed a further $1.1 million for the
Memorial. This funding supports an increase in the construction budget to
$4.7 million to account for inflation increases in the construction sector.
• In recognition of the unsuccessful design process, the National Capital
Authority has also committed an additional $300,000 from their agency
resources towards establishing the Memorial.
7
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
• The remaining budget contributes towards administration expenses
including design development, project management, website
development, a dedication event, and ongoing memorial and website
maintenance.
If ASKED - Why have the public and other stakeholders not been
updated in a more timely manner?
• The Government, Department of Social Services and National Capital
Authority have been working through key elements of the change for
some time. This has included consulting with the National Memorial
Advisory Group and other key stakeholders and experts.
• It was critical that all key elements are resolved prior to any formal, public
statements or updates to avoid further distress.
• The department continues to liaise with victims and survivor
representative organisations to access advice on the Memorial that is up
to date, accurate, and sensitive to those affected by historical and
contemporary institutional child sexual abuse.
• The department is maintaining detailed advice on the Memorial selection
process on its website and also sharing that information with relevant
victim survivor support organisations to ensure victims and survivors and
their families are not left in the dark around how this process is tracking.
If ASKED – Will the revamp of the AIATSIS impact the Memorial?
• The Memorial will be located on Acton Peninsula in Canberra, near the
National Museum of Australia (NMoA) and the Australian Institute of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS).
8
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
• On 6 June 2024, the Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous
Australians, announced plans to revamp Ngurra -
The National Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Precinct.
• As part of the revamp plan for Ngurra, the current AIATSIS premises will
receive an upgrade, and be expanded to include a National Indigenous
Knowledge and Cultural Centre, and a National Resting Place.
• The land on Acton Peninsula will be used for the revamp of Ngurra. It is
too early to determine the exact size or location of the land to be utilised.
If ASKED – about other Memorial location sensitivities.
• I am aware that other sensitivities have been raised regarding the
selected Memorial location, on the West Basin at Acton Peninsula. These
include:
o
Museum of Australian Policing. The Museum is expected to be
established on Acton Peninsula and is expected to open in 2024.
The Museum may be a sensitivity for victims and survivors visiting
the Memorial, due to concerns people with lived experience may
have about past treatment by police when making formal
disclosures.
The Museum will be located on the opposite side of the
peninsula with a separate entrance road and limited visual
presence from the Memorial site.
o
Asbestos on Acton Peninsula. Concerns were raised with my
department around visitor safety and potential asbestos exposure at
the Memorial site. The National Capital Authority advised that it has
taken appropriate steps to assess this matter:
9
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
Following rain in April 2022, a small amount of asbestos fibre
(not airborne) was found on Acton Peninsula.
The NCA enacted their asbestos management plan and
treatment activities, including air monitoring and fencing the
contaminated areas. Soil samples have indicated that no
asbestos has been found on the Memorial site.
Should any asbestos be found during on-site construction of
the Memorial, rectification measures will be undertaken to
improve the site to ensure public safety for Memorial visitors.
o
Grounds of former hospital. Concerns were raised with the
department about the Royal Canberra Hospital previously being
located on Acton Peninsula.
While I acknowledge the concerns, the National Memorial
Advisory Group considered a range of potential traumatisation
risks associated with other potential locations and determined
Acton Peninsula as the preferred site for the majority of victims
and survivors.
The NCA has advised the National Memorial site will be
located on the
grounds of the former Royal Canberra Hospital,
but will not be placed on any previous building structures.
• My department will continue to work closely with the National Memorial
Advisory Group, National Capital Authority, AIATSIS and Australian
Federal Police to ensure the Memorial’s significance for victim-survivors
of institutional child sexual abuse, their families and the broader
community.
10
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• Establishing a memorial responds to Recommendation 17.6 of the Final Report
by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
• The department will develop a website to complement the physical monument,
to ensure the Memorial is accessible to people across Australia.
Original Design
• The Memorial’s design, ‘
Transparency and Truth’ was selected by a jury comprising
advocates for people with lived experience of institutional child sexual abuse and
design industry professionals, and chaired by the Hon Peter McClellan AM KC,
who was the Chair of the Royal Commission.
• The design was approved by the Canberra National Memorials Committee on
20 January 2022.
• The NCA's feasibility assessments undertaken after the design competition
determined the selected design had unacceptable technical risks.
• The NCA led assessment process included a Memorial Proof of Concept report,
which indicated significant technical concerns with the selected design.
• In 2023, the department, NCA and Advisory Group explored a number of options to
resolve the challenges, however, none aligned with the Commonwealth
Procurement Rules.
New Design Selection Process
• The department and the NCA will conduct a two-stage procurement process, in
consultation with the Advisory Group. This will ensure the new design selected is
buildable and durable, and genuinely reflects the voices and experiences of victims
and survivors.
• The first stage of the Memorial design procurement process opened on
20 May 2024 to seek expressions of interest from qualified design professionals to
submit a Memorial design. The open call for expressions of interest will close on
20 June 2024, and submissions will be screened to ensure applicants have
capability to deliver a Memorial.
• In the second stage of the procurement process, shortlisted applicants will be
invited to provide a detailed design submission. Independent professionals
procured by the NCA will assess proposals to confirm the buildability and durability
of the proposed designs.
• Only proposals that meet the buildability, durability and timeframe requirements will
progress to the Advisory Group for consideration.
• The Advisory Group will be involved in both stages of the selection process and will
perform a key advisory role to the evaluation panel, to ensure that the voices of
victims and survivors are represented. The evaluation pane will guide the delegate,
Chief Executive of the NCA, who is the ultimate decision maker of the design
selection.
11
OFFICIAL
National Memorial
Response to the decision and opening of Approach to Market – recent media
• On 2 February 2024, The Australian published two articles concerning the decision
to terminate the current design which included commentary from the designers of
the original design Jessica Spresser and Peter Besley.
- In ‘The Arch Bungling on Display: sexual abuse survivors shattered after
memorial axed’ by Nina Funnell the Department of Social Services was criticised
for spending “1.5 million of taxpayer money to assess the viability of constructing
the Memorial Design”.
- The article also highlighted that the designers of the previous design disputed
the findings of the NCA’s technical assessment that the design could cost up to
$16 million indicating their estimate for the build was only $2.5 million for the
production of the 16,000 glass blocks required.
- The article sites ‘internal government documents’ relating to the 2022 technical
assessment and government considerations. The article does not detail the
documents or source of the information.
• On 20 May 2024, following the release of the Approach to Market on AusTender,
the decision to terminate the original design and commence a new design process
for the Memorial has been discussed in print, TV and radio media, including in the
Canberra Times, ABC News, and ABC Canberra Drive.
• On 4 June 2024, The Canberra Times published an article ‘
The child sexual abuse
memorial should not be hidden away’ in relation to the Memorial site on Acton
Peninsula.
• On 1 July 2024, The Canberra Times published two articles about the Memorial
location,
‘Survivors must be heard loud and clear’, and
‘Quite places, terrible
memories, why a secluded memorial is not ideal’.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Paul Hardcastle, A/g Branch Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By:
Tarja Saastamoinen, Group Manager, Families
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Date last updated:
1 July 2024
Clearance Date:
2 July 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
12
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 42
EYS
QB22-000100
Early Years Strategy
Issue
How will the Government’s Early Years Strategy practically benefit
young children and their families?
Headline response
• In May, I launched the Government’s Early Years Strategy
alongside my colleague, the Minister for Early Childhood
Education and Minister for Youth.
• The Strategy delivers on a key election commitment – to create
an integrated and coordinated approach to the early years, to
realise our vision of all children thriving.
• As a psychologist before I came into politics, I know how the early
years is a critical window of opportunity where it is possible to
positively influence the trajectory of a child’s life.
• That’s why the Strategy is so important. It outlines our vision for
young children to thrive in their early years.
• To ensure the Strategy reflects the views and needs of parents,
children and communities, we heard from around 4,000 people
about what is important to them.
• Based on what we heard, we identified four priority focus areas
where the Government will direct our efforts. These are:
o valuing the early years;
o empowering parents, caregivers and families;
o supporting and working with communities; and
o strengthening accountability and coordination.
• Over the ten-year life of the Strategy, we will develop three action
plans, which will outline practical steps in line with these priorities.
1
Modified: 18/6/2024
OFFICIAL
EYS
• To help drive implementation of the Strategy and elevate the
perspectives of parents and carers, we are establishing a new
Parents and Carers Reference Group.
• Throughout 2024 we will also develop an Outcomes Framework
to provide measurable indicators of progress.
• In implementing the Strategy, we will build on the strong
investments we have already made in valuing the early years.
• The Government has enhanced the economic security of families
by expanding Paid Parental Leave and committing to pay
superannuation on it, investing in cheaper child care and
strengthening support for single parents.
• We’ve also focused on building the infrastructure of support for
families and children outside of early childhood education,
including through investments in playgroups and toy libraries,
which has resulted in more than 300 new playgroups delivered or
being delivered.
• The Strategy is already working to target Government investment
in the early years. One of three focus areas chosen for the
$100 million Outcomes Fund is supporting positive outcomes for
families and children to prevent cycles of intergenerational and
community disadvantage.
• The Outcomes Fund is different to how government usually funds
programs and services. In practice, it means service providers will
be encouraged and funded to be innovative in the way they work.
They will be given flexibility to adapt their services so they are
tailored to the needs of local families and their children.
2
Modified: 18/6/2024
OFFICIAL
EYS
• Over the next ten years, the Strategy will continue to shape how
Government invests in the early years.
IF ASKED – Why doesn’t the 2024-25 Budget include substantial
funding to support implementation of the Strategy?
• The Strategy sets a whole-of-Government policy agenda for
Australian children and families in the early years.
• Every portfolio in the Commonwealth and all levels of government
have responsibility for improving the wellbeing of children and
families in Australia.
• Delivery under the Strategy is also not limited to one Budget cycle
– it is a 10-year framework that will be delivered through three
action plans, the first of which will be released later this year.
• Since 1 July 2022, the Government has delivered significant
investment to support children and their families in the early years
across a range of portfolios.
• In my portfolio alone this includes our historic expansion of Paid
Parental Leave, strengthened support for single parents, and our
investment in more playgroups and toy libraries.
• Most recently, the Government committed $13.9 million in the
2024-25 Budget to extend and expand community support for
parents and caregivers to improve child outcomes in the early
years. This includes:
o $4.6 million over two years to the Raising Children Network
to further build parenting skills, knowledge and improve
equitable access to information for all parents and caregivers.
This will also support the Network to continue to develop and
3
Modified: 18/6/2024
OFFICIAL
EYS
promote content specifically for families with children with a
disability or developmental delay.
o $4.8 million over two years to The Fathering Project to continue
to provide targeted parenting support for fathers, building their
confidence to be primary or equal caregivers.
o $4.3 million over two years to the Brave Foundation to extend
the Supporting Expecting and Parenting Teens program, which
provides support for young parents to build their parenting
confidence and achieve their education and employment goals.
• Over the next ten years, the Strategy will continue to shape how
Government invests in the early.
IF ASKED – Is the Government progressing a National Early
Childhood Guarantee aligning with the Thrive by Five legislation,
or universal early childhood education and care as proposed by
the Centre for Policy Development?
• The Government is already delivering on improvements to early
childhood services and family supports similar to those called for
in the Thrive by Five Early Childhood Guarantee and the Centre for
Policy Development’s
Growing Together report.
• The Strategy includes a priority focus area to move towards
universal access to early childhood education and care in Australia
that is high quality, equitable, affordable, and accessible.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Jacqueline Hrast, Branch Manager
Phone/Mobile
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By:
Tarja Saastamoinen Group Manager, Families
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Date last changed:
18/06/2024
Clearance Date:
18/06/2024
MO Clearance Date:
21 June 2024
4
Modified: 18/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 43
Safe and Supported
QB22-000080
Safe and Supported – The National Framework for Protecting
Australia’s Children 2021-2031 – addressing the over
representation of First Nations children and young people in out-
of-home care
Issue
What is the Government doing to ensure Australia’s children are
safe?
What is the Government doing to reduce the over-representation
of First Nations children in out-of-home care (Target 12)?
Headline response
• This Government is deeply committed to working with community
to improve outcomes for children and young people.
• I continue to work closely with First Nations leaders, the
non-government sector and state and territory governments
to reduce the over-representation of First Nations children in
out-of-home care through the Action Plans under
Safe and
Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s
Children 2021-2031 (Safe and Supported).
TALKING POINTS
• This Government is deeply committed to improving outcomes for
children, young people and their families, working in partnership
with First Nations leaders, states and territories and the non-
government sector to deliver Safe and Supported
through its Action
Plans.
1
Modified: 17/6/2024
1
OFFICIAL
Safe and Supported
• Community Services Ministers and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Leadership Group oversee Safe and Supported through
a new ground breaking shared decision-making committee that is
jointly chaired and upholds equal representation and authority.
• Statutory child protection remains a state and territory
responsibility, but the Commonwealth has a key role to play
in preventing families from coming into contact with child
protection.
Over-representation of First Nations children and young people
• The over-representation of First Nations children and young people
in out-of-home care, who are 10 times more likely to enter the child
protection system compared to non-Indigenous children, is not
acceptable.
• The reasons for the over-representation are multi-faceted and
complex, and include past government policies, discrimination,
entrenched disadvantage and intergenerational trauma.
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan was
developed with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children and the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group.
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan and the
First Action Plan contain dedicated strategies and actions
to achieve
Closing the Gap Target 12 to reduce
over-representation of First Nations children in out-of-home care.
• Commonwealth investment
of $98.5 million is available across
4 measures to address Target 12.
2
Modified: 17/6/2024
1
OFFICIAL
Safe and Supported
•
$30 million was also reconfirmed in the
2022-23 October Budget
for Safe and Supported initiatives that form part of the
implementation package for the
National Plan to End Violence
against Women and Children (2022-2032). $1 million of this
funding was used to contribute to the establishment of a National
Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children
and Young People.
Hot Issues
National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Children and Young People
• The Government has committed $5.9 million over two years from
2024-25 to establish an interim National Commissioner for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People,
as a first step towards a legislated, independent and empowered
National Commissioner.
• While many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and
young people are doing well, the outcomes for some have not
improved. Some also experience systemic racism and
discrimination, resulting in breaches of their human rights.
• Establishing the National Commissioner is the result of the
Government’s close work with, and listening to, the requests of,
First Nations leaders and peak bodies – including SNAICC –
National Voice for our Children, the Safe and Supported Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group, and the Early
Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership.
3
Modified: 17/6/2024
1
OFFICIAL
Safe and Supported
• The role represents a key step forward in the Government’s
commitment to listen to and meaningfully engage with First Nations
people to promote systemic change.
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• Safe and Supported has a 10-year lifespan, with 2 Action Plans.
o Vision: Children in Australia reach their full potential by growing up safe and
supported, free from harm and neglect.
o Goal: To make significant and sustained progress in reducing the rates of child abuse
and neglect and its intergenerational impacts.
o Priority Groups:
1. Children and families with multiple and complex needs.
2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people experiencing
disadvantage or who are vulnerable.
3. Children and young people and/or parents/carers with disability experiencing
disadvantage or who are vulnerable.
4. Children and young people who have experienced abuse and/or neglect,
including young people leaving out-of-home care and transitioning to adulthood.
o Focus Areas:
1. A national approach to early intervention and targeted support for children and
families experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage.
2. Addressing the over-representation of First Nations children
in child protection systems.
3. Improved information sharing, data development and analysis.
4. Strengthening the child and family sector and workforce capability.
• The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services (RoGS) released
22 January 2024 shows:
o The rate of First Nations children in out-of-home care is not tracking towards
achieving Closing the Gap Target 12 (reduce over-representation of First Nations
children in out-of-home care by 45 per cent) and has worsened.
o To achieve this, the rate needs to reduce to 29.0 per 1,000 by 2031.
o As at 30 June 2023, the rate of First Nations children aged 0-17 years in out-of-home
care was 57.2 per 1000 children (19,803 of the 45,356 [or 7.9 per 1000] children in
out-of-home care).
o This in an increase from 54.2 per 1000 children in 2019 (baseline year).
• Release of South Australia's Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People
(Commissioner)
Holding on to Our Future, the Final Report of the Inquiry into the
application of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle in the
removal and placement of Aboriginal Children in South Australia, May 2024 (Holding on to
Our Future)
o On 5 June 2024 the ‘
Holding on to Our Future’ report was tabled in South Australian
Parliament. The report by Commissioner April Lawrie made 48 findings and 32
recommendations to reduce the number of First Nations children in the child
protection system.
4
Modified: 17/6/2024
1
OFFICIAL
Safe and Supported
o The report found that in a single calendar year, one-in-two South Australian
Aboriginal children are reported at least once to child protection authorities, and one
in 10 are placed in out-of-home care causing long-term harm to their health,
wellbeing and life chances,
o The report found there was not enough funding for early intervention services for
vulnerable Aboriginal children. It recommended that child protection laws be
amended to insert the Child Placement Principle and that Department for Child
Protection work in partnership with the Aboriginal community to improve outcomes for
First Nations children.
o This report was tabled after a 2-year inquiry. The South Australian Government is
considering the report.
o Statutory child protection is a state and territory responsibility, but the Commonwealth
plays a role in preventing families from coming into contact with child protection.
o
Safe and Supported: National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children
2021-2031 was noted in the report, relating to Child Placement Principles, Early
Interventions and Delegated Authority Actions. In particular the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander First Action Plan was referenced.
o Child Placement Principles: “It is a critical feature of the Indigenous Action Plan
of [Safe and Supported] (page 40).
o Early Interventions: “Actions under this plan include investment in the Aboriginal
Community Controlled sector to increase the availability and accessibility of
early, quality, culturally safe, trauma-responsive supports for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children and families, and actively work across portfolios
impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families to address
the social determinants of safety and wellbeing” (page 52).
o Delegated Authority: ‘Delegation of authority must be done with care and be
Aboriginal-led and designed, with adequate funding’ (page 88).
o
Safe and Supported, through its 2 Action Plans, works in partnership with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander leadership and jurisdictions to address the needs of
Aboriginal and Torres Islander children and young people.
▪ implementing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle
(ATSICPP) to the standard of active efforts (Action 5 First Nation Action Plan)
including the development of jurisdictional plans to implement the ATSICPP
across the system elements (Action 5b).
▪ working with stakeholders to develop the National Child and Family Investment
Strategy that will drive funding priorities within the child and family service system
and to co-design the associated Innovation Fund (Action 2).
▪ Working with key First Nations stakeholders to design the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Support (Action 3); and
▪ working to amplify the voices of First Nations children and young people by
establishing the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Children and Young People (Action 7).
o The Commonwealth is also implementing programs such as the Improving
Multidisciplinary Reponses program to design innovative community-led models to
better support First Nations families with multiple and complex needs.
• Media reports of a 10-year-old First Nations child passed away by suicide in April 2024
while under family policing/out-of-home care in Western Australia:
5
Modified: 17/6/2024
1
OFFICIAL
Safe and Supported
o Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children
and Young People Commissioner, expressed deep sorrow and stated on X “A 10-
year-old has died by suicide whilst under the family policing / OOHC. It is clear that
the current system is failing our Indigenous children, and it is time for action. We
cannot continue to stand by and watch as our young ones suffer in the hands of a
broken system.
o Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC via LinkedIn also provided a crucial perspective on
the urgent need for action from the WA Government to address systemic failures
harming children and the over-representation of children in out-of-home care by
highlighting the lowest investment in social services across the country.
• Class actions
o On Tuesday 5 December 2023, two landmark class actions were initiated in the
Federal Court against the Queensland Department of Child Safety on behalf of First
Nations families, about discriminatory experiences in child protection.
o Bottom English Lawyers and Shine Lawyers are conducting investigations for
potential class actions on behalf of First Nations families to launch against child
protection agencies in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western
Australia.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Tasma Vyver, A/g Branch Manager,
Children’s Policy Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By:
Tarja Saastamoinen, Group Manager,
Families
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Date last changed:
17June 2024
Clearance Date:
17 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
6
Modified: 17/6/2024
1
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 44
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Commissioner
QB23-000043
National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children and young people
Issue
What is the Government doing to respond to calls for a National
Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and
young people?
Headline response
The Government has committed $5.9 million over two years from
2024-25 to establish an interim National Commissioner for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, as
a first steps towards a legislated, independent and empowered
National Commissioner
.
TALKING POINTS
• On 13 February 2024, the Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony
Albanese MP, announced the establishment of the National
Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children
and Young People (National Commissioner).
• While many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and
young people are doing well, the outcomes for some have not
improved. Some also experience systemic racism and
discrimination, resulting in breaches of their human rights.
• Establishing the National Commissioner is the result of the
Government’s close work with, and listening to, First Nations
leaders and peak bodies – including SNAICC – National Voice for
our Children, the Safe and Supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Leadership Group, and the Early Childhood Care and
Development Policy Partnership.
1
Updated 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Commissioner
• The role represents a key step forward in the Government’s
commitment to listen to and meaningfully engage with First Nations
people to promote systemic change.
• The National Commissioner, once established, will be dedicated to
protecting and promoting the rights, interests and wellbeing of First
Nations children and young people.
• They will advocate for the innate strength and value of First Nations
children and young people and amplify their voices, including their
strengths, sense of hope and ideas for change.
• The National Commissioner will work and collaborate with
community to provide expert advice on the development and
delivery of policies, programs and services to ensure they meet the
unique needs of First Nations children and young people.
• The National Commissioner will also work alongside First Nations
leaders, state and territory Children’s Commissioners, Guardians
and Advocates, as well as the National Children’s Commissioner
and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Commissioner.
• An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person will be appointed to
the National Commissioner role.
• From mid-2024, an interim National Commissioner will be
appointed, with an initial focus on consulting with First Nations
people and other stakeholders to determine the powers, roles and
functions of the fully legislated National Commissioner.
o This will build on consultation the Government has already
undertaken with First Nations people.
2
Updated 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Commissioner
• As part of their role, the interim National Commissioner will also
advise government on key policies informed by the voices of First
Nations children and young people.
IF ASKED
Why isn’t the Government legislating the National Commissioner
now?
• Establishing the interim National Commissioner is the first step
towards the establishment of the ongoing, legislated and
empowered National Commissioner.
• This approach allows for targeted engagement and consultation
with First Nations people and government and non-government
stakeholders, to make sure we get the ongoing, legislated, and
empowered role right.
• To ensure the independence and autonomy of the interim National
Commissioner, the Government will work quickly to establish a
separate and independent Office of the National Commissioner
within the Social Services portfolio.
Will the National Commissioner be funded?
• The Government has committed $5.9 million over two years from
2024-25 to support the establishment of a legislated, independent
and empowered National Commissioner.
• This funding will support initial work to establish the role of the
interim National Commissioner, including the interim National
Commissioner undertaking targeted consultation with First Nations
stakeholders, including children and young people.
3
Updated 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Commissioner
• The funding will also support the establishment of an independent
Office of the National Commissioner.
How will this role be different to the National Advocate for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people (National Advocate) the
Government agreed to establish?
• Safe and Supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Leadership Group members, along with other First Nations
representatives, are calling for a National Commissioner, not a
National Advocate.
• The Government has listened to and is acting on these calls.
How will the National Commissioner improve outcomes for
First Nations children and young people?
• The National Commissioner will amplify the voices of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People and
advocate for the issues affecting them.
• The National Commissioner will work at a national level alongside
First Nations community and jurisdictional counterparts to identify
where systems and services could better meet the needs of First
Nations children and young people, and advocate for change.
• This will help to drive systemic reforms to support the rights and
wellbeing of First Nations children and young people.
How will the role of the National Commissioner impact the call for a
Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in remote communities?
• The National Commissioner will focus on promoting the rights,
wellbeing and development of First Nations children and young
people at a national level, right across Australia, including those of
the most vulnerable.
4
Updated 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Commissioner
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• Following the launch of
Safe and Supported: the National Framework for
Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031 (Safe and Supported) and its
Action Plans, the Commonwealth, state and territory governments and the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group have been working
in partnership to implement Actions.
• Action 7 of the
Safe and Supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
First Action Plan 2023-26 commits to
‘Advocating for Accountability and
Oversight: Establish and strengthen advocacy through Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Commissioners’.
• As part of the 2022-23 Federal Budget, the Australian Government
reconfirmed $2 million (over 2022-23 to 2025-26) to establish a National
Advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young
People (National Advocate).
• The Department of Social Services has worked with First Nations
representatives across Safe and Supported and the Early Childhood Care
and Development Policy Partnership to discuss ways to strengthen
advocacy, amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
and young people.
• On 28 February 2024, Senator Thorpe asked the Minister representing the
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, about
the scope of the National Commissioner’s role. Senator Gallagher
responded on behalf of the Australian Government that it is working on
establishing the National Commissioner and will consult with relevant
stakeholders on the scope of the National Commissioner.
• The Department of Social Services is currently in the process of recruiting
the interim National Commissioner.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Tasma Vyver, A/g Branch Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Tarja Saastamoinen, Group Manager,
position):
Families
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Date last updated:
15 May 2024
Clearance Date:
15 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
15 May 2024
5
Updated 15/5/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 45
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB23-000019
Savings from External Labour, Advertising, Travel and Legal
Expenses
Issue
Savings applied to the Department of Social Services (the
department) for the 2022-23 October Budget measure
Savings for
External Labour, Advertising, Travel and Legal Expenses and the
extension of this savings measure.
Headline response
• As part of the Government’s commitment to reduce spending
on external labour, the Government has extended the 2022-23
October Budget Measure
Savings from External Labour, and
Savings from Advertising, Travel and Legal Expenses. This will
see the Government achieve further savings over 4 years from
2024-25 by further reducing spending of consultants, contractors
and labour hire.
• The Department of Social Services will contribute a further
$7.72 million to the 2024-25 Budget Measure
Savings for External
Labour - Extension over 4 years commencing 2024-25
. Total
savings of $10.06 million will be applied in 2024-25.
• Any change in the department’s departmental funding is managed
by the department through prioritisation of activities to ensure the
department operates within its funding envelope.
• Overall, the department received a net increase in departmental
funding through the 2024-25 Budget to manage its operations.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
TALKING POINTS
• We are committed to rebuilding the capability and capacity of the
Australian Public Service (APS), and implement a whole of
government process to convert roles performed by external labour
to APS roles as appropriate.
• To facilitate this, an extension to the 2022-23 October Budget
savings measure ‘Savings for External Labour, Advertising, Travel
and Legal expenses’ has been applied to my department.
• The new measure comprises:
o An extension of the existing external labour savings by
one-year to 2027-28; and
o An increase of the savings each year from 2024-25 to
2027-28.
• The total impact on my department for this commitment is
$49.44 million, including
$10.06 million in 2024-25.
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28
Total
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
Savings for $8.32
-
-
-
-
-
$8.32
External
Labour1
Savings for
-
$9.21
$9.24
$9.24
$5.71
-
$33.40
External
Labour2
Savings for
-
-
$0.82
$0.76
$0.76
$5.38
$7.72
External
Labour –
Extension3
Total
$8.32
$9.21
$10.06
$10.00
$6.47
$5.38
$49.44
1 Savings for External Labour October 2022-23 Budget measure.
2 Savings for External Labour 4 year measure applied from 2023-24 Budget.
3 Savings from External Labour – Extension 2024-25 Budget measure.
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• My department will achieve this savings measure through
reprioritisation of activities and workforce mix as appropriate to
deliver on the Government’s commitments within the department’s
funding envelope.
• In the 21 months since 30 June 2022, the department has seen a
32 per cent reduction in the number of contractors that are
engaged.
• No existing contracts need to be terminated or renegotiated.
If ASKED:
How was the $7.72 million derived and applied to the
department?
• The Department of Finance is responsible for calculating the
allocation of the savings measure.
CONTACT NAME: Greg Mitchell
POSITION: Branch Manager, Financial Services
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 15 May 2024
3
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 46
DES CODING ERROR
QB23-000001
Disability Employment Services (DES) Star Ratings - Coding Error
Issue
What has been the outcome of the investigation into the DES Star
Ratings announced in December 2022?
Headline response
In December 2022, I asked the Secretary of the Department of
Social Services (the department) to investigate a coding error
identified in the DES Star Ratings. That investigation has
concluded. The investigation identified a number of coding errors.
The department suspended the use of Star Ratings on
9 December 2022 and formally ceased using Star Ratings to assess
the performance of DES Providers on 10 October 2023.
A new performance framework is under development and due to be
in place by 1 July 2024. This work is being progressed alongside the
new DES Quality Framework, released on 6 July 2023.
The Quality Framework puts a greater focus on service quality and
will be a key element of performance arrangements going forward.
If pressed: The department has invited claims from DES providers it
has assessed as adversely impacted by the Coding Error. The
department is considering claims received.
TALKING POINTS
• Due to a coding error, the DES Star Ratings process, which was
used to evaluate DES services, incorrectly retained historical data
in the performance calculation.
1
Modified: 29/04/2024
OFFICIAL
DES CODING ERROR
• As a result of the Coding Error, some (78) program services were
incorrectly removed from the DES Program.
• The department invited DES providers it assessed as being
adversely affected by the Coding Error to submit claims.
• The claims process is in progress and it would not be appropriate
to comment further.
• The department permanently ceased the use of Star Ratings in
assessing DES provider performance on 10 October 2023.
• The department implemented the DES Quality Framework on
6 July 2023 and is developing a new performance framework that
will be in place by July 2024.
If ASKED – Why have you invited claims?
• The department considers that the Coding Error adversely affected
33 DES Providers. The department is proactively engaging with
those DES providers to resolve claims they may have, arising from
the Coding Error.
If ASKED – Can the public have confidence in the department’s
management of the DES program?
• The department is focused on implementing a range of program
enhancements to ensure improved outcomes for people with
disability.
• This has included implementing the DES Quality Framework and
seeking greater participant feedback to inform program
improvements.
CONTACT NAME: Kellie Spence
POSITION: Group Manager, Disability Employment
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 29 April 2024
2
Modified: 29/04/2024
OFFICIAL
DES CODING ERROR
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• Due to a coding error, the Star Ratings process used to evaluate DES services in mid-
2022 incorrectly retained historical data in performance calculations.
• This led to some DES Providers receiving either a higher or lower Star Rating than would
have been the case if not for the error.
• The department engaged MinterEllison and Taylor Fry to investigate the Star Ratings
Coding Error (Coding Error). These investigations were completed by 18 April 2023.
• The department released the rebuilt Star Ratings on 16 May 2023, and held one on ones
with DES providers to discuss their rebuilt Star Ratings between June and August 2023.
• The findings from MinterEllison’s investigation were released to DES providers and peak
bodies on 21 September 2023.
• The department invited 33 DES providers who were adversely affected by the Coding
Error to submit a claim.
• The department is taking a proactive approach to engage with affected DES providers to
resolve any potential claims as quickly as possible.
• The claims process underway is being managed by MinterEllison.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Kellie Spence, Group Manager Disability
Employment
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Robyn Shannon Deputy Secretary, Disability
position):
and Carers
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
29 April 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
3
Modified: 29/04/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 47
Poverty and Inequality
QB22-000056
Poverty and Inequality
Issue
What is the Government doing to help people struggling to make
ends meet?
Headline response
The Government is taking action in every way we can to make life
easier for Australians, including steps to deliver targeted and
responsible relief to families who are doing it tough.
TALKING POINTS
• The Albanese Labor Government is committed to a social security
system that provides a strong safety net to protect vulnerable
Australians.
• Labor built the modern safety net – we built universal Medicare,
universal superannuation, universal NDIS, and the minimum wage.
We will always work to ensure all Australians are supported and
no-one is left behind.
• This Government knows that those on the lowest incomes or who
rely on social security payments are under pressure and struggling
to make ends meet.
• Inflation remains higher than average, with annual CPI for the
12 months to March 2024 at 3.6 per cent.
• In the 2024-25 Budget, the Government is investing an additional
$2.0 billion over five years in targeted and responsible support for
income support recipients, including $1.9 billion to increase the
maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 10 per cent.
1
Modified: 1/07/2024
OFFICIAL
Poverty and Inequality
• These measures build on the $9.5 billion in the 2023-24 Budget
measures to strengthen the safety net, including increasing
working-age and student payments, as well as more CRA support
and expanded access to Parenting Payment (Single).
• We should not underestimate the positive impact these measures
will have for Australians on low incomes, and those in communities
who face an increased risk of falling into disadvantage.
If ASKED – What is the Government doing to respond to the
Poverty Inquiry final report?
• The Government is considering the report and its
recommendations and will respond in due course.
• The Government has established a range of mechanisms,
including the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, which
provides advice ahead of every federal budget on ways to boost
economic inclusion and tackle disadvantage.
• The Government has committed to significant increases to income
support payments, including the 2024-25 Budget measure to
increase maximum rates of CRA by 10 per cent.
• This builds on the Government’s 2023-24 Budget measures, that
resulted in around 1.1 million recipients receiving at least a $40
increase a fortnight.
If ASKED – What is the Government doing to reduce the number
of people living in poverty in Australia?
• Poverty is a complex issue and the Government is committed to
addressing the complicated mix of factors that push people to the
margins.
2
Modified: 1/07/2024
OFFICIAL
Poverty and Inequality
• This isn’t something that will be comprehensively solved with quick
fixes, but through persistent, whole of government, long-term
approaches.
• The $2.0 billion social security measures in the 2024-25 Budget
builds on the $9.5 billion 2023-24 Budget income support
measures. These are complemented by broader cost of living relief
being delivered by the Government to ease the pressure on
Australian households, including power bill relief for people on
payments and pensions, and cheaper medicines.
• Subject to the passage of legislation, from 20 September 2024,
as a result of the 10 per cent increase to maximum rates of CRA,
a single JobSeeker Payment recipient who is living alone and
receiving the maximum rate of CRA, would receive an additional
$18.80 a fortnight.
If ASKED – Is the Government doing enough to help those on the
lowest incomes during this cost of living crisis?
• The causes of recent price increases are complex and it is taking
time to address them.
• Income support payments such as JobSeeker are indexed
regularly to keep pace with changes in the cost of living.
• Since the Government was elected, the rate of JobSeeker has
increased by $120 a fortnight, providing over $3,100 in additional
support each year. This is the largest nominal increase
(18.7 per cent) in a two-year period ever and the largest in real
terms (7.4 per cent) in more than 40 years.
3
Modified: 1/07/2024
OFFICIAL
Poverty and Inequality
• Where recipients have additional costs, supplementary payments
such as Rent Assistance and Family Tax Benefit are available. For
this reason, the Government monitors a range of indicators,
including academic research and reports and does not consider
any single indicator in isolation.
If ASKED – What is the Government doing to address child
poverty?
• In an effort to boost economic inclusion and tackle disadvantage,
the Government has established a range of mechanisms, including
the Targeting Entrenched Disadvantage (TED). This will deliver an
$199.8 million integrated package to address entrenched
disadvantage in communities by building on, and learning from, the
success of place-based and social impact investing initiatives.
• The Government also provides a range of family assistance and
social security payments which are targeted through income testing
to ensure that payments help provide an adequate level of support,
particularly for children in low-income families. These payments
include Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Subsidy, Multiple Birth
Allowance, Newborn Supplement and Rent Assistance.
• The Financial Wellbeing and Capability sector also plays a vital role
in supporting vulnerable individuals and families to navigate
financial hardship and build financial wellbeing, capability, and
resilience.
CONTACT NAME: Katrina Chatham
POSITION: Branch Manager, Participation and
Supplementary Payments
s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 1 July 2024
4
Modified: 1/07/2024
OFFICIAL
Poverty and Inequality
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Australia Institute – Ending Child Poverty in Australia
On 28 June 2024, the Australia Institute released a report that stated that one in
six Australian child live in poverty. The report called for an official poverty line or
monitoring approach from the Australian Government to better track poverty
rates.
The report also included data from polling to determine community attitudes to
child poverty – for example, the report found that 83% of Australians support the
Commonwealth Government regularly measuring and reporting on poverty rates
in Australia and that 81% of Australians agree that income support payments
should be set at a rate that do not cause any child in Australia to live in poverty
Senate Committee Report – The extent and nature of poverty in Australia
On 28 February 2024, the Senate tabled the final report into the Extent and
Nature of Poverty in Australia. The report explores the extent, impacts and
drivers of poverty, as well as the relationship between poverty and income
support.
The report made 14 primary, and an additional 15 Chair, recommendations,
including that the Australian Government take urgent action so that Australians
are not living in poverty and to consider the suitability, adequacy, and
effectiveness of the income support system.
Other recommendations include providing better support to recipients of
Disability Support Pension, asking the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee
to review Commonwealth Rent Assistance for effectiveness and
appropriateness, and requesting reform of mutual obligations.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Katrina Chatham, Branch Manager,
Participation and Supplementary Payments
Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared:
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation
and Family Payments Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date
1 July 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
5
Modified: 1/07/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 48
DSP
QB22-000089
Disability Support Pension
Issue
When will the Government respond to the Senate Inquiry into the
purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support Pension?
Headline response
• We are considering the report and will provide our response
in due course.
TALKING POINTS
Senate inquiry into the purpose, intent and adequacy of the
Disability Support Pension
• I thank the Committee for their work, and the individuals and
organisations who contributed to the inquiry.
• We are considering the report and will respond in due course.
• I would note the new DSP Impairment Tables I released last year
included several changes relevant to recommendations in the
inquiry’s report.
• This Government has a significant disability reform agenda with a
focus on driving better outcomes for people with disability under
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 and embedding inclusion
of people with disability across policies and programs delivered by
the Commonwealth.
• This includes significant reform to the disability landscape in
response to the Disability Royal Commission and NDIS, in close
consultation with the disability community.
1
Modified: 1/7/2024
OFFICIAL
DSP
DSP specifics
• Pensions, including Disability Support Pension, are paid at the
highest legislated rate in the social security system. Pensions are
paid at a higher rate than JobSeeker Payment in recognition that
pension recipients face significant barriers to engaging in work.
• More than 4.7 million pension and allowance recipients received a
boost to their payments through indexation from 20 March 2024.
• Disability Support Pension recipients receive increases of $19.60 a
fortnight for singles and $29.40 a fortnight for couples combined.
• From 20 March 2024, the maximum single rate of pension
increases to $1,116.30 a fortnight (including Pension Supplement
and Energy Supplement).
• The maximum partnered rate of pension increases to $841.40 a
fortnight for each member of a pensioner couple or $1,682.80 for a
couple combined (including Pension Supplement and Energy
Supplement).
• From 1 January 2024, recipients of DSP aged under 21 years
received increases of between $31.30 and $45.10 a fortnight.
DSP Program of Support
• The purpose of the Program of Support is to help Disability Support
Pension claimants who do not have a severe impairment (20 points
on a single impairment table) get the skills they need to find and
keep a job.
• The benefits of working are well documented, such as improved
health and wellbeing, social connectedness, stronger skills, better
incomes and higher living standards.
2
Modified: 1/7/2024
OFFICIAL
DSP
• Many people with disability are able to, and want to work, and the
best outcome for people who have skills and capacity to work,
is to participate in the labour market.
• Activities that meet the Program of Support requirement are
tailored to a person’s individual needs and level of impairment and
include job preparation, job search, education and training, and
injury management and rehabilitation.
IF ASKED, Is Long COVID recognised as a disability for Disability
Support Pension?
• Eligibility for Disability Support Pension is based on functional
impairment resulting from a person’s medical condition and their
ability to work.
• People who have Long COVID may be eligible for Disability
Support Pension, if they meet the eligibility criteria.
• Where, as a result of having COVID or Long COVID, a person can
be considered as diagnosed, reasonably treated and stabilised,
they may be eligible for DSP if their functional impairment is
assessed as having at least 20 points under the Impairment Tables
and if all the other requirements for DSP are met.
• Changes made to the Impairment Tables in 2023 better represent a
number of conditions across the Tables.
CONTACT NAME: Caroline Stevens
POSITION: A/g Branch Manager, Carer, Disability
and Student Payments
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 1 July 2024
3
Modified: 1/7/2024
OFFICIAL
DSP
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Disability Support Pension (DSP)
• DSP is an income support payment to provide financial help for people who
are unable to work for 15 or more hours per week for the next two years, due
to physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment, which attracts at least 20
points under the
Tables for the assessment of work-related impairment for
Disability Support Pension (the Impairment Tables).
• People claiming DSP must be 16 or older and under Age Pension age at the
time of the claim. They are also subject to medical and non-medical
requirements, including residency requirements, and income and asset tests.
• As at May 2024, there were 794,860 people on DSP.
• Expenditure on DSP in 2023-24 is estimated to be $21.1 billion (Portfolio
Budget Statement 2024-25).
Disability Support Pension Impairment Tables Review
• This review focussed on the functioning of the 2011 legislative instrument,
with particular focus on ensuring consistency and reflecting relevant
advances in medical technology.
• DSS conducted an initial public consultation from 1 June 2021 to 31 July
2021, using the department’s Engage website.
• The department conducted a dedicated lived experience of DSP consultation
between December 2021 and February 2022.
• Throughout the review, the department conducted targeted engagement with
medical specialists organisations on addressing key issues in the Impairment
Tables raised through the broader consultation.
Sensitivities
• Advocacy groups have criticised the POS requirement in various fora,
including the Senate DSP Inquiry. The feedback includes DSP is too difficult
to access and the POS requirement only serves to delay receipt of DSP to
people who would otherwise be eligible.
• The POS requirement is an eligibility criterion of the DSP. The requirement is
contained in primary legislation. It has never been evaluated.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Caroline Stevens, A/g Branch Manager,
Carer, Disability and Student Payments
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation
position):
and Family Payments Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
1 July 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
4
Modified: 1/7/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 49
EMPLOYMENT WHITE PAPER
QB23-000044
Employment White Paper income support measures
Issue
What income support measures has the Government implemented
in response to the Employment White Paper?
Headline response
In September 2023, the Albanese Government released the
Employment White Paper, Working Future. This presented a
roadmap to ensure more Australians can make the most of the big
shifts underway in the economy and our society over the coming
decades.
TALKING POINTS
• The White Paper is a commitment to working together, to delivering
sustained and inclusive full employment, promoting job security
and strong, sustainable wage growth, reigniting productivity growth,
filling skills needs, building our future workforce and overcoming
barriers to employment and broaden opportunity.
• As part of delivering on this commitment, the Government has
implemented 2 social security measures to smooth the transition
between income support and employment, and give people more
support to get into work.
• This includes changes to permanently enhance the pension Work
Bonus and extend the employment income nil rate period for those
on income support.
1
OFFICIAL
EMPLOYMENT WHITE PAPER
• We acted quickly to deliver on these measures. On
17 November 2023, Parliament passed the
Social Security and
Other Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Transition to Work)
Act 2023 to give effect to these measures.
• Consistent with the themes of the White Paper, as part of the
2024-25 Budget the Government has announced it will change the
Carer Payment participation rule from 25 hours per week to 100
hours over 4 weeks, to remove barriers to workforce participation
for carers.
Measure: Pension Work Bonus
• The Albanese Government is committed to giving older Australians
more choice and flexibility to participate in the workforce,
and permanently enhanced the pension Work Bonus from
1 January 2024.
• This includes providing an upfront credit of $4,000 to all new
pension entrants over Age Pension age and eligible veterans,
and permanently increasing the maximum Work Bonus income
balance from $7,800 to $11,800.
• This means existing pensioners continue to benefit from the
elevated maximum Work Bonus balance of $11,800, with new
pension entrants over Age Pension age receiving a starting
balance of $4,000 rather than $0.
• The cost for this measure is $52.4 million over the forward
estimates from 2023-24. It is worth remembering that the costs
for this measure are only realised if pensioners do take up work.
2
OFFICIAL
EMPLOYMENT WHITE PAPER
Measure: Employment Income Nil Rate Period
• The Albanese Government is smoothing the transition from income
support to employment, providing more support for people to get
back into work without the fear that the social safety net will not
be there if they need it again.
• This measure extends the employment income nil rate period for
income support payments from 6 to 12 fortnights, and expands
access to the nil rate period to those who enter full-time
employment.
• This allows people to stay active in the system – and retain
supplementary benefits such as concession cards, child care
subsidies and other supplementary payments - when they first get
back into work, for longer.
• This measure is designed to address concerns that losing access
to these benefits or having to reapply and wait for income support if
things don’t work out acts as a discouragement to taking-up work,
particularly short-term, casual and gig economy work.
• This commenced on 1 July 2024. The cost for this measure is
$42.8 million over the forward estimates from 2023-24.
• It is estimated around 138,000 recipients will benefit from this
measure each year, particularly those on the JobSeeker Payment
and Youth Allowance (other).
CONTACT NAME: Katrina Chatham
POSITION: Branch Manager, Participation and
Supplementary Payments
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 1 July 2024
3
OFFICIAL
EMPLOYMENT WHITE PAPER
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• On 17 November 2023, Parliament passed the
Social Security and Other
Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Transition to Work) Act 2023. Royal
Assent was received on 28 November 2023.
Pension Work Bonus
• The Pension Work Bonus is designed to specifically reward pensioners who
are working. It provides incentives that mean pensioners with employment
income can earn more before their pension is affected.
• The changes to the Pension Work Bonus were a key recommendation from
the Jobs and Skills Summit in September 2022, and have been well received
by working pensioners and other stakeholders.
Employment income nil rate period
• Recipients qualify for the 12-fortnight employment income nil rate period
(previously 6 fortnights) if they take up casual or short-term work with
employment income (including partner income) that reduces their payment to
$0. During this period, they are considered to still be receiving a social
security pension or benefit for the purposes of qualifying for certain benefits
including:
- Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
- Child Care Subsidy
- Certain supplementary payments.
• If a person’s reported income falls during the employment income nil rate
period sufficient that their payment becomes payable again, they
automatically recommence on payment without the need for a new claim or
serving any waiting periods.
• To remain eligible, recipients must report their income to Services Australia
throughout the employment income nil rate period.
• Consultations on the White Paper found that job seekers often perceive
there is value in remaining attached to the income support system. Beyond
access to payment, this can include access to health care cards and
concessions and to the Child Care Subsidy. The potential loss of these
benefits is a barrier to work for some people across a wide range of working
age and pension payments.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Katrina Chatham, Branch Manager,
Participation and Supplementary Payments
Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By:
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation
and Family Payments Group
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (Pension Work Gillian Beer
Bonus):
Branch Manager, Payment Structures and
Seniors Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
1 July 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
4
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 50
INCOME SUPPORT BUDGET MEASURES
QB24-000027
2024-25 Income Support Budget Measures
Issue
What changes is the Government delivering in the 2024-25 Budget to
assist income support recipients?
Headline response
In this year’s Budget, the Government is providing responsible cost
of living relief that eases pressure on people and doesn’t add to
inflation.
This includes investing around $2.0 billion over 5 years from
2023-24 to provide more support in the social security safety net.
The Budget provides more support for renters, by increasing the
maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by a further 10
per cent.
This builds on the Government’s increase in the last Budget, and
combined with indexation, means rent assistance will have
increased by over 40 per cent since the 2022 election, benefiting
close to a million lower-income households.
Building on the changes to working-age and student payments in
the last Budget, the Government is also expanding eligibility for the
higher rate of JobSeeker to single people assessed as being unable
to work more than 14 hours a week.
1
OFFICIAL
INCOME SUPPORT BUDGET MEASURES
Expanding eligibility for the higher JobSeeker rate to this cohort, as
the Government did for single people aged 55 and over on payment
for 9 months or more (down from 60) last year, is designed to
strengthen the system, by better targeting support to people based
on their age, stage and circumstances.
The Government is also maintaining the freeze on social security
deeming rates for a further 12 months to 30 June 2025, supporting
pensioners and other income support recipients who have deemed
income to keep more of their payment.
Alongside these targeted changes to income support to provide cost
of living relief, the Government is also delivering changes to the Carer
Payment to remove barriers to employment and improve workforce
participation. These changes will provide carers more flexibility to
manage their work, study and volunteering commitments with their
caring responsibilities.
Together with last year’s investments, this is an additional $11.5
billion investment in the social security system, providing more
assistance to Australians on some of the lowest incomes.
TALKING POINTS
• In the 2024-25 Budget, the Government is investing an additional
$2 billion over 5 years in targeted and responsible support for
income support recipients including:
o $1.9 billion to increase the maximum rates of Commonwealth
Rent Assistance by 10 per cent.
2
OFFICIAL
INCOME SUPPORT BUDGET MEASURES
o $41.2 million to expand eligibility to the higher rate of
JobSeeker Payment to single JobSeeker Payment recipients
with a partial capacity to work of 0-14 hours per week.
o $18.6 million to change the 25 hour per week rule for Carer
Payment recipients to instead allow up to 100 hours work over
a 4 week period and remove the restrictions on study,
volunteering and travel for work.
o Extend the two-year freeze on social security deeming rates
for a further 12 months to 30 June 2025.
• The Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (More
Support in the Safety Net) Bill 2024, to give effect to the 2024-25
Budget measures, passed the House of Representatives on 5 June
2024, and was introduced in the Senate on 24 June 2024.
• These measures build on the Government’s $9.5 billion package of
income support measures in last year’s Budget to boost JobSeeker
Payment and other working age and student payments, increase
maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 15 per cent,
and expand eligibility for Parenting Payment (Single).
• The Government will always do what we can for people where it is
responsible and affordable, and weighed up against other priorities
and fiscal challenges.
Measure: Increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance maximum
rates
• The Government is investing $1.9 billion over 5 years from 2023-24
to increase the maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance
by 10 per cent.
3
OFFICIAL
INCOME SUPPORT BUDGET MEASURES
• This builds on the 15 per cent increase to Commonwealth Rent
Assistance maximum rates from 20 September 2023, which was
the largest in 30 years.
• Around 930,000 households will benefit. Single person households
can benefit by up to $18.80 per fortnight and families with children
can benefit by up to $25.06 per fortnight.
• Subject to the passage of legislation, this change will commence
from 20 September 2024. On top of this increase, CRA will also be
indexed on 20 September this year in line with the usual schedule.
• This further increase means that, combined with indexation,
by 20 September 2024 maximum rates of Rent Assistance will
have increased by 42 per cent since March 2022.
Measure: Expanding eligibility to the higher rate of JobSeeker
Payment for single recipients with a partial capacity to work
• The Government is providing around $41.2 million over 5 years
from 2023-24 to expand eligibility to the higher rate of JobSeeker
Payment for people with a partial capacity to work of 0-14 hours
per week.
• Combined with a higher rate of Energy Supplement, around 4,700
eligible JobSeeker Payment recipients with a partial capacity to
work of 0-14 hours per week will benefit from at least an additional
$54.90 a fortnight.
• This measure acknowledges the significant barriers to work faced
by JobSeeker Payment recipients who have been assessed as
unable to work more than 14 hours per week due to physical,
intellectual or psychiatric impairment.
4
OFFICIAL
INCOME SUPPORT BUDGET MEASURES
• Subject to the passage of legislation, this change will commence
from 20 September 2024, with the regular indexation of JobSeeker
Payment and other working age payments.
Measure: Changing the 25 hour participation rule for Carer
Payment recipients
• The Government will provide around $18.6 million over 5 years
from 2023-24 to change the 25 hour per week participation rule to
allow up to 100 hours of work over a 4 week period.
• This measure provides carers with greater flexibility and choice to
structure their work commitments around their caring
responsibilities.
• This measure may benefit around 31,000 Carer Payment recipients
who are currently working. It will also benefit around 1,600 Carer
Payment recipients who will have their payment suspended rather
than cancelled under current arrangements.
• Subject to the passage of legislation, this measure will commence
from 20 March 2025.
Measure: Extending the 2-year freeze on social security deeming
rates
• The Government is extending the freeze on social security
deeming rates for a further 12 months to 30 June 2025.
• By keeping deeming rates unchanged, the Government is
supporting Age Pension and other income support recipients who
rely on income from deemed financial investments, combined with
their income support payment, to cope with cost-of-living
pressures.
5
OFFICIAL
INCOME SUPPORT BUDGET MEASURES
• Around 876,000 current income support recipients will benefit from
this measure. Over half of these recipients (approximately 450,000)
receive the Age Pension, around 136,000 receive JobSeeker
Payment and around 96,000 receive Parenting Payment Single.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Katrina Chatham, Branch Manager,
Participation and Supplementary Payments
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared:
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation
and Family Payments Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared (CRA):
Troy Sloan, Group Manager, Pensions,
Housing and Homelessness
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
26/06/2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
6
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 51
Jobseeker and Youth Allowance Payments
QB22-000024
JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and Student Payments
Issue
What action is the Government taking in the 2024-25 Budget to
support vulnerable Australians living on income support payments?
Headline response
In this year’s Budget, the Government is providing responsible cost
of living relief that eases pressure on people and doesn’t add to
inflation.
This includes investing around $2 billion over 5 years to provide
more support in the social security safety net.
This includes extending the higher JobSeeker Payment rate to
single recipients with a partial capacity to work of up to 14 hours,
and increasing maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance
(CRA) by 10 per cent.
This is targeted assistance that is further strengthening the safety
net.
TALKING POINTS
• The Government is committed to doing what it can to support the
most vulnerable Australians and in the 2024-25 Budget has
provided responsible and targeted support to income support
recipients.
• Our record shows we have delivered responsible budgets as well
as helping people doing it tough.
1
Modified: 26/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Jobseeker and Youth Allowance Payments
• The Government is providing $41.2 million over 5 years to extend
the higher rate of JobSeeker Payment to single recipients with
a partial capacity to work of up to 14 hours a week.
• Combined with a higher rate of Energy Supplement, around 4,700
eligible JobSeeker Payment recipients will receive at least an
additional $54.90 a fortnight .
• This measure acknowledges the significant barriers to work faced
by this cohort. These recipients remain on payment for almost
twice as long as those without a partial capacity to work and are
less likely to experience the benefit of work.
• Eligible JobSeeker Payment recipients (around 185,000) will
benefit from the 10 per cent increase to CRA maximum rates.
• Subject to the passage of legislation, the changes will commence
from 20 September 2024, at the same time as indexation of income
support payments including JobSeeker Payment.
• These measures build on last year’s Budget measures, which
included at least a $40 per fortnight increase to JobSeeker
Payment and other working age and student payments and a 15
per cent increase to the maximum rates of CRA.
• The 2023-24 and 2024-25 Budget measures together represents
around $11.5 billion investment to strengthen the social safety net.
• Since the Government was elected, the rate of JobSeeker has
increased by $120 a fortnight, or 18.7 per cent, providing over
$3,100 in additional support each year. This is the largest nominal
increase (18.7 per cent) in a two-year period ever and the largest
two-year increase in real terms (7.4 per cent) in more than 40 years.
2
Modified: 26/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Jobseeker and Youth Allowance Payments
• These measures are complemented by cost of living relief being
delivered by the Government to ease the pressure on households,
including power bill relief for people and cheaper medicines.
• JobSeeker supports Australians who are unable to support
themselves whilst they look for a job or have a temporary injury or
incapacity.
It is not designed to replace lost salary or wages.
If ASKED: Why hasn’t the Government acted on the Economic
Inclusion Advisory Committee’s advice and substantially increased
JobSeeker Payment in the 2024-25 Budget?
• The 2024-25 Budget builds on the measures the Government
delivered in the 2023-24 Budget to increase working age and
student income support payments, including JobSeeker Payment.
• It is important that measures are not viewed in isolation. JobSeeker
Payment recipients may also be eligible for other cost of living
measures announced in the 2024-25 Budget including the
additional increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance, as well as
energy power bill relief and cheaper medicines.
If ASKED – What is the Government doing to process claims for
JobSeeker Payment recipients faster?
• The Government is committed to ensuring that individuals are able
to access the support they are eligible for as quickly as possible.
• In November, the Government provided an immediate $228 million
funding injection to frontline and service delivery staff at Services
Australia. Since January, Services Australia has processed
677,000 claims, reducing the backlog by 500,000.
CONTACT NAME: Katrina Chatham
POSITION: Branch Manager, Participation and
Supplementary Payments
s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 26 June 2024
3
Modified: 26/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Jobseeker and Youth Allowance Payments
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• As at 31 May 2024, there were 818,250 recipients of JobSeeker Payment
and 86,970 recipients of Youth Allowance (other).
• The
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the
Safety Net) Act 2023 that implemented the 2023-24 Budget income support
measures received Royal Assent on 10 August 2023.
• The Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (More Support in the
Safety Net) Bill 2024, to give effect to the 2024-25 Budget measures, passed
the House of Representatives on 5 June 2024, and was introduced in the
Senate on 24 June 2024.
• The table below provides the rounded number of beneficiaries of the 2023-24
Budget measures based on data in July 2023. Note that the number of
beneficiaries is subject to movements in payment recipient numbers
including due to changes in labour force participation and student numbers
due to variations in the academic year.
Number of
Category
beneficiaries
$40 increase to working age and student payments
1,000,000
$40 increase
and 55+ measure
1,100,000
Total Working Age Allowance Population (including those 1,400,000
not impacted)
Total impacted Youth Allowance
225,000
Total impacted students
190,000
Summary of proposed increases
Date of proposed
Per fortnight Per day Percentage
rate increase
increase to JSP
Current rate
N/A
$762.70
$54.47 N/A
Grattan
8 October 2022
$818.40
$58.46 7.3 per cent
Institute
BankWest
1 March 2022
$922.70
$65.91 21 per cent
Curtin
Economics
Centre
ACOSS
20 March 2024
$1,120.00
At
46.8 per cent
least
$80
The Greens
March 2022
$1,232.00
$88.00 61.5 per cent
Anglicare
February 2023
$1,232.00
$88.00 61.5 per cent
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Katrina Chatham, Branch Manager,
Participation and Supplementary Payments
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared:
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation
and Family Payments Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
26 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
4
Modified: 26/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 52
PPL
QB22-000023
Paid Parental Leave
Issue
Will you pay 52 weeks of parental leave at replacement wage?
Headline response
• From day one, the Albanese Labor Government has been working
hard to improve Paid Parental Leave for working families.
• First, we made changes from 1 July 2023 to give more families
access to the payment, made it more flexible to support parents in
the transition back to work, and made it much easier for parents to
share care by creating a single payment that both parents can
access.
• Then, from 1 July this year, we are delivering the largest expansion
to Paid Parental Leave since Labor established it in 2011.
• By expanding the scheme to a full six months by 2026, families will
receive an extra six weeks of paid leave following the birth or
adoption of their child.
• But we’re not stopping there. With a $1.1 billion investment in this
Budget, the Albanese Government will pay superannuation on
Government Paid Parental Leave from July 2025.
• Taking time out of paid work to care for children is a normal part of
working life for both parents. Paying super on Government PPL will
help normalise parental leave as a workplace entitlement, like
annual and sick leave, and reduce the impact of parental leave on
retirement incomes.
1
Modified: 19/6/2024
OFFICIAL
PPL
• It’s worth remembering the Government payment is a minimum
entitlement designed to complement leave provided by employers,
who also have a key role to play.
• To extend the length of time parents can take off after birth or
adoption, they can receive the Government payment before, after, or
at the same time as employer-paid leave.
• Around 60 per cent of employers offer their own paid parental leave
to complement the Government scheme, and we want to see this
number keep growing.
• The Government is focused on implementing our historic investment,
so Australian families have access to more paid parental leave than
ever before.
IF ASKED: Why are an estimated one in four eligible mothers not
taking up PPL?
• The Australian Institute of Family Studies recently released a report that
uses 2021 Census data to estimate that 74 per cent of eligible mothers
were taking up PPL.
• Our changes from 1 July 2023 made the Paid Parental Leave scheme
more accessible, flexible and gender neutral.
• An evaluation of the impact of the changes will be conducted in four
phases to 2027-28.
IF ASKED: Why do families need to wait until July 2025 for super on
PPL?
• As well as legislative change, this requires significant systems changes
across Services Australia and the ATO. This is the first time the
Government will be paying an equivalent superannuation payment.
2
Modified: 19/6/2024
OFFICIAL
PPL
• A start date of 1 July 2025 will ensure we get this right.
IF ASKED: Why does the PPL scheme not provide extra leave for
parents of premature or sick babies?
• The Government’s expansion of the PPL scheme to 26 weeks will help
families, including those of a premature or sick baby, to manage care of
their child in the way that best suits their circumstances.
• Families whose children are required to remain in hospital after birth,
including in cases of a premature birth, have additional flexibility.
• For example, parents can take more leave together or one parent can
access the full entitlement, allowing the other parent to return to work and
extending the time the first parent can spend with their child.
IF ASKED: Does the Government offer additional PPL to families with
multiple births?
• In the case of multiple births, such as twins or triplets, eligible families
can receive PPL for one child and an increased rate of FTB Part A
including a newborn payment for the other children.
• From 1 July 2024, through the Newborn Supplement and Newborn
Upfront Payment, families can receive up to a maximum of around
$2,700 for the first child and around $1,300 for subsequent children.
• Multiple Birth Allowance may also be paid to FTB Part A eligible families
who have triplets or larger multiple birth sets. From 1 July 2024, this
payment is $5,000 a year for triplets and nearly $6,700 a year for
quadruplets or more.
CONTACT NAME: Agnieszka Nelson
POSITION: Branch Manager, Families and Payment
Support
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 19 June 2024
3
Modified: 19/6/2024
OFFICIAL
PPL
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Payment rates
1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024
From 1 July 2024
Daily rate
$176.55
$183.16
Weekly rate
$882.75
$915.80
18 weeks
$15,889.50
$16,484.40
20 weeks
$17,655
$18,316.00
22 weeks
Not available
$20,147.60
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Agnieszka Nelson, Branch Manager
Families and Payment Support
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By:
Ben Peoples, Group Manager
Participation and Family Payments
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
19 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
21 June 2024
4
Modified: 19/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 53
Child Support
QB22-000018
Child Support
Issue
Why didn’t the Government action the recommendation from the
WEET and EIAC, to remove the Maintenance Income Test (MIT)
from the calculation of FTB Part A for child support customers?
Headline response
• The Committee is rightly concerned about instances of people
manipulating their child support payments to inflict financial
control and abuse on their former partners. The Government
shares this concern.
• Family and domestic violence is unacceptable in any form.
• We are committed to ensuring separated parents and children
receive the support they are entitled to, and that government
systems do not exacerbate any abuse.
• We are currently undertaking a number of reviews across the
child support scheme, looking closely at compliance, with a focus
on income accuracy, collection and enforcement.
IF PRESSED
• The maintenance income test ensures there is equity between
how family payments support single parent families compared
with partnered parent families. It ensures the assistance an
individual receives from a former partner to help with the costs of
raising a child is considered when assessing a family’s relative
need.
1
Modified: 19/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Child Support
• However, the Government acknowledges there are some parents
who are impacted when their former partner avoids or minimises
their child support obligation.
• Individuals may be granted a full or partial exemption from the
maintenance action test in certain circumstances, including
violence or fear of violence.
• For those with a full maintenance action test exemption, their
Family Tax Benefit would not be subject to the maintenance
income test.
• For a partial maintenance action test exemption (relevant only for
private collect cases), only the amount of child support received
by the recipient will be counted in the maintenance income test.
• Many of the issues raised by the Committee would continue if the
maintenance income test was removed, such as non-compliance
with private collect cases and payers of child support not lodging
tax returns.
• That is why we are examining ways we can strengthen the child
support scheme against financial abuse and closely considering
any changes to ensure there are not unintended consequences.
IF ASKED: What is the Government doing to stop child support
being used as a weapon of financial abuse?
• Family and domestic violence is unacceptable in any form. While
most people do the right thing, some people deliberately avoid
paying child support to inflict financial control and abuse on their
former partners.
2
Modified: 19/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Child Support
• The Government is committed to ensuring separated parents and
their children receive the support they are entitled to, and that
government systems do not exacerbate any abuse.
• Last year, the Government passed legislation to improve collection
of unpaid child support and make child support assessments more
accurate.
• The Government is currently overseeing a number of reviews to
inform the operation of the scheme over the longer term. This
includes looking closely at compliance, with a focus on income
accuracy (including tax lodgement), collection and enforcement,
and addressing any potential flow-on impacts to Family Tax
Benefit.
IF ASKED: What is the Government doing to improve the child
support scheme?
• The Government has made the child support scheme fairer by
implementing legislation to improve the timely collection of child
support owed to parents – who are overwhelmingly women – and
help prevent future debt among low-income parents.
• In the 2023-24 Budget, the Government invested $5.1 million over
five years to build the evidence base for longer-term improvements,
looking at issues like non-compliance as a means of financial
abuse, whether the child support formula reflects the current costs
of raising children in Australia, and what can be done to support
parents where private collect arrangements have broken down.
• This work is informed by a stakeholder consultation group, who
provide a strong voice to Government on issues impacting families.
3
Modified: 19/6/2024
OFFICIAL
Child Support
BACKGROUND
Exemptions to the Maintenance Action Test (MAT) and Maintenance Income Test (MIT)
Individuals may be granted a full or partial exemption from the MAT in certain circumstances,
including violence or fear of violence.
Parents with a full MAT exemption are not required to apply for child support, and their
Family Tax Benefit is not subject to the MIT. For a partial MAT exemption (relevant only for
private collect cases), only the amount of child support received by the recipient will be
counted in the MIT.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position
Agnieszka Nelson, Branch Manager, Families and
Payments Support Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By:
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation and
Family Payments Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
19 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
21 June 2024
4
Modified: 19/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 54
Universities Accord and student payments
QB24-000015
Universities Accord and student payments
Issue
Why hasn’t the Government accepted the Universities Accord Final
Report recommendation to increase income support payments for
students?
Headline response
The Final Report of the Universities Accord recommended reforms
to higher education, over the next decade and beyond.
The Government is committed to building a better and fairer
education system – and the recommendations of the Accord are
helping drive this change.
The measures in this Budget will support the delivery of, and access
to, higher education in Australia.
The Government carefully considered all the 47 recommendations in
the Final Report.
To assist with the current cost of living pressures faced by students,
the Government is addressing the indexation increases to student
loans by lowering the indexation rate and supporting students who
are undertaking mandatory work placements.
This is in addition to the $40 per fortnight increase to social security
payments, including for students, and increased Commonwealth
Rent Assistance, delivered by the Government since 20 September
last year.
TALKING POINTS
• The 2024–25 Budget is delivering lower indexation rates for
student loans.
• Retrospective from 1 June 2023, the indexation rate of income-
contingent student loans will be calculated at the lower of either the
Wage Price Index or the Consumer Price Index.
1
OFFICIAL
Universities Accord and student payments
• This will ensure that student loan repayments do not outstrip wages
growth.
• This measure implements a recommendation from the Universities
Accord Final Report and will benefit nearly 3 million people with a
student debt.
• The Government has also announced the Commonwealth
Practicum Support (CPS) payment of $319.50 per week for higher
education and Vocational Education and Training (VET) students
undertaking supervised mandatory placements in nursing, teaching
and social work.
• Students who rely on Commonwealth Rent Assistance will receive
a 10 per cent increase to the payment—this is in addition to the
15 per cent increase in September last year.
• Under the Government’s 2023-24 Budget measures, students have
been receiving an extra $40 increase a fortnight since
20 September 2023.
• The combination of the $40 per fortnight increase and regular
indexation has seen a significant dollar increase in student
payment rates, up to $76.20 per fortnight over the last 15 months.
• Since Labor came to Government 2 years ago, the rate of Youth
Allowance for a student who is single, living away from home, with
no dependents (for example), has increased by around 20 per cent.
• The Government remains committed to considering the rate of
income support payments at every Budget.
2
OFFICIAL
Universities Accord and student payments
If asked about the Isolated Children’s Parents Association’s call for a
$4,000 boost to the Assistance for Isolated Children’s Boarding
Allowance?
• The Australian Government recognises that regional and remote
families face particular barriers to education including the costs
associated with sending their children away to study at boarding
schools.
• The intent of the Assistance for Isolated Children Basic Boarding
Allowance is to help families with expenses associated with
boarding — it is not intended to cover the boarding costs at all
boarding schools.
• The AIC provides up to $12,816 per year to support boarding costs.
• AIC boarding allowances are indexed each year on 1 January, in
line with the CPI increases.
• In addition to AIC Scheme allowances, there are state and territory
supports available to help geographically isolated students and
their families with the costs of accessing education.
CONTACT NAME: Caroline Stevens
POSITION: A/g Branch Manager, Carer, Disability and
Student Payments Branch
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 3 June 2024
3
OFFICIAL
Universities Accord and student payments
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• A student payment is generally only payable where an individual is
undertaking 75 per cent or more of a full-time study load.
• Student payments are based on the principle that financial support for
students is a shared responsibility between parents (where considered
dependent), the Government and students themselves.
• Students aged under 22 years are generally considered financially
dependent on their parents and are subject to both parental and personal
means testing. Parental means testing ensures that young people in similar
circumstances have similar entitlements.
• The Parental Income Free Area is the amount of combined income a family
can earn in the base tax year before the student’s rate of payment begins to
reduce. As at 1 January 2024, the Parental Income Free Area is $62,635.
Universities Accord Final Report
• Recommendation 16 of the Universities Accord Final Report aimed to reduce
the long term costs of studying by seeking to reform the current student loan
system.
• The new Budget measure will lower the indexation of HELP debts to limit
indexation to either the lower of Wage Price Index (WPI) or the Consumer
Price Index (CPI). Currently income-contingent student loans are indexed
each year based on CPI only. During periods of high inflation this can result
in unusually high indexation rates, such as the increase in June 2023.
• Two income contingent loans within with social security portfolio, the SSL
and the SFSS), use the same indexation and repayment arrangements as
the HELP system and will be impacted by the change.
• The CPS payment, which will delivered from 1 July 2025, will be treated as
income for means testing purposes in the social security system.
• Students in receipt of the CPS may still be eligible for student payments due
to generous income free areas and current income bank/working credit
arrangements.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Caroline Stevens, A/g Branch Manager,
Carer, Disability and Student Payments
Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation
position):
and Family Payments Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
3 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
4
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 55
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB24-000006
IT issues affecting the Targeted Compliance Framework penalty
zone for working age payment recipients in Workforce Australia
and Disability Employment Services
Issue
Have income support payment recipients been incorrectly penalised
while engaging with employment services?
Headline response
The Government takes this matter seriously. The Department of
Employment and Workplace Relations and Services Australia is
progressing all back payments as soon as possible, and is
monitoring the compliance system to ensure it operates
appropriately and correctly.
TALKING POINTS
• The Government takes the accuracy of compliance activity very
seriously.
• I am aware that in August 2023, the Department of Employment
and Workplace Relations identified 2 IT issues that meant incorrect
financial penalties were applied to some job seekers participating in
employment service programs.
• This applied to recipients participating in Workforce Australia,
which is the responsibility of the Minister for Employment, and
Disability Employment Services, which I am responsible for.
• The IT errors have been rectified. I understand that a manual
process was implemented immediately to address the issue and
avoid any further people being adversely impacted.
• Where possible, action was taken to immediately pay back affected
people.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and
Services Australia are working together to progress back-payments
for all remaining individuals who incorrectly received financial
penalties. These people will be contacted directly.
If ASKED – How many people were affected, and how much were
they penalised?
• The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has
advised that around 1,200 working age payments recipients
participating in employment service programs have been impacted
by the IT issues.
• Around 40 recipients participating in Disability Employment
Services are affected and my Department is working closely with
the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and
Services Australia on the response.
• The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and
Services Australia are progressing work to quantify how much the
individuals were penalised.
If ASKED - What is being done to repay affected people?
• The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and
Services Australia are progressing arrangements for remediation
payments to affected individuals.
• As at 17 May 2024, 879 impacted individuals have received a
back-payment totalling approximately $548,003.
If ASKED - What is the Government doing to ensure income support
payment recipients are never incorrectly penalised?
• The Government takes this matter seriously.
• The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
undertakes ongoing monitoring of the application of the Targeted
Compliance Framework to ensure it is applied appropriately and
correctly.
CONTACT NAME: Katrina Chatham
POSITION: Branch Manager, Participation and
Supplementary Payments
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 28 May 2024
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
• The two information technology system issues identified by the Department
of Employment and Workplace Relations resulted in some participants’ time
in the Targeted Compliance Framework (TCF) Penalty Zone being extended
beyond what it should have been. This resulted in financial penalties being
applied incorrectly.
• There are two main mechanisms for back-payments:
- Participants that were affected by the application of incorrect penalties in
the 13 weeks before the error was identified have received back-payment
via usual assurance processes by Services Australia.
- The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations is working on
the mechanism for making back payments to the remaining impacted
individuals, for instance through Compensation for Detriment caused by
Defective Administration or Act of Grace arrangements.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Katrina Chatham, Branch Manager,
Participation and Supplementary Payments
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation
position):
and Family Payments
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Kellie Spence, Group Manager, Disability
position):
Employment
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
28 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
3
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 56
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB24-000025
*NEW* Portfolio Cost of Living
Issue
What is the Government doing to address the cost of living?
Headline response
The Government will always do what we can for people where it is
responsible and affordable.
As part of the 2024-25 Budget, the Government is providing
responsible and targeted support to help Australians with cost of
living pressures.
TALKING POINTS
• As part of the 2024-25 Budget, the Government announced
changes to income support payments, including support for the
most vulnerable Australians.
• The Government is investing $1.9 billion to increase the maximum
rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 10 per cent.
• $41.2 million is being invested to expand eligibility for the higher
rate of JobSeeker Payment for recipients with a Partial Capacity to
Work (0-14 hours per week). Combined with a higher rate of
Energy Supplement, eligible recipients will receive an increase to
their rate of payment of at least $54.90 per fortnight.
• The Government is freezing social security deeming rates at their
current levels for a further 12 months to 30 June 2025.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• $18.6 million is being invested to change the 25 hour per week rule
for Carer Payment recipients to instead allow up to 100 hours work
over a 4 week period and remove the restrictions on study,
volunteering and travel for work.
• These measures build on the Government’s income support
measures from the 2023-24 Budget, including the increase to
working age and student payments by $40 per fortnight, and the
increase of Commonwealth Rent Assistance maximum rates by
15 per cent.
• Since the Government was elected in May 2022, the basic single
rate of JobSeeker Payment has increased by $120 per fortnight, or
18.7 per cent, providing over $3,100 in additional support each
year.
• As part of the 2024-25 Budget the Government is also providing
$1.1 billion to strengthen Australia’s Government funded Paid
Parental Leave scheme and help to improve women’s retirement
outcomes.
o Superannuation will be paid on Government-funded Paid
Parental Leave for births or adoptions on or after 1 July 2025.
o This initiative builds on the Government’s $1.2 billion
investment from 2022-23 to 2026-27 to enhance the Paid
Parental Leave scheme which will expand by two weeks each
year from 1 July 2024 to reach a total of 26 weeks by
1 July 2026.
• The Government is also boosting funding to support Australians in
financial distress and to build financial resilience over the longer
term. This includes extra $114.8 million over five years and
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
ongoing funding to respond to sustained high demand for services,
including emergency relief and financial counselling.
• Building on this investment, the 2024-25 Budget provides $23
million over four years and ongoing funding to provide more pre-
crisis and early intervention supports.
• These investments are a clear illustration of the Government’s
ongoing dedication to be responsive in times of crisis, and to
support individuals before they get to crisis point.
• The Government’s $100 million Outcomes Fund will be established
from 2024-25 to fund projects that support communities
experiencing entrenched disadvantage. Projects will be funded on
achieving outcomes.
o The Fund will focus on 3 areas: improving outcomes for
children and families; helping those experiencing barriers to
employment; and improving access to services for people
facing or experiencing homelessness.
• The Albanese Government will always look to provide support
where we can to those most in need, where it is responsible and
affordable to do so, and weighed up against other priorities and
fiscal challenges.
CONTACT NAME: Katrina Chatham
POSITION: Branch Manager, Participation and
Supplementary Payments
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 15 May 2024
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Katrina Chatham, Branch Manager,
Participation and Supplementary Payments
Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation
position):
and Family Payments Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
15 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
3
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 57
NZYQ High Court Decision
QB24-000009
NZYQ decision and social security payments
Issue
Is the Government giving social security payments to people
released from immigration detention due to the NZYQ High Court
decision?
Headline response
Individuals impacted by the NZYQ High Court decision who are
granted a subclass 070 (Bridging (Removal Pending) visa may
receive Special Benefit and certain supplementary payments.
This is consistent with existing provisions in social security law and
no legislative or policy changes have been made to longstanding
social security rules for these cohorts.
TALKING POINTS
• I am aware that some people impacted by the NZYQ High Court
decision have been granted Special Benefit payment, consistent
with longstanding social security rules.
• Special Benefit is an income support payment for Australian
residents and holders of certain temporary visas who are in
financial hardship and are ineligible for any other income support
payment.
1
OFFICIAL
NZYQ High Court Decision
• The rate of payment is equivalent to the rate of JobSeeker
Payment for recipients 22 years and over and Youth Allowance for
recipients under 22 years (including the basic rate and Energy
Supplement).
• Depending on their circumstances, subclass 070 visa holders may
also receive Family Tax Benefit and supplementary payments such
as Commonwealth Rent Assistance, Pharmaceutical Allowance
and Remote Area Allowance.
• In addition, Special Benefit recipients receive a Health Care Card
that entitles them to cheaper prescription medicines under the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
• These recipients have been granted payment in accordance with
existing social security law.
If ASKED – how many individuals impacted by the High Court
decision are being paid Special Benefit?
• As at 26 April 2024:
- Around 120 individuals impacted by the High Court decision are
receiving Special Benefit.
- There are around 2,000 Special Benefit recipients with a
temporary visa, of which around 150 have a subclass 070 visa.
- There are around 6,500 Special Benefit recipients.
CONTACT NAME: Katrina Chatham
POSITION: Branch Manager, Participation and
Supplementary Payments Branch
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 9 May 2024
2
OFFICIAL
NZYQ High Court Decision
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
High Court Decision
• On 8 November 2023, the High Court decision in NZYQ v Minister for
Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs required the release from
immigration detention of NZYQ on the basis that his detention was unlawful.
• Around 150 individuals have been released from immigration detention due
to this High Court decision.
Special Benefit eligibility
• To be eligible for Special Benefit a person must be:
o ineligible for any other income support payment;
o unable to earn a sufficient livelihood, for example, unemployed;
o an Australian resident (that is, an Australian citizen or permanent
resident) or the holder of certain temporary visas; and
o in financial hardship.
• Special Benefit claimants are generally subject to the Newly Arrived
Resident’s Waiting Period (NARWP) of 208 weeks. Subclass 070 visa
holders, including those affected by the High Court decision, are exempt
from the NARWP.
• As at 26 April 2024, the total number of subclass 070 visa holders receiving
Special Benefit is around 150.
• People of workforce age and capability are required to satisfy mutual
obligation requirements (exemptions may apply).
• A Special Benefit claimant is regarded as being in financial hardship if their
liquid assets are below the relevant available funds test.
o No more than the applicable fortnightly JobSeeker Payment or Youth
Allowance rate for people who are likely to require payment for less
than 3 months.
o No more than $5,000 for people who are likely to require payment for
3 months or more.
• The below table provides the breakdown of recipients on 26 April 2024 by
temporary visa class and total population (numbers rounded to nearest 5).
Visa Subclass
Total
Subclass 060 – Bridging Visa F
10
Subclass 070 – Bridging (Removal Pending)
150
Subclass 309 – Partner (Provisional)
60
Subclass 449 – Humanitarian Stay (Temporary)
35
Subclass 785 – Temporary Protection
145
Subclass 786 – Temporary (Humanitarian Concern)
1,140
Subclass 790 – Safe Haven Enterprise
355
Subclass 820 – Partner
155
TOTAL TEMPORARY VISA POPULATION
2,050
TOTAL SPECIAL BENEFIT POPULATION
6,545
3
OFFICIAL
NZYQ High Court Decision
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Katrina Chatham
Branch Manager, Participation &
Supplementary Payments Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation
position):
and Family Payments Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
9 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
4
FOI LEX 51051
Social Security System and FDV
Document 58
QB22-000115
Social Security System and Family and Domestic Violence
Issue
What is the Government doing to ensure that the social security
system supports victims and survivors of family and domestic
violence?
Headline response
Australia’s social security system supports victims and survivors to
not only leave a violent relationship, but to establish a life free from
violence.
The social security system provides assistance through a range of
payments, such as the Crisis Payment, and policies and support for
victims and survivors.
We are committed to making sure that awareness of family and
domestic violence is embedded in our processes from the
beginning.
TALKING POINTS
• Arrangements in the social security system to assist people who
have experienced family or domestic violence include:
o Crisis Payment for income support recipients who are victims
of family and domestic violence.
o Priority claim processing and Social Worker support.
o Exemptions from mutual obligation requirements and partner
assets tests.
1
Modified: 8/5/2024
Social Security System and FDV
• Amendments to the Social Security Guide were made in May 2023
to further aid Services Australia staff to support those impacted by
family and domestic violence, act flexibly when assessing payment
eligibility and determining whether a person is a member of
a couple for the purposes of payment assessment.
• These changes are the result of meaningful consultation with
advocacy groups and the community sector.
• The Government is committed to ensuring that the needs of women
and children experiencing family and domestic violence are taken
into account in the delivery of government services.
• The social security system is one potential lever but needs to be
considered in the broader context of supports available to women
not only to leave a violent relationship, but to establish a life free
from violence and start the journey towards recovery and healing.
• This includes the range of activities undertaken under the National
Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022- 2032,
including the newly announced Leaving Violence Program that will
make permanent financial support for victim-survivors leaving
intimate partner violence.
• Other supports available include the Escaping Violence Payment,
accommodation assistance and counselling and support.
• On 16 August 2023, the Australian Government launched the First
Action Plan 2023-2027, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Action Plan 2023-25, the Outcomes Framework 2023-2032 and
Theory of Change 2023-2032.
• On 7 November 2023, the Government announced it is investing
$15 million over 5 years in First Nations-led research on family and
domestic violence.
2
Modified: 8/5/2024
Social Security System and FDV
• The Government has invested over $3 billion towards the achieving
the outcomes of the National Plan across the 2022-23 and 2023-24
Budgets. This includes:
o $169.4 million for 500 new frontline service and community
workers to assist women and children experiencing violence,
o $100 million for crisis and transitional housing options for
women and children leaving family and domestic violence and
older women at risk of homelessness,
o Providing access to 10 days paid family and domestic
violence leave per year and $3.4 million to support small
business implement paid family and domestic violence leave.
If ASKED – Is it reasonable to expect victim and survivors of family
and domestic violence to claim Crisis Payment within seven days of a
traumatic event?
• While legislation requires that a person has 7 days from this
traumatic event to lodge a claim for Crisis Payment, there is
flexibility to support people in this circumstance. Services Australia
provides an additional 14 days after contact to lodge a claim if they
have experienced domestic or family violence.
If ASKED – Does Services Australia pursue victims of domestic
violence for debts caused by their abusive partner?
• Services Australia considers family and domestic violence when
determining whether there are special circumstances to waive the
debt. This is set out in the Guide to Social Security Law.
CONTACT NAME: Katrina Chatham
POSITION: Branch Manager, Participation and
Supplementary Payments Branch
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 8 May 2024
3
Modified: 8/5/2024
Social Security System and FDV
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Social Security Guide
• Amendments made in May 2023 to the
Social Security Act 1991 clarified
how the circumstances of victims of family, domestic and sexual violence
should be considered in the administration of member of a couple
considerations.
• Amendments to the Social Security Guide in November 2023 clarified the
definition of family and domestic violence to be clearer of the scope of family
and domestic violence including that sexual violence should be considered in
the administration of member of a couple considerations.
Crisis Payment
• Crisis Payment is a one-off payment available to income support recipients
who are in severe financial hardship and have experienced an extreme
circumstance such as family or domestic violence and have changed their
living arrangements.
• The rate of Crisis Payment is equal to one week of a person’s maximum
basic rate of income support. For example, a Parenting Payment Single
recipient would be paid $479.70.
• From 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024, 21,427Crisis Payment grants were
made to those who changed their living arrangements due to family
or domestic violence.
Support for victims/survivors of family and domestic violence who have a
Social Security debt
• If a person is experiencing or has experienced family or domestic violence
and has a social security debt, they can contact Services Australia for a
review of their debt.
• Family and domestic violence is identified in the Guide to Social Security
Law as a factor to consider when determining if special circumstances exist
that make it desirable to waive a debt.
• If repayment arrangements could potentially cause financial hardship,
Services Australia will work with the individual to discuss the range of options
available to repay the debt. These include temporarily pausing the debt and
lowering repayment options.
• Services Australia has social workers available who can assist people
experiencing family or domestic violence and make referrals to other
community organisations.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Katrina Chatham
Branch Manager, Participation &
Supplementary Payments Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Ben Peoples, Group Manager, Participation
position):
and Family Payments Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
8 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
4
Modified: 8/5/2024
FOI LEX 51051
CRA
Document 59
QB22-000113
Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA)
Issue
Has the Government increase in Commonwealth Rent Assistance
improved rental affordability?
Headline response
• The Government recognises many people are struggling with
rising rents.
• That is why we are investing $1.9 billion over 5 years from
2023-24 to further increase the maximum rates of Commonwealth
Rent Assistance (CRA) by 10 per cent.
• This builds on the Government’s increase to maximum rates in
the last Budget and is the first back-to-back increase to rent
assistance in over 30 years.
• Around 930,000 households will benefit from the additional
10 per cent increase. Single person households can benefit by up
to $18.80 per fortnight and families with children can benefit by up
to $25.06 per fortnight.
• Subject to the passage of legislation, this change will commence
from 20 September 2024. On top of this increase, CRA will also
be indexed on 20 September this year in line with the usual
schedule.
• This further increase means that, combined with indexation, by
20 September 2024 maximum rates of Rent Assistance will have
increased by 42 per cent since March 2022.
1
Modified: 20/6/2024
CRA
• Our increase to Rent Assistance has contributed to easing the
costs of rent for households. In the year to the March quarter
2024, rental prices as measured in the CPI rose 7.8 per cent, and
would have risen 9.5 per cent without the largest increase to Rent
Assistance in 30 years.
• We’re not suggesting this increase alone with solve rental stress
in this country. But it is helping to take the sting out of rising rents
and is working alongside other cost of living relief. For many
people on income support, more Rent Assistance works in
tandem with the $40 increase to eligible working-age and student
payments, energy bill relief and cheaper medicines.
• It’s also important to remember that Rent Assistance is just one
piece of the puzzle when it comes to improving rental and
housing affordability.
• The best solution over the longer-term is to increase housing
supply, and that has been a key focus of our Government.
• We are taking action on multiple fronts. Our ambitious housing
agenda includes:
o the $10 billion
Housing Australia Future Fund, that will
support the delivery of 30,000 new social and affordable
homes over its first five years.
o the
National Housing Accord to support planning and
zoning reforms, as well as investing $350 million to deliver
10,000 affordable rental homes over five years from 2024 –
matched by the state and territories;
2
Modified: 20/6/2024
CRA
o providing state and territories $2 billion through the
Social
Housing Accelerator to deliver thousands of social homes
across Australia;
o $3 billion through the
New Homes Bonus to help incentivise
states and territories to build more homes to meet a new
national target of 1.2 million new homes over five years;
o a $500 million
Housing Support Program for initiatives to
help kick start housing supply including connecting essential
services, amenities to support new housing development or
building planning capability;
o a
National Planning Reform Blueprint with planning,
zoning, land release and other measures to improve housing
supply and affordability;
o a
Better Deal for Renters to harmonise and strengthen
renters’ rights across Australia; and
o incentives to increase the supply of rental housing by
improving arrangements for investments in build-to-rent
accommodation.
On 31 May 2024, the Australian Government signed the new
$9.3 billion 5-year National Agreement on Social Housing
and Homelessness (NASHH) with states and territories
(states) to help people who are experiencing, or at risk of,
homelessness and support the effective operation of
Australia’s social housing and homelessness services
sectors.
3
Modified: 20/6/2024
CRA
o $1 billion directed towards crisis and transitional
accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic
violence, and youth under the National Housing
Infrastructure Facility. This includes increasing the
proportion of grants for this investment from $175 million to
$700 million.
o $1 billion to get homes built sooner, with funding for states to
build the roads, sewers, energy, water and community
infrastructure that we need for new homes and for additional
social housing supply.
• The Albanese Government wants every Australian to have safe
and secure housing and we haven’t wasted any time in working to
deliver our important reforms.
IF ASKED — Why is the Government investing in this measure?
• CRA is the most effective policy lever the Government has to target
and provide immediate assistance for low income households.
IF ASKED — Why are the maximum rates only going up by
10 per cent, isn’t a larger increase required?
• A 10 per cent increase in maximum rates needs to be considered
in the context of the 15 per cent increase in maximum rates in the
2023-24 Budget.
• When including the 10 per cent increase, maximum fortnightly rates
of CRA will have increased by at least $61.20 for single person
households and $81.34 for households with 3 or more children
since March 2022.
4
Modified: 20/6/2024
CRA
IF ASKED — Won’t the CRA increase cause inflation in the rental
market and flow onto landlords?
• We’ve carefully designed our support to renters to limit broader
market pressures.
• The reason rents are going up in this country is not because people
are getting too much rent assistance. Increasing rents reflect a
number of factors in the broader market, including low vacancy
rates and a limited supply of housing. This is why the Australian
Government has committed to improving renter’s rights and
increasing the supply of social, affordable and private housing.
CONTACT NAME: Gillian Beer
POSITION: Branch Manager
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 25 June 2024
5
Modified: 20/6/2024
CRA
BACKGROUND
CRA Maximum Payment Rates
Primary
Maximum Maximum Impact of Increase
payment
Family
Maximum
payment payment
10 per
to
situation
payment
20
March
cent
maximum
20 March September 2024
increase
payment
2022
2023
(with 10
since
(15 per cent per cent
March
increase)
increase)1
2022
Rates that
Single, no
$145.80
$184.80
$207.00
$18.80
$61.20
apply where children
CRA is paid
Single,
$97.20
$123.20
$138.00
$12.53
$40.80
with income sharer, no
support
children
payments
Couple, no
$137.40
$174.00
$195.00
$17.80
$57.60
children
Couple,
$145.80
$184.80
$207.00
$18.80
$61.20
illness
separated
Couple,
$137.40
$174.00
$195.00
$17.80
$57.60
temporarily
separated
Rates that
Single 1 or 2
$171.50
$217.28
$243.32
$22.12
$71.82
apply where children
CRA is paid
Single 3 or
$193.62
$245.42
$274.96
$25.06
$81.34
with Family more
Tax Benefit
children
Couple 1 or
$171.50
$217.28
$243.32
$22.12
$71.82
2 children
Couple 3 or
$193.62
$245.42
$274.96
$25.06
$81.34
more
children
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Gillian Beer, Branch Manager,
Payment Structures and Seniors
Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include position): Kath Paton, A/g Group Manager
Pensions, Housing and Homelessness
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
25 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
1 This does not represent the increase to CRA expected to occur on 20 September as it does not include the impact of indexation. These are calculated
by increasing March 2024 rates by 10 per cent and the usual rounding rules have been applied. CRA rates continue to be indexed by CPI in September
and March every year.
6
Modified: 20/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
FDV Housing
Document 60
QB22-000052
Family and Domestic Violence Housing
Issue
What is the Government doing in regards to crisis and emergency
accommodation for women and children experiencing domestic and
family violence?
Headline response
Family and domestic violence (FDV) is one of the leading causes
of homelessness for women and children.
The Government has made significant investments to address this
issue. This includes:
• $172.6 million over 7 years for the Safe Places Emergency
Accommodation Program (Safe Places) to build, renovate
or purchase emergency accommodation to support women
and children experiencing family and domestic violence; and
• $100 million over 5 years under the Housing Australia Future
Fund, for crisis and transitional housing for women and
children experiencing FDV and older women at risk of
homelessness.
In addition, the Government will target the $1 billion increase to the
National Housing Infrastructure Facility towards crisis and
transitional accommodation for women and children experiencing
FDV, and youth.
1
Modified: 19/6/2024
FDV Housing
Safe Places
• The Safe Places Inclusion Round is a measure under the
National
Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32, and
will provide up to 720 new safe places, bringing the total number
of safe places to be delivered by the program to around 1,500.
• The Inclusion Round will increase the number of new and
appropriate crisis or emergency accommodation places for
▪ First Nations women and children,
▪ women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds, and
▪ women and children with disability.
• My department engaged with states and territories, sector
stakeholders and victim-survivors to inform the design of the Safe
Places Inclusion Round to ensure it meets the needs of women
and children experiencing family and domestic violence.
• The grant opportunity opened on 21 September 2023 and closed
on 14 November 2023.
• All grantees will be responsible for securing funding to support the
dwellings operations, FDV specialist services, and ongoing
maintenance of the facility.
• It is expected successful projects will commence from mid-2024.
Construction completion dates will vary depending on the
requirements of each project, but it is expected all projects will
be complete and delivering services by no later than 30 June 2027.
2
Modified: 19/6/2024
FDV Housing
• States are responsible for the provision of day-to-day housing and
homelessness services, and delivering frontline family and
domestic violence services.
However, the Government is providing up to
$270.7 million for
a 2 year National Partnership on Family, Domestic and Sexual
Violence Responses (2021-23) with state and territory
governments to support frontline family, domestic and sexual
violence services and to trial new initiatives to support women
and children experiencing violence.
The Government has also committed $169.4 million in funding
for new frontline and community sector workers who can provide
support to women and children experiencing violence.
Crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children under the
Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF)
• Under the HAFF, the Australian Government has committed $100
million over 5 years for crisis and transitional housing for women
and children experiencing FDV and older women at risk of
homelessness.
• This commitment will be delivered via a capital works grant
program funding the building, renovation or purchase of new or
expanded crisis and transitional accommodation.
• The capital works grant program is anticipated to open in mid-2024,
with projects commencing from early 2025.
Safe Places Round 1
• The first round of Safe Places program grant funding is delivering
around
779 new safe places assisting up to
6,047 women and
children experiencing family and domestic violence each year.
3
Modified: 19/6/2024
FDV Housing
•
Twenty-seven projects are operational, these projects are
providing around
499 new safe places assisting up to
4,225 women
and children experiencing family and domestic violence each year.
• The remaining safe places projects are expected to become
available through to the end of June 2025.
IF ASKED: Media coverage relating to the Douglas Shire Council Safe
Places project being empty due to a lack of operational funding:
• I am aware that the Douglas Shire Council (DSC) experienced
delays in securing operational funding to operate its completed
Safe Places project in Mossman, in Far North Queensland.
• DSC is working closely with the Queensland Department of Justice
and Attorney-General (DJAG). DJAG has selected a specialist
service provider, Warringu, and estimated tenancy is anticipated in
the coming weeks.
• The federal government does not provide operational funding as
Safe Places projects are a partnership between federal
governments, and other enterprises, which may include state
governments, community housing providers and philanthropic
entities.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Marcela Bonilla
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By:
Kath Paton, A/g Group Manager, Pensions,
Housing and Homelessness
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
19 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
24 June 2024
4
Modified: 19/6/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 61
Veterans’ Income Support
QB24-000013
Military Invalidity Payments Means Testing
Issue
What is the Government doing in response to the impact of the
Douglas decision on income support payments for veterans?
Headline response
• The Government has ensured there is a clear basis for assessing
income from certain military invalidity benefits for people who also
receive income support under social security or veterans’
entitlements law.
• Amendments to social security legislation contained in the Social
Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Military Invalidity
Payments Means Testing) Bill 2024 passed the Senate on 16
May 2024. The Bill is currently waiting to receive Royal Assent.
TALKING POINTS
• Due to the Full Federal Court’s 2020 decision in
Commissioner of
Taxation
v Douglas (the
Douglas decision), there was
no clear
way to assess income from certain military invalidity benefits when
people also seek assistance through the income support system.
• This issue affected the means test for income support payments
under the
Social Security Act 1991 and the
Veterans’ Entitlements
Act 1986.
• The recently passed amendments
give veterans certainty about
the way their income support payment rates are determined
through means testing.
• The amendments ensure veterans and their partners will continue
to be paid any income support payment they receive at a rate that
is:
-
consistent with the intent of policy and law prior to the
Douglas decision; and
-
consistent with entitlements for other income support
recipients, including other veterans who receive retirement
benefits from the same military superannuation schemes.
1
OFFICIAL
Veterans’ Income Support
• In almost every case, there will be
no change to the rate of
income support veterans or their partners are currently receiving.
• Our income support system provides targeted support to those who
need it, based on their means and circumstances. A key principle
of the system is that it aims to provide
similar levels of support to
people with similar means of supporting themselves.
• The amendments maintain equity in the income support system by
clearly defining how the relevant invalidity benefit payments are
means-tested,
in line with the way similar sources of income
are assessed for other income support recipients – including other
veterans.
If ASKED – why were legislative changes required?
• The main findings of the
Douglas decision relate to the way the
relevant military invalidity benefits are taxed.
• Further analysis showed the decision meant these invalidity
benefits could no longer be considered “asset-test exempt defined
benefit income streams” under social security and veterans’
entitlements law.
• This disrupted the longstanding treatment of these payments in the
means test for income support.
• The amendments in the Bill introduce a new classification under
the Social Security Act and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act that
ensures veterans and their partners continue to receive the same
level of income support as they did
prior to the impact of the
Douglas decision.
2
OFFICIAL
Veterans’ Income Support
If ASKED – who is affected by the changes in the Bill?
• Around 850 veterans, or partners of veterans, receiving the
relevant military invalidity benefits are also currently getting an
income support payment under the Social Security Act or the
Veterans’ Entitlements Act.
• In almost every case, there will be no change to the income
support rate received by these veterans, or their partners.
• While more than 16,000 veterans in total are receiving these
invalidity benefits, they provide income at a rate that usually means
a person cannot receive income support.
• The relevant invalidity benefits are those made under the Defence
Force Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme and the Military and
Superannuation Benefits Scheme.
If ASKED – why did it take so long for the Government to address this
issue?
• The
Douglas decision is highly complex. It took considerable time
to identify and clarify that the Federal Court’s findings have
additional impacts for the Social Security Act and Veterans’
Entitlements Act.
If ASKED – is anyone worse off from the changes?
• A very small number of individuals are receiving an income support
payment at a rate higher than they will be entitled to receive after
this Bill takes effect.
• This is because of Administrative Appeal Tribunal (AAT) processes
since the
Douglas decision was handed down.
• The Tribunal’s decisions had to be made in the context of the
Douglas decision and the uncertainty of its impact on the social
security means test.
• And there was genuine uncertainty about the right way to interpret
the relevant provisions in legislation. Decisions at the AAT since
Douglas have been inconsistent because the law is genuinely
unclear in light in the
Douglas decision.
• That is why the Government needed to pass the amendments.
3
OFFICIAL
Veterans’ Income Support
• These individuals’ income support rates are in the process of being
reset to a level consistent with what was always intended by policy
and legislation, and that is consistent with entitlements for other
veterans.
• No debts will be incurred by these individuals.
If ASKED – 8 May 2024 email to all Senators and Members from
Bradley Campbell and Peter Thornton
• I would like to acknowledge the email and also the Senate
Committee Inquiry Submission from Mr Campbell and Mr Thornton,
who are longstanding advocates for changes to the way invalidity
pensions paid by public sector superannuation schemes – not just
military schemes – are treated in the tax system.
• Their email
reiterated arguments from their extensive written
and verbal evidence to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation
Committee’s inquiry into the Bill.
• The Committee considered these arguments about tax
arrangements to be
outside the scope of its inquiry into the Bill
and recommended the Bill be passed.
• While the
Douglas decision focused on the way military invalidity
benefits are taxed,
the amendments in the Bill are not about tax
arrangements.
• What the amendments do is address the additional, unexpected
impact of the
Douglas decision on
means testing in the income
support system.
• The amendments address the uncertainty created by the
Douglas
decision by ensuring a
clear basis in legislation for the way
military invalidity pensions are assessed in the means test.
• In light of
Douglas, the law was genuinely unclear. That is why the
Bill was necessary.
CONTACT NAME: Gillian Beer
POSITION: Branch Manager
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 28 May 2024
4
OFFICIAL
Veterans’ Income Support
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Other Government responses to the Douglas decision
• The Government’s 2023 amendments to tax legislation ensure veterans
retain the income tax benefits of the
Douglas decision and the flow-on
benefits of changes in their taxable income in areas such as Family Tax
Benefit and child care subsidy. A new annual tax rebate protects the small
number of veterans who pay more tax on a fortnightly basis as a result of the
decision.
• The Government has also prevented adverse impacts on veterans with child
support obligations (or their ex partners) by recognising the
Douglas decision
as a special circumstance and proactively remediating any child support
debts caused by changes to taxable income through an Act of Grace
strategy.
New treatment for the relevant invalidity benefits under the changes in the
Bill
• The Bill creates a new category of ‘military invalidity pension income stream’
in the Social Security Act and Veterans’ Entitlements Act.
• The new treatment produces the same outcome in the means test as the
previous treatment did before the impact of the
Douglas decision.
o It does this by ensuring the changes to the way the payments are taxed
and how they are classified in superannuation regulations do not affect
the outcome of the means test.
• The amendments also validate past means test assessments that may have
been invalid in light of the
Douglas decision.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Gillian Beer, Branch Manager, Payment
Structures and Seniors Branch
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Troy Sloan, Group Manager, Pensions
position):
Housing and Homelessness Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
28 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
5
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 62
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
QB23-000040
Income Apportionment
Issue
What is the Government doing in response to Income
Apportionment, as identified in the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s
public statements “
Lessons in lawfulness” and “
Accountability in
Action”?
Headline response
• The Department of Social Services and Services Australia have
accepted or partially accepted all the recommendations made by
the Ombudsman in both public statements. Since before the
release of the Ombudsman’s first investigation, significant and
complex work has been undertaken.
• As part of this work, on 30 October 2023, Services Australia
paused the recovery of pre-December 2020 debts related to
employment income. Further debts potentially affected by income
apportionment were identified and paused on 11 April 2024. The
Department, in consultation with Services Australia, is working
towards resolving the issue.
TALKING POINTS
• Income apportionment is a historical practice which applied to
individuals prior to December 2020 who received both income
support and employment income over their instalment periods. It is
not a method used to calculate income support payments today
due to changes in the legislation in December 2020 that simplified
income reporting.
1
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
• The Government has directed the Department of Social Services
and Services Australia to resolve this matter as a priority.
• Some complex legal and policy issues remain. These will take
some further time to clarify. My Department is working through
these issues as quickly as possible with assistance from Senior
Counsel and the Attorney General’s Portfolio.
• Importantly, in September 2021 Services Australia paused raising
debts and internal reviews that may be affected by this issue, and
in October 2023 paused the recovery of debts potentially affected
by this issue. Further debts under recovery potentially affected by
income apportionment were identified and paused on
11 April 2024.
October 2023 Pause of Income Apportioned Debts
• The pause on recovery of potentially income apportion related
debts applies to approximately 112,000 debts, for 86,000 people
(some people have multiple debts).
• This does not mean debts have been waived, only that recovery
has been paused.
• It is not possible to separate pre 7 December 2020 employment
income related debts raised using income apportionment from
other debts, without a manual and time-consuming investigation of
every debt. As such, the pause will initially apply to all employment
income related debts with pre 7 December 2020 income amounts.
2
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
• Services Australia has written to affected people whose debts have
been paused. Text messages were sent between 31 October and
3 November 2023 to alert people about the pause.
• From 6 November 2023, Services Australia commenced sending
people a letter, with more detail on their specific paused debts.
April 2024 Pause of Income Apportioned Debts
• Since the initial pause on debt recovery, additional cohorts of debts
have been identified that may be impacted by income
apportionment. As a result, the scope of the debt recovery pause
has been expanded from 11 April 2024.
• Services Australia advised this expanded scope included 42,000
debts relating to 31,000 people.
• Services Australia has written to affected people. This includes
details of the specific debt(s) that have been paused.
• People concerned their debt is impacted by income apportionment
can contact the Services Australia debt recovery line on
1800 076 072 for an explanation or to request a review of their
debt.
Recommencement of internal reviews, explanations of decision and raising
of pre-December 2020 employment income debts
• Services Australia now have a methodology for calculating
employment income related debts prior to 7 December 2020.
• From 29 April 2024 Services Australia is recommencing certain
activities paused due to income apportionment, where appropriate,
in a staged manner.
3
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
• This recommencement will initially include formal reviews and
explanation of decisions relating to employment income debts that
occurred pre-December 2020.
• The pause on the recovery of debts potentially impacted by income
apportionment is not affected by this recommencement, and will
continue.
If ASKED – Is this Robodebt?
•
This issue is not the same as income averaging that was used
in Robodebt.
• Income apportionment used employment income reported on a
person’s payslips to determine an individual’s entitlement to social
security payments. This is not the same as the practice used in
Robodebt.
• In his first report, the Ombudsman recognised that “income
apportionment is different to income averaging that was at the
heart of Robodebt”
• Refer to
QB23-000034 for further detail on the Robodebt Royal
Commission.
4
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
If ASKED – How does income apportionment work?
• In simple terms, the practice applied to income received from at
least 2003 to December 2020. Where Centrelink fortnights did not
align with employer pay cycles, income was apportioned over the
Centrelink fortnightly period using payslips and other evidence to
calculate a daily income amount. That daily income amount was
then applied proportionally across two or more Centrelink
fortnights.
• Apportioning income across multiple Centrelink fortnights could
cause
over or under payments.
• This practice was not supported by the
Social Security Act 1991.
• The rules changed in December 2020. The 2020 reform
significantly improved the reporting and attribution of employment
income and therefore income apportionment has ceased and is no
longer used by Services Australia.
If ASKED - what changed in December 2020?
• The Social Security Act was amended by the
Social Services and
Other Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Income Reporting and
Other Measures) Act 2020, which introduced simplified income
reporting.
5
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
• This reform significantly improved the reporting and attribution of
employment income, so it is assessed once it is paid by the
employer to the social security recipient, rather than the individual
providing an estimate of how much employment income they
expected to earn during the fortnightly employment period.
If ASKED – What can I do if I have problems repaying a debt?
• Anyone with a Social Security debt who is experiencing difficulty in
repaying their debt is encouraged to contact Services Australia.
• Customers can self-manage their debt repayments through
contacting Services Australia, or online through their Services
Australia online account or ‘Money You Owe’ app.
If ASKED: Why is sampling being undertaken?
• My Department wrote to Services Australia on 14 July 2023,
requesting a sample of income apportioned debts to fully
understand the extent and impact of income apportionment.
• Sampling has confirmed that without income apportionment being
applied, debts would still exist in 98% of cases.
• The results of this sampling have been released under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (refer Background/Key Facts for
high level overview).
6
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
If ASKED - how long has the Department been aware of this
issue?
• This issue was first raised with my Department in October 2020,
although it was not identified as an income apportionment issue at
that time. My Department initially requested legal advice from the
Australian Government Solicitor. Services Australia subsequently
sought legal advice from Senior Counsel in relation to specific
cases in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The legal advice
sought to confirm the correct legal basis for assessing income
more broadly.
• As the Ombudsman has recognised, there is a degree of legal
complexity in this matter that has necessitated significant work for
the Department, Services Australia and legal providers.
If ASKED – about individual debt matters
• The Government has a responsibility, including to Australian
taxpayers, to take steps to recover debts owed. This is done fairly
and compassionately, with flexible debt repayment options
available based on people’s circumstances.
• I cannot discuss the details of individual cases.
• Any Australian who wants to query a debt matter should contact
Services Australia on 1800 076 072.
7
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
If ASKED – Why are two people in jail based on income
apportioned debts?
• Since 22 December 2023, no person remains in jail that had a
conviction that related to a debt which was impacted by income
apportionment. Their release from prison was a matter for the
relevant law enforcement authorities and was not related to income
apportionment.
• The criminal offences involve situations where the convicted
person intentionally and dishonestly failed to correctly declare their
income from employment and continued to receive social security
benefits to which they were not entitled.
• Prosecutions often involve tens of thousands of dollars, and in
some cases more than a hundred thousand dollars that the person
intentionally obtained in circumstances where they knew that they
were not entitled to receive that money.
• People are only referred by Services Australia to the
Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) for serious
cases that are supported by a brief of evidence, in accordance with
the prosecution policy of the Commonwealth.
• A prosecution results in a conviction because the nature of the
offending is so significant. People are never referred to the CDPP
for merely getting an overpayment.
8
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
• For example, a person may intentionally fail to correctly declare
their income from employment resulting in their receiving an
allowance or pension which they were not entitled to receive and,
in addition, that they knew or believed that they were not entitled to
receive. Income apportionment may affect the quantum of the
financial advantage obtained as a result of that conduct.
• Services Australia is working closely with CDPP to establish how
many past matters may be impacted by income apportionment.
If ASKED – Have the two people in jail been notified?
• The two people referred to at paragraph 1.10 of the
Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report
Accountability in Action:
identifying, owning and fixing errors have been notified by the
CDPP that their offences related to an overpayment of social
security payment and the amount of that overpayment was
calculated by Services Australia.
• The CDPP has taken proper steps to notify these individuals and
their legal representatives of the situation. They have been
informed the method of calculation of the overpayment in their case
was incorrect as the income was apportioned across fortnights and
not in accordance with the relevant legislation.
• The CDPP has also notified their legal representatives in the
prosecutions and the relevant Legal Aid offices.
• Under the criminal system, it is a matter for each person to obtain
legal advice about their situation.
9
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
If ASKED – How are other cases being handled where there has
been a conviction and the debt is affected by income
apportionment?
• For current matters, the CDPP:
•
ceased issuing criminal charges in briefs of evidence referred
to it where debts had been calculated using income
apportionment
•
initially paused affected cases before the Court; and
•
discontinued affected cases once advised by Services
Australia that it would take some time for Services Australia
and DSS to settle the correct method of debt calculation.
• For past cases, the CDPP:
•
wrote to individuals identified by Services Australia who had
active orders (eg ‘suspended sentences’ or recognisance
release orders) to advise them that their debts were impacted
by the income apportionment issue; and
•
will work closely with Services Australia and my Department to
manage disclosure obligations as past prosecutions affected
by income apportionment are identified. The CDPP will then
commence informing impacted individuals and/or their legal
representative.
If ASKED – Why have criminal prosecutions been dropped
because of income apportionment?
• The CDPP has discontinued current prosecutions for the following
reasons.
o while the method for calculating overpayments was being
settled, prosecutors were not able to accurately advise the
defence and the court of the quantum of the debt alleged as
part of the alleged offending. The quantum of the debt usually
forms part of the case against an individual and is usually
relevant to sentencing.
10
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
o In the absence of the precise quantum of the debt alleged
and because of the delay occasioned to individuals in having
their matters determined, the CDPP has discontinued current
prosecutions involving income apportionment in accordance
with the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth.
If ASKED – What are the specific offences that relate to these
convictions?
• The usual offences that persons are charged with for receiving
social security benefits to which they are not entitled are section
134.2 or 135.2 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code:
1.
Section 134.2 – Obtaining a financial advantage by
deception
2.
Section 135.2 – Obtaining financial advantage
• To prove these criminal charges other evidence is necessary
beyond the existence of a debt, for example, to prove a criminal
charge there must be conduct that supports proof of dishonesty
such as failure to advise that a person is working and earning
income when they are employed
.
If ASKED – What is the effect of the income apportioned debt on
convictions? Will convictions be quashed?
Prosecutions are very serious and where they result in a custodial
sentence this is because the nature of the offending is so
significant. People are never referred to the CDPP for
overpayments alone.
• The CDPP cannot definitively determine whether any individual has
been wrongfully convicted until: (a) Services Australia identifies the
individuals that are impacted by income apportionment; and (b) has
recalculated the debts that were the subject of prosecution.
11
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
If ASKED – Has anyone come forward to query whether their
conviction was affected by unlawful income apportionment?
• As a result of correspondence sent by the CDPP informing
individuals and/or their legal representatives that they/their client
are affected by the income apportionment issue, the CDPP has
advised that it has received queries as to whether their convictions
were affected.
If ASKED – If a convicted person’s debt was higher after being
recalculated, would the case be re-prosecuted?
• If a person has been convicted and the quantum of the debt
subsequently increases, the CDPP would not re prosecute for a
higher amount.
If ASKED – How can people appeal their criminal convictions?
• Individuals that wish to appeal their criminal convictions would
need to do so in accordance with the laws of the relevant State or
Territory in which the conviction occurred. These laws vary.
If ASKED – If there are costs associated with seeking legal
advice, who would bear those costs?
• Generally, individuals seeking legal advice bear these costs noting
legal aid or pro bono services may be available.
CONTACT NAME: Andrew Seebach
POSITION: Branch Manager
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 16/5/2024
12
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Background and Key Facts
• The Commonwealth Ombudsman has completed two own motion
investigations into Income Apportionment.
• On 2 August 2023 the Commonwealth Ombudsman released the first public
statement titled ‘
Lessons in Lawfulness’ that summarised the outcome of the
Ombudsman’s first investigation into income apportionment.
- This investigation focused on examining the legal framework for income
apportionment.
- This report made 4 recommendations, 2 comments and 1 suggestion.
- The Department and Services Australia have either partially accepted or
accepted all recommendations and suggestions.
(refer Attachment A).
• On 4 December 2023, the Commonwealth Ombudsman released the second
public statement titled ‘
Accountability in Action’ that summarised the
outcome of the Ombudsman’s second investigation into income
apportionment.
- This investigation focused on the administration of income apportionment
including engagement with customers, training and guidance to staff, as
well as handling of complaints, internal reviews and AAT or Federal Court
appeals.
- This report made 8 recommendations.
- The Department and Services Australia have accepted all
recommendations
(refer Attachment B)
High-level outcomes of income apportionment sampling activity
• Services Australia conducted sampling of 4,352 debt files potentially affected
by income apportionment from August 2023 to March 2024. The sampling
occurred across 2 activities.
• Of the 4,352 files reviewed, 1,999 were ‘undetermined’ debts (i.e. potential
debts that have not yet been raised), while 2,353 were determined debt
outcomes (i.e. actual debts that have been raised).
• Of the 4,352 files reviewed, 2,888 related to employment income. Of these,
2,045 (71%) were found to be affected by income apportionment.
• Of these 2,045 files affected by income apportionment, 785 (38%), had
sufficient information on file for recalculation. Determined debts were more
likely to have sufficient information on file (72%) than undetermined debts
(12%).
13
OFFICIAL
INCOME APPORTIONMENT
• Where there was sufficient information on file, the debts were recalculated
without using income apportionment.
• Of the 785 debts recalculated:
- 18 (2%) resulted in the debt amount decreasing such that arrears were
owed (i.e. the person would not have had a debt if income apportionment
had not been used).
- 487 (62%) resulted in the debt amount decreasing, but a debt still being
owed.
- 254 (32%) resulted in the debt amount increasing.
- 26 (3%) resulted in nil change.
• Note: Services Australia did not reach out to employers or use bank
statements to recalculate debts. Where information was unavailable for part
of the debt period, the file was categorised as having insufficient information.
These caveats impact the number of files that were able to be recalculated.
The proportion of files able to be recalculated would likely increase if the
debts were to be formally reviewed.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Andrew Seebach – Branch Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Troy Sloan, Group Manager, Pensions,
position):
Housing and Homelessness Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
16 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
14
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 63
Support for Older Australians
QB23-000003
Support for older Australians
Issue
What is the Government doing to support older Australians?
Headline response
Support for older Australians is being provided by: indexing
pensions; increasing maximum rates of Rent Assistance for
pensioners receiving the maximum rate; strengthening incentives to
work; extending the deeming rates freeze; improving retirement
income through the Home Equity Access Scheme; expanding
access to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC); and
facilitating downsizing.
TALKING POINTS
Indexation
• The indexation process ensures payments keep pace with the cost
of living. Pensions are indexed on 20 March and 20 September.
• As a result of indexation, on 20 March 2024, pension rates
increased by
$19.60 to
$1,116.30 a fortnight for singles and by
$29.40 to
$1,682.80 a fortnight for couples combined.
• These 1.8 per cent increases reflect the increase in the Consumer
Price Index in the 6 months to the December 2023 quarter, which
grew at a higher rate than Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost
Index (1.5 per cent) in the same period.
• Base pension rates are above the Male Total Average Weekly
Earnings benchmark.
1
Modified: 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Older Australians
2024-25 Budget Measure: Increasing maximum rates of
Commonwealth Rent Assistance
• The Government is investing $1.9 billion over 5 years from 2023-24
to
increase the maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent
Assistance by 10 per cent.
• This builds on the 15 per cent increase to Commonwealth Rent
Assistance maximum rates from 20 September 2023, which was
the largest in 30 years.
• Around
204,000 Age Pension households in receipt of the
maximum rate of CRA will benefit. Single person households can
benefit by up to $18.80 per fortnight and couples by $17.80 per
fortnight. Pensioners with care of dependent children can benefit by
up to $25.06 per fortnight.
• Subject to the passage of legislation, this change will commence
from 20 September 2024.
• On top of this increase, CRA will also be indexed on 20 September
this year in line with the usual schedule.
• This further increase means that, combined with indexation, by 20
September 2024
maximum rates of CRA will have increased by
42 per cent since March 2022.
2024-25 Budget Measure: Extending the deeming rates freeze
• The Government is freezing the social security deeming rates for a
further 12 months to 30 June 2025, extending the two-year freeze
put in place in July 2022.
2
Modified: 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Older Australians
• The lower deeming rate will remain at 0.25 per cent and the upper
rate will remain at 2.25 per cent during the freeze.
• The lower deeming rate is used to assess investment income on
the first $60,400 of a single recipient’s financial assets, or the first
$100,200 of a couple’s combined financial assets. The upper
deeming rate is used to assess investment income on any financial
assets above these thresholds. The thresholds will continue to be
indexed annually on 1 July as required by law.
• This is a relatively simple step that will provide continued relief for
around 876,000 recipients who rely on income from deemed
financial investments, in addition to an income support payment, to
help with cost-of-living pressures.
• More than half of these recipients (approximately 450,000) receive
the Age Pension, around 136,000 receive JobSeeker Payment and
approximately 96,000 receive Parenting Payment Single.
Incentives to work
• Enhancements to the Work Bonus mean pensioners over Age
Pension age are able to earn more from work without affecting their
pension.
• From 1 December 2022, the maximum Work Bonus income bank
balance was increased
from $7,800 to $11,800, an enhancement
that has since been made permanent from
1 January 2024.
3
Modified: 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Older Australians
• In addition, from
1 January 2024, all new pensioners over Age
Pension age will commence with a $4,000 starting balance in their
Work Bonus income bank instead of $0, meaning eligible
pensioners are supported to continue, or take up, paid employment
where they are able and willing to do so.
• The changes benefit eligible pensioners over Age Pension age,
including those on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and
Carer Payment, and certain veterans’ entitlement recipients over
qualifying age.
• A single age pensioner, who has no other income, can earn up to
$504 a fortnight from work and still receive the maximum rate of the
Age Pension. This equates to around 22 hours a fortnight at
minimum wage.
Home Equity Access Scheme
• The Scheme allows Australians of Age Pension age – both
pensioners and self-funded retirees– to supplement their retirement
income through an Australian Government loan, secured by the
equity in their home or other real estate assets.
• Participants can choose to receive
fortnightly payments of up to
150 per cent of the maximum Age Pension rate, less any pension
they already receive.
• Participants can also choose to receive up to two
lump sum
advance payments in any 26-fortnight period, to a combined total
of 50 per cent of the maximum annual rate of Age Pension.
4
Modified: 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Older Australians
• At 31 March 2024, the Scheme had 12,115 participants.
The number of participants has grown over ten-fold since the end
of June 2019, when the Scheme had 768 participants.
Expanding access to the CSHC
• The Government has delivered on its 2022 election commitment to
help ease cost of living pressures on self-funded retirees by
expanding access to the CSHC.
• On
4 November 2022, the income limits for the CSHC increased to
$90,000 for singles and
$144,000 for couples (combined).
o Since the new thresholds took effect, nearly 29,000
self-funded retirees have been granted the CSHC who would
not have been eligible previously (as at 5 April 2024).
o Around 50,000 people are expected to benefit in total by
2025-26.
• On 20 September 2023, the income limits for the CHSC increased
to
$95,400 for singles and
$152,640 for couples (combined) due
to annual indexation.
Removing barriers to downsizing
• On
1 January 2023, the Government extended the assets test
exemption for principal home sale proceeds from a maximum of
12 months to a maximum of
24 months.
• The Government also changed the deeming rules to ensure
income on the exempt home sale proceeds is calculated using the
lower deeming rate only – currently
0.25 per cent.
5
Modified: 15/5/2024
OFFICIAL
Support for Older Australians
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Age Pension eligibility
• Consistent with legislation passed in 2009, the Age Pension qualification age gradually
increased from 65 years in 2017 until it reached 67 years on 1 July 2023.
• To receive the Age Pension, a person must also satisfy the residence requirements and
have income and assets below certain limits.
Providing financial encouragement to work
Under the Work Bonus, the first $300 of work income a fortnight, in addition to the income
free area, is not counted in the pension income test and does not reduce the amount of
pension received. Pensioners are able to build up any unused amount of the $300 fortnightly
concession in a Work Bonus income bank.
All pensioners over Age Pension age have access to the Work Bonus concession. This is
primarily Age Pension recipients, but also includes some Disability Support Payment and
Carer Payment recipients over Age Pension age.
As at March 2024,
3.3 per cent of age pensioners (around 85,163 people out of almost
2.6 million) with employment income were taking advantage of the current Work Bonus
concession.
Retirees who choose to work also receive tax relief.
Home Equity Access Scheme
From 20 March 2024, the maximum fortnightly pension plus loan payment is:
• $1,674.45 for singles.
• $2,524.20 for couples combined.
From 20 March 2024, the maximum advance is:
• $14,511.90 for singles.
• $21,876.40 for couples combined.
Payments under the Scheme accrue compound interest, currently at a rate of 3.95 per cent
per annum. The loan must be repaid on the sale of the securing property, or out of the
participant’s estate.
A No Negative Equity Guarantee ensures no participant will need to repay more than the
equity they hold in the property they used to secure their loan.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Gillian Beer
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Troy Sloan, Group Manager, Pensions,
position):
Housing and Homelessness Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
15 May 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
7
Modified: 15/5/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 64
Payment Accuracy, Debt & Compliance
QB22-000067
Social Security Payment Accuracy, Debt and Compliance
Issue
What is the Government doing to ensure the accuracy of social
security payments?
Headline response
• The Government takes its responsibility for upholding the integrity
of Australia’s social security system seriously including providing
reliable and accurate support to people in Australia who are
facing hardship when they need it most.
TALKING POINTS
• As a Government we will always focus on identifying measures that
preserve and sustain the integrity of our nation’s social security
system and protect those most in need.
• Our focus on payment accuracy, recovery of debts and reviews is
also supported through improved education for income support
recipients on their income reporting obligations and use of
technology.
• The Government has a responsibility, including to Australian
taxpayers, to take steps to recover debts owed. We do this fairly
and humanely, with flexible debt repayment options available
based on people’s circumstances.
o This includes situations where the person is experiencing
family or domestic violence, are in financial hardship, or where
there are other indicators of vulnerability.
1
Modified: 23/01/2024
OFFICIAL
Payment Accuracy, Debt & Compliance
• Anyone who owes a debt and is experiencing difficulty with
repayments is encouraged to contact Services Australia to discuss
their individual circumstances. They can do this on the dedicated
debt phone line (1800 076 072).
If ASKED – what is the Government doing in relation to the Royal
Commission Recommendations?
• Refer to
QB23-000034 for detail on the Robodebt Royal
Commission Government response.
If ASKED - how is the Government preventing payment
inaccuracy and debt
• Services Australia makes use of technology such as SMS text
reminders, information on customers’ MyGov accounts, and data
matching to alert a customer to information discrepancies so they
have an opportunity to correct the information, which could lead to
a debt.
• Expanded Single Touch Payroll (STP) data is being provided to
Services Australia by the Australian Taxation Office and is being
used to prefill employment details to make reporting easier.
If ASKED – Does the Government accept the recommendations
of the ANAO Report into the Accuracy and Timeliness of Welfare
Payments?
• The Government acknowledges the importance of the Accuracy
and Timelines of Welfare Payments report released by the
Australian National Audit Office (ANAO).
2
Modified: 23/01/2024
OFFICIAL
Payment Accuracy, Debt & Compliance
• The Government is focused on ensuring social security and family
payments are accurate and that recipients are paid correctly and in
a timely way.
• The Government and Department have not waited for the ANAO’s
report to start work to improve the operation of the social security
system.
• In 2023 my Department reviewed payment accuracy methodology
to identify changes needed to make it more effective.
• My Department and Services Australia also signed a refreshed
Bilateral Management Arrangement Head Agreement in April 2023,
and is implementing mechanisms that will support the
Department’s oversight of payment accuracy and timeliness.
• The Department works closely with Services Australia to support
the accurate delivery of payments and I am keen to see
improvements to timing and accuracy of payments for vulnerable
Australians.
• The Department agreed to all recommendations, except one
relating to medical reviews of Disability Support Pension recipients
under the Payment Accuracy Review Program.
• The ANAO’s proposal to conduct medical reviews as part of the
Payment Accuracy Review Program would place additional burden
and costs on Disability Support Pension recipients and will not be
implemented.
• Any changes to improve the administration and service delivery of
the welfare payments system will be rigorously developed and
regularly reviewed to ensure that it is fit for purpose in supporting
vulnerable Australians.
3
Modified: 23/01/2024
OFFICIAL
Payment Accuracy, Debt & Compliance
If ASKED - what is the Government doing in relation to debt
raising and recovery for those experiencing financial
difficulties?
• Anyone with a Social Security debt can contact Services Australia if
they are experiencing difficulty repaying their debt. Customers can
self-manage their debt repayments through contacting Services
Australia, or online through their Services Australia online account
or ‘Money You Owe’ app.
If ASKED – what is the Government doing about income
apportionment?
• Refer to
QB23-000040 for detail on Income Apportionment.
CONTACT NAME: Andrew Seebach
POSITION: Branch Manager
International Payments and Compliance Branch
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 23/01/2024
4
Modified: 23/01/2024
OFFICIAL
Payment Accuracy, Debt & Compliance
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Background and Key Facts
• Debt pauses in place over the past two years have led to an increase in unprocessed
potential overpayments, known as debt shells.
• Social security payment accuracy has also fallen in the last two years, with overall
payment accuracy dropping from 96 to 94 per cent, and the accuracy of JobSeeker
Payment dropping from 93 to 83 per cent.
- Payment Accuracy Reviews for over 20,000 recipients annually are conducted
by Services Australia to measure payment accuracy, using a random sample
of the population for 13 different payment types.
• Services Australia is focusing on the most effective actions to address key payment
risks such as JobSeeker Payment inaccuracy, and is examining the impact of Single
Touch Payroll as a key driver for improving the accuracy of recipient reporting of
employment income across all payments.
• STP employment income data is being prefilled to the recipient’s record for confirming,
making the process simpler for the recipient to complete.
• As at 31 July 2023, 95 per cent of employers have transitioned to STP. ATO advise
this is the final implementation data, effectively representing the full implementation of
STP.
• Services Australia also uses data matching with third parties, such as Births, Deaths
and Marriages, allowing them to verify information which could affect payment
accuracy, including residency, identity, income and assets.
• Automated/ Pre-programmed debt pauses no longer apply. From August 2022,
Services Australia implemented flexible repayment arrangements that support people
to self-manage debt repayments through the Money You Owe service, which can be
accessed via the MyGov.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Andrew Seebach – Branch Manager
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Troy Sloan, Group Manager, Pensions,
position):
Housing and Homelessness Group
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
23 January 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
5
Modified: 23/01/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 65
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
QB23-000038
UK Pensioners
Issue
What is the Government doing to address the issue of UK pensions
not being indexed for recipients living in Australia?
Headline response
The Government has made multiple representations to the UK on
this matter. The Government acknowledges the UK Government’s
position; however, this issue remains a concern and the
Government will continue to raise the issue with relevant UK
Government counterparts at appropriate opportunities.
TALKING POINTS
• The UK does not currently index its pensions for people living in
Australia and most Commonwealth countries but does index its
pensions for those living in some other countries.
• This policy of indexing pensions in some countries but not others is
unfair and inequitable. All UK pensioners deserve to be paid their
UK pensions under equal conditions, regardless of where they
choose to live in their retirement.
• This issue currently affects over
208,000 UK pensioners in
Australia who have had their UK pension effectively ‘frozen’ at the
initial rate.
• It also costs the Australian Budget bottom line around
$119 million per year in additional Australian Age Pension
expenditure.
• The Government appreciates this issue is of significant concern to
UK pensioners across Australia and their families, particularly
during a time with rising cost of living pressures.
1
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• I have raised this matter with the UK on multiple occasions over the
last 18 months.
o I wrote to my UK counterpart, the Secretary of State for Work
and Pensions, on 15 November 2022 to advocate for a
change to the UK’s indexation policy.
o I wrote again to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
on 30 May 2023 to express Australia’s interest in entering into
social security agreement negotiations with the UK,
conditional on resolving the indexation issue.
o I raised the issue with the former UK Minister for Disabled
People, Health and Work when we met in June 2023 during
the United Nations’ Conference of State Parties on the Rights
of People with Disability.
o Late last year, I met with the Chair of the UK All-Party
Parliamentary Group on Frozen British Pensions.
o In January 2024, I wrote again to the Secretary of State for
Work and Pensions to reiterate Australia’s continuing interest
in resolving this issue for UK pensioners residing in Australia
and Australia’s openness to discussing ways to move forward
on this issue.
• To date, the UK Government has indicated it has no plans to
change its policy on indexation or to enter into negotiations for a
social security agreement with Australia.
• While the UK Government’s position to date is disappointing,
UK Government policy is a matter for the UK Government to
decide.
• Australia has, and will continue to have, a positive and enduring
relationship with the UK.
2
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• The Government will continue to raise the issue with relevant UK
Government counterparts at appropriate opportunities on behalf of
UK pensioners in Australia.
If ASKED – Why does Australia not already have a social security
agreement with the UK?
• Australia previously had a social security agreement with the UK.
Australia terminated this agreement from 1 March 2001 as a
protest against the indexation issue.
• New agreements can only be concluded if there is mutual interest
and reciprocal terms can be agreed between the two countries.
• A new agreement between Australia and the UK is not required for
the UK to index UK pensions paid to people in Australia.
• The UK could choose to index its pensions (paid in Australia or
globally) unilaterally through domestic legislation.
3
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
CONTACT NAME: s 47F
POSITION: Director, Residency and International
Payments
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 25/01/2024
4
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Background and Key Facts
• The UK does not index UK pensions paid to people living in Australia and most other
Commonwealth countries.
- The non-indexation of UK pensions applies in 50 of 56 Commonwealth countries,
including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa.
- The UK pays fully indexed pensions to UK pensioners living in many other countries,
including European Union (EU) countries, the United States, and the Philippines.
• It has been the longstanding position of successive Australian Governments that the UK’s
policy of not indexing pensions paid to people in Australia is unfair.
• UK pensioners in Australia have their UK pensions effectively ‘frozen’ at their initial rate.
Over time, these UK pensions are progressively devalued through inflation.
• UK pensions are treated as income when calculating a person’s rate of Australian Age
Pension. As the value of a non-indexed UK pension decreases overtime, the rate of
Australian Age Pension paid increases. This places a greater burden on Australia’s
taxpayer-funded social security system.
• It is estimated that an additional $119 million in taxpayer-funded Australian Age Pension
outlays per year are paid to UK pensioners in Australia because of non-indexation of the
UK pension (as at December 2023). (A total of approximately $474 million over 4 years.)
Locational / place considerations
• Over 208,000 UK pensioners residing in Australia are impacted by the UK’s decision to
not index pensions in Australia (UK data as at May 2023).
• Around 164,690 of these people also receive the Australian Age Pension (as at
December 2023), broken down by State and Territory in the following table
(rounded).
State
Total
Western Australia
38,335
NSW
34,135
Queensland
32,975
Victoria
28,140
South Australia
20,010
Unknown
4,885
Tasmania
4,360
Australian Capital Territory
1,510
Northern Territory
345
Stakeholder views
• The British Pensions in Australia (BPiA) lobby group, its members and other UK
pensioners in Australia regularly write to the Government and other members of
parliament on the issue.
• Many called for the free trade deal negotiations with the UK to be made conditional on the
UK indexing pensions paid into Australia. It is longstanding policy that free trade
agreements are not an appropriate mechanism for seeking to address the issue, as they
do not cover social security matters.
• BPiA has also called for the Australian Government to request a new social security
agreement with the UK to resolve the non-indexation issue.
5
OFFICIAL
[ISSUE KEYWORD (AS PER INDEX) – MO TO ADD]
• Last year, you met with the Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale MP, chair of the UK All-Party
Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Frozen British Pensions to discuss the non-indexation of
UK pensions in Australia. The APPG comprises parliamentary supporters of the case to
unfreeze frozen UK pensions and campaigns for reform on this issue.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
s 47F
, Director, Residency and
International Payments
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Matt Flavel, Deputy Secretary
position):
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
25/01/2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
6
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 66
ROBODEBT
QB23-000034
Robodebt
Issue
The Government Response to the Royal Commission into the
Robodebt Scheme.
Headline response
The Albanese Government released its response to the Robodebt
Royal Commission on 13 November 2023.
The Government agreed, or agreed in principle, to all 56
recommendations as part of the ongoing work to restore faith,
integrity and trust in government and ensure that this gross betrayal
to the Australian people never happens again.
The Government has progressed work on the recommendations
made by the Royal Commission, implementing the commitments
outlined in the Response as quickly as possible.
Many of the Royal Commission’s findings align with the priorities
and reforms the Australian Government took to the Australian
people at the last election – rebuilding trust in government, investing
in a capable public sector, delivering strong institutions and ensuring
people are at the centre of service delivery.
The Government has already embarked on a series of reforms to
achieve these outcomes and is continuing with further reforms to
ensure a failure like Robodebt can never occur again.
The Government is fulfilling our promise to put people back at the
centre of the work of government, and invest in better services for
the Australian community.
Throughout the Royal Commission we saw courage, leadership
and ethics on display from victims, advocates and whistleblowers.
To those who shared their stories with the Royal Commission –
thank you.
1
OFFICIAL
ROBODEBT
ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS
• The Australian Government has carefully considered the Royal
Commission’s report and recommendations.
• The Government
accepts (49) or
accepts in principle (7)
all 56
recommendations made by the Royal Commission.
o The commitments outlined in the Government response
have been carefully designed.
o For some recommendations, the commitments outlined in
the Government Response go further than the
Commissioner recommended.
o Where a recommendation has been accepted in principle,
the implementation activities outlined in the Response will
be further informed by consultation to ensure lasting
effectiveness.
The Government is committed to a strong social security safety net
and service delivery that puts people at the centre.
• The Government has embarked on a series of reforms to ensure
a failure like Robodebt can never occur again.
o This work includes the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC), the Australian Public Service Reform
agenda, and strengthening of Australia’s whistleblowing
framework and protections.
o Following the decision by the NACC to not pursue
Robodebt Royal Commission referrals, through its
investigation, inquiry, and corruption prevention and
education functions, the Commission will continue to
address the integrity issues raised in the final report,
particularly in relation to ethical decision making, to ensure
that those lessons are learnt, and to hold public officials to
account.
2
OFFICIAL
ROBODEBT
If asked about recommendation 18.2 of the Royal Commission Report
concerning debt raising practices
• The Response outlines the Government’s commitment to
ensuring debt raising and recovery is undertaken in a timely, fair
and respectful manner.
• We have accepted this recommendation in principle on the basis
the Government will carefully consider options for legislative
reform, including appropriate statutory limitation periods for the
raising and recovery of social security debts to comprehensively
address the issues identified by the Royal Commission.
• The previous 6-year limitation was complex and created
ambiguity while in place. Simply re-instating the previous
statutory provision will not provide the certainty the Royal
Commissioner sought in making the recommendation.
• To wholly resolve the issues identified by the Commissioner,
debt raising and recovery needs to be carefully reformed to
ensure the settings are right, and the people who rely on the
social safety net are not treated unfairly.
• The Department of Social Services and Services Australia are
working collaboratively to implement the Response and the
recommendations made by the Royal Commission, particularly
on payment assurance and debt reforms.
If asked about income apportionment?
• Refer to
QB23-000040 for detail on income apportionment.
If asked about recommendations 19.3, 19.4 and 19.5 of the Royal
Commission Report concerning lawyers and legal services
• Recommendations concerned with the governance and
professionalisation of the Department’s in-house legal service
were already or have since been actioned.
3
OFFICIAL
ROBODEBT
• The Legal Practice Manual issued by the Chief Counsel outlines
the duties, obligations and expectations of legal staff in the
Department and compliance is regulated through individual
performance agreements.
• All legal staff have attended a training session focused on the
professional duties of government lawyers and will undertake
similar training on an annual basis.
• Guidance concerning the status and finalisation of draft legal
advice has been issued by the Chief Counsel. Recent updates to
associated guidance from the Attorney General’s Department
have been broadly communicated and will be incorporated into
that guidance.
If asked about recommendation 23.1 of the Royal Commission Report
concerning structure of government departments
• This recommendation has been accepted in principle.
• The Government agrees that portfolio structures should support
the effective delivery of government services and programs.
• I will continue to work together with the Minister for Government
Services to ensure the distribution of responsibilities between the
Department of Social Services and Services Australia is clear.
• The Government will be guided by the Royal Commission’s
findings when considering the most optimal arrangement of
functions and responsibilities between social policy agencies and
Services Australia.
If asked about the implications for public servants, including any
sanctions, such as individuals being stood down -
• The findings and referrals made by the Commissioner in the
confidential chapter of the Report are not addressed in the
Government's Response.
4
OFFICIAL
ROBODEBT
• The Commissioner created the confidential chapter so as not to
prejudice the conduct of any future civil action or criminal
prosecution.
• The Government will comply with the Commissioner’s Do Not
Publish Order.
• To maintain the integrity and fairness of the procedure, and
consistent with the Commissioner’s Do Not Publish Order, it is
not appropriate to discuss the confidential chapter.
• The Code of Conduct Inquiry Taskforce in the APSC continues
its inquiries into referred matters against those who have not yet
had final determinations of Code of Conduct breaches made
against them.
• The Inspector of the NACC is currently reviewing the decision by
the NACC to not pursue Robodebt Royal Commission referrals
after the NACC determined it would not add value in the public
interest after taking into account a range of factors. This review
is ongoing. Findings will be made public in due course.
If asked about cultural changes within the Department of Social
Services since Robodebt ended -
• Since mid-2021 the Department has been focused on building
a culture founded upon collaboration, contestability, curiosity and
courage. This has included:
o Deepening portfolio engagement and collaboration.
o Strengthening the relationship with Services Australia.
o Improving policy implementation which has included
improvements to income reporting arrangements and
a payment accuracy review.
o Strengthened legal arrangements giving our lawyers greater
influence, authority and visibility over the broad range of
departmental functions.
5
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 67
Portfolio Commitments
QB22-000092
DSS PORTFOLIO ELECTION COMMITMENTS
Issue
The Government has made a series of announcements, budget and
election commitments for the Social Services Portfolio.
Headline response
The Government continues to deliver on commitments funded in the
May 2023–2024’ and October 2022–2023’ Social Services Budget,
to prioritise the well-being of individuals, families and vulnerable
members of Australian Communities.
The following key election commitments have been delivered:
• abolishing the Cashless Debit Card (CDC)
• establishing the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme
• establishing the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
Commission
• 10 days of paid leave legislated for Domestic and Family
Violence Leave for employees of small businesses
• establishing an independent review of the National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• funded the NDIS Appeals providers to support people with
disability and their families with Administrative Appeals
Tribunal appeals processes
• increasing the income thresholds for Commonwealth Seniors
Health Card holders
• freezing deeming rates at their current levels for two years
• transition taskforce established and grant agreements
executed to keep disability workplaces, affected by government
1
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
cuts, open for an additional 18 months to allow the transition of
affected employees to find new employment
• funded a trailer to assist the Canning Community Men’s Shed
with supporting disadvantaged in the community
• funded a bus for the Cram Foundation to transport clients with
disabilities
• funded a van fit out for the Iman Foundation for community
food distribution programs
• funded a food distribution warehouse to support Devonport’s
Loaves and Fishes Tasmania
• funded community work in building a sense of place, purpose
and community with Mindful Makings
• funded free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness in
Western Australia to support the Short Back and Sidewalks
organisation, and
• launch of the Early Years Strategy on 7 May 2024.
The following other key significant commitments have been
delivered:
• incentivising pensioners to downsize and holding a Jobs and
Skills Summit
• increased working age and student payments, including
jobseeker, by $40 per fortnight
• funded additional resources to support the influx of Redress
Scheme applications
• improved support for single parents through extended eligibility
for Parenting Payments
2
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
• increased support for commonwealth rent assistance
recipients, and
• funded a second-hand ute for the Centenary Men’s Shed to
assist in supporting the disadvantaged in the community.
TALKING POINTS
Measures announced as part of the
May 2024-2025’ Budget include:
•
The Leaving Violence Program – financial support for victim-survivors of
intimate partner violence. The Government will provide
$925.2 million
over 5 years from 2023–2024’ (and
$263.3 million per year ongoing) to
make permanent the Leaving Violence Program (LVP) that will provide
financial support, safety assessments and referrals to support services
for victim-survivors leaving a violent intimate partner relationship.
Funding includes:
o
$756.4 million over five years from 2023–2024’ (and
$258.2 million
per year ongoing) to establish the Leaving Violence Program (LVP)
from 1 July 2025 to provide financial support of up to
$5,000 (indexed
annually to Wage Cost Index) and support services including risk
assessments, safety planning and short-term referral services for up to
12 weeks.
o
$152.3 million over three years from 2023–2024’ to extend and
expand the Escaping Violence Payment and the Temporary Visa
Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot trials to 30 June 2025, and to
continue to provide support services for a further 12 weeks beyond the
pilot end date for active cases. The LVP will replace these trials.
o
$16.5 million over five years from 2023–2024’ (and
$5.1 million in
2028–2029’) to continue to provide legal assistance for temporary visa
holders leaving a violent relationship.
3
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
•
Ending Gender-Based Violence – additional resourcing. The Government
will provide
$9.6 million over 5 years from 2023–2024’ (and
$10 million
per year ongoing) in additional resourcing to further support informed
policy advice to Government to end gender-based violence. Funding
includes:
o
$4.3 million in 2024–2025’ to commission Australia’s National
Research Organisation for Women’s Safety to further build the
evidence base on pathways into and out of perpetration of family,
domestic and sexual violence.
o
$3.9 million over four years from 2024–2025’ (and
$1.0 million per
year ongoing) in additional resourcing for the Office for Women, in the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, to support whole of
government coordination and work with the Department of Social
Services to identify further opportunities to respond to gender-based
violence and continue to embed a focus on women’s safety across
Government.
o
$1.3 million over two years from 2023–2024’ for a rapid review of
targeted prevention approaches to violence against women, with a
panel of experts to provide advice to Government on preventing
gender-based violence, including a focus on homicides.
•
Relieving cost of living pressures. The Government will deliver
responsible cost-of-living relief for Australians by delivering targeted
support. Measures include:
o Freezing Social Security Deeming Rates at their current levels for a
further 12 months until 30 June 2025.
o Provide
$1.9 billion over five years from 2023–2024’ (and
$0.5 billion
per year ongoing from 2028–2029’) to increase all Commonwealth
4
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
Rent Assistance maximum rates by 10 per cent from 20 September
2024 to help address rental affordability challenges for recipients.
o Provide
$41.2 million over five years from 2023–2024’ (and
$7.0 million per year ongoing from 2028–2029’) to extend eligibility for
the existing higher rate of JobSeeker payment to single recipients with
a partial capacity to work of zero to 14 hours per week from 20
September 2024.
•
Carer Payment – increased flexibility. The Government will provide
$18.6 million over five years from 2023–2024’ (and
$3.1 million per year
ongoing) to support Carer Payment recipients through increased flexibility
to undertake work, study and volunteering activities.
•
Commonwealth Government-Funded Paid Parental Leave -
enhancement. The Government will provide
$1.1 billion over 5 years
from 2023–2024’ (and
$0.6 billion per year ongoing) to strengthen
Australia’s government-funded Paid Parental leave (PPL) scheme and
improve women’s retirement outcomes. Funding includes:
o
$1.1 billion over four years from 2024–2025’ (and
$0.6 billion per
year ongoing) to pay superannuation on Commonwealth government-
funded PPL for births and adoptions on or after 1 July 2025. Eligible
parents will receive an additional payment based on the
Superannuation Guarantee (12 per cent of their PPL payments), as a
contribution to their superannuation fund.
o
$10.0 million over two years from 2024–2025’ to provide additional
support for small business employers in administering PPL.
o
$1.4 million over two years from 2023–2024’ to update
communication products and documents for potential PPL recipients.
•
Endorsement of the Social Security Agreement between Australia and
the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. The Government will provide
5
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
$23.1 million over 4 years from 2024–2025’ (and
$5.6 million per year
ongoing)
to enter into a bilateral social security agreement with the
Oriental Republic of Uruguay.
•
Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity – additional funding. The
Government will provide
$138.0 million over five years from 2023–2024’
(and
$35.4 million per year ongoing) to boost support for Australians in
financial distress or experiencing financial hardship and to build financial
resilience, through additional funding to the Financial Wellbeing and
Capability Activity. The activity will also be restructured to operate under
two streams of support: Financial Capability and Resilience and Financial
Crisis Response and Recovery. Funding includes:
o
$114.8 million over five years from 2023–2024’ (and
$27.7 million per
year ongoing) to support individuals and families experiencing financial
distress in times of crisis and natural disasters.
o
$11.2 million over three years from 2025–2026’ (and
$3.9 million per
year ongoing) for the expansion of the Saver Plus program to enable
participants to build financial skills, capabilities and resilience.
o
$6.3 million over three years from 2025–2026’ (and
$2.2 million per
year ongoing) for the No Interest Loan Scheme for Vehicles for
vulnerable people needing to purchase vehicles for essential use.
o
$4.7 million over three years from 2025–2026’ (and
$1.6 million per
year ongoing) to enable better accessibility to financial counselling
services through the National Debt Helpline, including an appointment
booking system and live webchat function to support individuals with
personal financial difficulty.
•
Early Years Strategy – aligning investment. The Government will provide
$14.3 million over 5 years from 2024–2025’ to extend and expand
6
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
existing community supports for parents and caregivers to improve child
outcomes inline with the Early Years Strategy. Funding includes:
o
$4.8 million over two years from 2024–2025’ for The Fathering
Project.
o
$4.6 million over two years from 2024–‘2025’ for the Raising Children
Network.
o
$4.3 million over two years from 2024–2025’ for the Supporting
Expecting and Parenting Teens Program administered by the Brave
Foundation.
o
$0.4 million over five years from 2024–2025’ to establish a Parents
and Carers Reference Group.
•
National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children
and Young People. The Government will provide funding of
$5.9 million over two years from 2024–2025’ to establish interim arrangements for the
National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children
and Young People (National Commissioner).
•
National Redress Scheme – further support. The Government will provide
$33.3 million over 4 years from 2024–2025’ to establish a demand-
driven service to support applicants of the
National Redress Scheme
(the Scheme) who submit incomplete applications to improve the
efficiency of the Scheme and to better support survivors of institutional
child sexual abuse through the application process. Funding includes:
o
$26.1 million over four years from 2024–2025’ for Redress Support
Services.
o
$7.2 million in 2024–2025’ for knowmore legal service.
•
A Stronger and More Diverse and Independent Community Sector. The
Government will provide
$2.4 million over 2 years from 2024–2025’ for
the Department of Social Services to develop a community sector
7
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
partnership framework, in consultation with the Community Services
Advisory Group.
•
Disability Employment Services Reform. The Government will provide
$253.6 million over 5 years from 2023–2024’ (and
$19.0 million per
year ongoing) to reform employment services and supports for people
with disability. Funding includes:
o
$227.6 million over five years from 2023–2024’ (and
$11.4 million per
year ongoing) to implement a new specialist disability employment
program to replace the existing Disability Employment Services
program by 1 July 2025.
o
$23.3 million over four years from 2024–2025’ (and
$7.6 million per
year ongoing) to establish a Disability Employment Centre of
Excellence.
o
$2.6 million over three years from 2024–2025’ to extend the National
Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline and the Complaints Resolution
and Referral Service.
•
National Disability Insurance Scheme - getting the NDIS back on track.
The Government is committed to improving outcomes for National
Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants and ensuring every
dollar of NDIS funding goes to those who need it most. The Government
will provide
$468.7 million over five years from 2023–2024’ (and
$37.9 million per year ongoing) to support people with disability and get
the NDIS back on track. Funding includes:
o
$160.7 million over four years from 2024–2025’ (and
$24.6 million
per year ongoing) to upgrade the NDIS Quality and Safeguards
Commission’s information technology systems, to better protect the
safety of NDIS participants, reduce regulatory burden on NDIS
providers, and improve cyber security.
8
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
o
$129.8 million over 2 years from 2023–2024’ for design and
consultation work to respond to the findings of the Independent NDIS
Review.
o
$83.9 million over two years from 2023–2024’ to boost fraud detecting
information technology systems at the National Disability Insurance
Agency (NDIA), to further safeguard the integrity of the NDIS.
o
$45.5 million over 4 years from 2024–2025’ (and
$13.3 million per
year ongoing) to establish a NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee, to
provide independent and transparent advice to Government on the
efficacy and cost-benefits of types of supports funded by the NDIS.
o
$23.5 million over two years from 2024–2025’ for Services Australia to
continue fraud investigation and response activities as part of the
Fraud Fusion Taskforce.
o
$20.0 million over 2 years from 2024–2025’ for initial design and
consultation work on reforms to help participants and people with
disability navigate services.
o
$5.3 million in 2024–2025’ for the Independent Health and Aged Care
Pricing Authority to work with the Department of Social Services and
the NDIA to undertake initial work to reform NDIS pricing
arrangements, including reviewing existing pricing approaches and
developing a pricing data strategy.
•
Additional Funding to Expand Jindelara Cottage Ulladulla. The
Government has provided
$0.2 million in 2023–2024’ to the Lions
Ulladulla District Community Foundation for the refurbishment and
construction of permanent residential accommodation for people with
disability at Jindelara Cottage in Ulladulla, New South Wales.
9
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
•
Australian Orphanage Museum – additional funding. The Government will
provide additional funding of
$1.0 million over three years from
2023– 2024’ to the Australian Orphanage Museum, including:
o
$0.8 million in 2023–2024’ for capital works.
o
$0.3 million over two years from 2024–2025’ to cover operational
costs.
•
Impact of the Douglas Decision on Social Security Means Testing. The
Government will provide
$11.9 million over five years from 2023–2024’
(and
$0.9 million per year ongoing) to implement a social security means
test treatment for the military invalidity payments affected by the Federal
Court’s decision in Commissioner of Taxation v Douglas [2020] FCAFC
220.
•
Outcomes Fund. The Government will provide
$4.7 million over 3 years
from 2024–2025’ (and an additional
$0.8 million from 2028–2029’ to
2033–2034’) to establish, manage, and evaluate the Outcomes Fund.
Key election commitments funded in the May 2023-2024’ Budget include:
• Providing
$10.2 million over 4 years from 2023–2024’ to establish a
Central Coordination of the Disability Policy function within the
department to further embed
Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031’
(ADS).
• Progressing the National Disability Data Asset (NDDA) - providing
additional funding of
$68.3 million over 4 years from 2023–2024’ to
meet the remaining costs of establishing the NDDA and its underlying
infrastructure – the Australian National Data Integration Infrastructure.
• Support for People with Autism - providing funding of
$22.1 million over
4 years from 2023–2024’ to undertake additional pre-emptive early
intervention pilots for infants with early signs of difference in social
10
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
communication, and
$4.9 million to progress development of a National
Autism Strategy, including development of the National Roadmap, led by
the Department of Health and Aged Care.
Key election commitments funded in the October 2022–2023’ Budget
include:
•
$1.7 billion investment in women’s safety, with approximately
$1.1 billion of this is in the Social Services Portfolio, which includes
$169.4 million for an additional
500 front-line service and community
workers.
•
$257.7 million to support Community Sector Organisations in need of
funding supplementation.
•
$32.2 million to offer one-third of the funding required to build
a Changing Places facility in Local Government Areas across Australia.
•
$15 million for the National Disability Research Partnership to help drive
evidence-based policy reform.
•
$12.4 million to support community playgroups and toy libraries to
expand services.
•
$11.2 million to double investment in systemic disability advocacy
funding.
•
$5.3 million to develop a National Autism Strategy, including funding to
the Autism Cooperative Research Centre and the AEIOU Foundation for
Children with Autism.
•
$4.2 million to develop an Early Years Strategy.
•
$158 million to support services in former CDC locations.
Updates on
election commitments that are being delivered:
Income Management (IM)
11
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
• From 4 September to 3 May 2024,
4,272 people have moved or
consented to move to enhanced IM. An additional
5,825 people are
new to enhanced IM. This includes people who were previously on the
IM program prior to 4 September 2023, and have recommenced on
enhanced IM.
• Consultation is ongoing, with approximately 3,995
community members
across 72
locations in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and
Victoria consulted on the future of IM.
Early Years Strategy
• The Early Years Strategy was launched on 7 May 2024 with the Minister
for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth.
• Consultations on the draft Early Years Strategy concluded on 9 February
2024.
Around 4,000 people were consulted throughout its development.
Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission
• On 5 September 2023, the Government established the first national
Lived Experience Advisory Council.
• On 15 January 2024,12 members were appointed for a 2-year term.
Independent review of the NDIS
• On 5 June 2024, the NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track
No. 1) Bill 2024 passed the House of Representatives with amendments.
• The Bill is the first tranche of legislation tabled. The Bill responds to a
number of key NDIS Review recommendations, with the Government
keeping its promise to legislate in the first half of 2024, as agreed at
National Cabinet in December 2023.
Better Support for People with Disability
• On 20 March 2024, the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP)
was established as a Company Limited by Guarantee. The NDRP will
12
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
facilitate collaborative and inclusive disability research to support better
policy and practice for people with disability.
• A closed non-competitive grant opportunity was recently advertised to
support the implementation of the NDRP. The outcome of this grant
opportunity will be released in due course.
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People
with Disability
• Public consultation on the Disability Royal Commission Response
resulted in
335 responses, including
118 written submissions.
A summary of outcomes was published on 11 June 2024.
National Carer Strategy
• A National Carer Strategy Advisory Committee has been established with
3 meetings being held so far over May-June 2024. A forward workplan is
also under development.
• Public consultation is due to commence mid-2024, with development of
a draft Strategy expected the end of 2024.
Support for People with Autism
• In January 2024, the Minister for Social Services announced South
Australia will be the location for the first of the pre-emptive early
intervention pilots for infants with early signs of difference in social
communication.
• Following National consultation in 2023 a draft strategy was published for
an 8-week public consultation period from 2 April to 31 May 2024.
• A final strategy and underpinning action plan are expected by end of
2024.
13
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
• This is in conjunction with work to develop the National Roadmap to
improve the health and mental health of Autistic people being led by the
Department of Health and Aged Care.
Other key significant commitments funded in the May 2023-2024’ Budget
include:
• Women’s Safety - providing a further
$326.7million over 4 years from
2023–2024’ (and $19.4 million per year ongoing) to deliver initiatives
under the
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
2022–2032’.
• Women’s Safety - First Nations - providing
$194 million over 5 years
from 2022–2023’ (and $4 million in 2027–2028’) to support the
dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan.
Other key significant commitments funded in the October 2022–2023’
Budget include:
•
$30 million for 5 measures under
Safe and Supported: the National
Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021—2031’. $1 million of
this funding was used to contribute to the establishment of a National
Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and
Young People.
Updates on
other key significant commitments that are being delivered:
Safe and Supported: National Framework
• On 13 February 2024, the Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP,
announced that a legislated, independent and empowered National
Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and
Young People (National Commissioner) will be established.
• The Australian Government is working with the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Leadership Group (Leadership Group), and the broader
14
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
non-government sector through the National Coalition for Child Safety
and Wellbeing to implement the
Safe and Supported Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan 2023–2026’ and
First Action Plan
2023–2026’.
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
• The Government launched a dedicated
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Action Plan 2023–2025’ (Action Plan) under the
National Plan to
End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032’ and is working to
deliver on its commitment to a standalone First Nations National Plan.
• The Government will deliver
$153.1 million over 5 years, plus
$4 million in year 6 (2027–2028’), and an additional
$15 million in
redirected funding over 5 years:
o
$4.1 million over 2 years from 2023–2024’ to support the
development of the standalone First Nations National Plan, including
First Nations Secretariat, governance arrangements, community
engagement and drafting.
o
$145.3 million to fund 5 grant activities under the Action Plan,
including:
▪
$41.9 million over 3 years for future place-based trials of the
Escaping Violence Payment (EVP).
• The Minister announced the 3 trial sites will be Darwin, Dubbo
and Broome.
▪
$32.2 million over 3 years to increase the capacity of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander shelter and accommodation services.
▪
$41.4 million over 4 years to establish men’s wellness centres.
▪
$12.7 million over 4 years to increase prevention services,
programs, and campaigns for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children.
15
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
▪
$17 million over 4 years to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander community-controlled organisation with existing or
emerging family, domestic and sexual violence programs.
o
$7.7 million over 3 years to establish a First Nations Family,
Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV) National Peak Body.
o
$15 million over 5 years to invest in a First Nations-led family,
domestic and sexual violence data collection to report progress on
Outcome 13 of Closing the Gap (by 2031, the rate of all forms of family
violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
women and children is
reduced at least by 50 per cent, as progress
towards zero).
CONTACT NAME: Richard Baumgart
POSITION: Group Manager, Portfolio Coordination
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 15 May 2024
16
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
BACKGROUND / KEY FACTS
Income Management
• Following the abolishment of the CDC program in March 2023 and introduction of
IM, further reforms to IM were introduced on 4 September 2023.
• No newly eligible participants have been placed on IM with a BasicsCard, with
people instead placed directly on enhanced IM and provided a modern banking
technology.
• All IM participants are able to choose to move to enhanced IM to have access to
modern technology and the SmartCard.
Early Years Strategy
• The Minister for Social Services and the Minister for Early Childhood Education and
Minister for Youth launched the
Early Years Strategy 2024-2034’ on 7 May 2024.
• There has been comprehensive consultation to support the development of the
Government’s Early Years Strategy and to shape our vision for the future of
Australia’s children and their families.
• This included a National Early Years Summit, pulse survey, discussion paper
submission process, a series of roundtables and consultation directly with children
aged 3-5 between January and August 2023.
• Consultation on the draft Strategy resulted in
405 responses and
230 participants
in the parent and carer focussed research.
• To assist realising the goals of the Strategy, on 7 May 2024 the establishment of a
Parents and Carers Reference Group within the Social Services Portfolio was
announced.
• The Strategy will be implemented through action plans over ten years, with the first
action plan to start in 2024.
Safe and Supported: National Framework
• Safe
and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children
2021-2031’ (Safe and Supported) sets out Australia’s 10-year strategy to make
significant and sustained progress in reducing the rates of child abuse and neglect
and its intergenerational impacts.
• $30 million was provided in the 2022–2023’ Budget for 5 new initiatives under Safe
and Supported:
o Supporting a National Child and Family Investment Strategy and innovation fund
($10 million over 5 years).
o Establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre for Excellence in
Child and Family Support
($8 million over 5 years).
o Improve support for non-parent carers
($7 million over 5 years).
o supporting parents and non-parent carers with parenting practices
($3 million
over 5 years).
17
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
▪ A grant of $350,418 (GST excl) has been made to the Queensland Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP) for the
development of a Cultural Parenting Practice Framework for use by the child
and family sector workforce, including community service organisations, to
strengthen parenting practices.
▪ This grant is part of Action 6.b. in the Safe and Supported First Action Plan,
which will provide support to parents and carers, including raising awareness
of supports to strengthen parenting practices.
o A measure to establish a National Advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children and young people was included
($2 million over 4 years). This
funding has been re-allocated to support the establishment of the National
Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young
People.
National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children
• Part of the Government’s commitment to implement the
National Plan to End
Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032’, included key actions such as:
o establishing the Women and Women’s Safety Ministerial Council, which provides
a forum for member governments to drive national progress on gender equality
and women’s safety across all areas in ending violence against women and
children within Australia.
o an
additional $10.7 million for the Northern Territory for which a bilateral
agreement was signed on 28 December 2022.
o the Family and Domestic Violence Leave legislation will allow employees of non-
small business employers to access 10 days of paid family and domestic
violence leave from 1 February 2023. Employees of small businesses (fewer
than 15 employees) have had access to paid family and domestic violence leave
from 1 August 2023.
o funding has also been provided for
500 new front-line workers to support
women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence.
Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme
• On 7 July 2023, the Australian Government tabled the report by the Royal
Commission into the Robodebt Scheme. The Government will be working towards
providing a response later this year.
• The Australian Government released its response to the Robodebt Royal
Commission on 13 November 2023, and has progressed work on the
recommendations made by the Royal Commission.
Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission
• The October 2022-2023’ Budget allocated
$1.01 million over 5 years for the
establishment of victim survivor advisory group.
• The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission was established on
1 July 2022 and Ms Micaela Cronin commenced as the Commissioner on
1 November 2022.
18
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
Independent review of the NDIS
• The independent review of the NDIS was announced in October 2022 jointly led by
Professor Bruce Bonyhady AM and Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM, which released its Final
Report on 7 December 2023. The outcomes of the review will be used to finalise
the Government’s commitment to a new NDIS Workforce Strategy.
• In December 2023, National Cabinet agreed to work together to: implement
legislative and other changes to the NDIS to improve the experience of participants
and restore the original intent of the Scheme to support people with permanent and
significant disability, within a broader ecosystem of supports; adjust state and
territory NDIS contribution escalation rates and jointly design and fund additional
Foundational Supports.
Legislation
• In 2022 legislation was passed to deliver on commitments to:
o Lift Commonwealth Seniors Health Card income limits resulting in close to
29,000 cards, as at the end of December 2023, granted to people who are only
eligible because of the new higher income thresholds.
o Incentivise pensioners to downsize by extending the assets test exemption for
principal home sales.
o Provide pensioners above Age Pension age (and eligible veterans) a
one-off
credit of $4,000 to their Work Bonus income bank and increase the maximum
income bank
limit to $11,800 (up from $7,800) until 31 December 2023.
▪ following passage of the
Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment
(Supporting the Transition to Work) Act, the maximum Work Bonus balance
of $11,800 has been made permanent from 1 January 2024. New pensioners
of Age Pension age will also commence with a balance of $4,000 rather than
$0.
Better Support for People with Disability
• Better support for people with disability, with community and sector consultations
already commenced, evidence gathering, foundational work with states and
territories and funding rolled out in 2022-2023’ for commitments to:
o Provide further funding for the National Disability Research Partnership to
30 June 2025.
o Increase funding for the NDIS Appeals Program and Disability Representative
Organisations.
o Develop a National Autism Strategy.
• The Central Policy Coordination Unit continues engagement across Commonwealth
and state and territory governments to embed the needs of people with disability in
all government policies, programs, services and systems.
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with
Disability
19
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
• On 29 September 2023, the Australian Government tabled the report by the Royal
Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with
Disability. The Government is carefully considering Disability Royal Commission’s
final report and its
222 recommendations.
• The Government has established a Commonwealth Disability Royal Commission
Taskforce to coordinate the Australian Government’s response.
• On 5 March 2024, all governments except Tasmania due to being in caretaker,
released a joint statement on Australian, state and territory responses to the
Disability Royal Commission, committing to respond to joint recommendations by
mid-2024.
National Carer Strategy
• In October 2023, the Government announced that a new National Carer Strategy
will be developed, investing
$3.8 million through to 2025-2026’ to develop a
national agenda for and with unpaid carers.
Support for people with Autism
• Following the October 2022 Budget announcement, the Government commenced
consultation with key autism sector representatives to develop a representative
approach to guide the development work.
• In May 2023, a newly formed National Autism Strategy Oversight Council, with
majority of autistic community members, formally met for the first time to inform and
guide work, ahead of the national consultations to gather community insights on the
Strategy.
• Initial work was undertaken to develop the evidence base including consideration of
existing evidence, public submissions and other consultation processes. National
consultations, co-led by Autistic people and/or local trusted organisations, occurred
between 4 September 2023 and 30 October 2023, with additional targeted
consultations undertaken up to mid-November 2023.
• Following National consultation in 2023 a draft strategy was published for an 8-
week public consultation period from 2 April to 31 May 2024.The Strategy will set
out the long-term vision, areas of focus and National Commitments which the
Strategy will deliver on.
• Action plans will then be developed to deliver on these commitments.
Disability Employment Centre of Excellence
• In 2023-2024’ the Government committed
$1.1 million to contribute to the
development of the Centre of Excellence.
• A public consultation process was undertaken between October and November
2023 with 89 submissions provided in response to an options paper.
• A consultation report and public submissions were published on 23 April 2024
in response to the public consultation process.
Attachments:
20
Modified: 20/06/2024
OFFICIAL
Portfolio Commitments
Attachment A – Recent key focus media releases, June 2024
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Kraig Lowes, Branch Manager, Portfolio Governance
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include position):
Pat Hetherington, Chief Operating Officer
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
20 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
21
Modified: 20/06/2024
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 68
2024-25 Budget Social Services Portfolio Measures
QB24-000024
2024-25 Budget – Social Services Portfolio Measures
Headline response
• The 2024-25 Budget was delivered on 14 May 2024.
• The Department of Social Services remains focused on
supporting the Government in addressing contemporary social
policy issues and supporting the Government’s efforts to improve
the lives of individuals and families in Australian communities.
TALKING POINTS
• This Budget demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment
to tackling disadvantage and cost of living.
• We are providing targeted support to those in greatest need; women
and children escaping domestic violence, people on income support,
people with disability and First Nations peoples.
KEY POINTS
How is the government working to keep women safe?
• This Government will invest $925.2 million to make permanent the
Leaving Violence Program (LVP) that will commence from
mid-2025. The LVP will support victim-survivors of intimate partner
violence, regardless of visa status or gender, to make choices
about leaving violent relationships.
• The Government will provide additional funding to further support
evidence-based policy advice to Government to end gender-based
violence, through commissioning Australia National Research
Organisation for Women’s Safety to further build the evidence base
on pathways into and out of perpetration of family, domestic and
sexual violence.
1
OFFICIAL
2024-25 Budget Social Services Portfolio Measures
How is the government delivering for people with disability?
• The Government is continuing to address the gap in workforce
participation between people with and without disability, including
through:
o additional funding of $227.6 million over 4 years for a new
specialist disability program, bringing the total funding
provided for disability employment to around $5.3 billion over
4 years.
o The new specialist disability employment program, which will
replace the current Disability Employment Services (DES)
program from 1 July 2025, will help more people with
disability, injury and/or a health condition to prepare for and
find sustainable employment.
o The new program will remove access barriers and improve the
quality of services for both participants and employers, and
provide tailored and flexible support that reflects individuals’
unique needs and diverse pathways to find and retain
employment.
o $23.3 million over 4 years to establish a Disability
Employment Centre of Excellence, delivering on a 2022-23
October Budget election commitment. The Centre will be an
evidence-informed, best-practice hub that will focus on
providing resources, tools and training to help providers
deliver quality employment services and supports to both
participants with disability and employers.
o supporting the Government in continuing to deliver the
National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline and the
Complaints Resolution and Referral Service, $2.6 million has
been allocated to the extension of these services to the end of
2026 while the Government considers future arrangements in
the context of the broader reforms within the disability sector.
o This investment of funding will ensure the continuation of a
robust complaints framework and the continuation of these
important services, allowing people with disability to access
fair, impartial and independent advice and to voice their
2
OFFICIAL
2024-25 Budget Social Services Portfolio Measures
concerns regarding the delivery of supports.
How is the government supporting financially vulnerable people
and communities?
• $23.3 million to boost support for Australians in financial distress or
experiencing financial hardship and to build financial resilience.
This will be delivered through additional funding to the Financial
Wellbeing and Capability Activity. This will bring the total additional
Government investment to $138 million
.
• The Government will provide targeted support to applicants of the
National Redress Scheme (the Scheme) who submit incomplete
applications to improve the efficiency of the Scheme and to better
support survivors of institutional child sexual abuse through the
application process. This will include funding to access free legal
support through knowmore Legal Service Limited.
• The Government is supporting the community sector partnership
framework to underpin how Government support a stronger and
more diverse and independent community sector and will work
together to support Australians in need.
• $13.9m to extend and expand existing community supports for
parents and caregivers to improve child outcomes in the early
years. This includes through extending funding for 2 years for the
Raising Children Network, the Fathering Project and the Brave
Foundation to administer the Supporting Expecting Parents and
Teens program.
• The Government will also establish a Parents and Carers
Reference Group to help drive implementation of the Early Years
3
OFFICIAL
2024-25 Budget Social Services Portfolio Measures
Strategy and elevate the perspectives of parents and caregivers in
future reform activity.
What is the government doing to improve the lives of Australia’s
First Nations people
• The Government will establish an interim National Commissioner
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young
People (National Commissioner), as a first step towards
establishing an ongoing, legislated and independent National
Commissioner. It will also establish an Office of the National
Commissioner which will act to protect and promote the rights,
interests and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children and young people.
What is the government doing on gender equality and
opportunity?
• $1.1 billion to strengthen Australia’s Government-funded Paid
Parental Leave (PPL) scheme and improve women’s retirement
outcomes. Superannuation will be paid on Government-funded
PPL for births or adoptions on or after 1 July 2025.
• This will make the super system fairer, reduce the gender gap and
benefit 180,000 families a year.
• The Government is also increasing flexibility for the Carer Payment
by removing barriers to participation for recipients of Carer
Payment by changing the 25 hour per week rule for Carer Payment
recipients to 100 hours over a 4-week settlement period
and
4
OFFICIAL
2024-25 Budget Social Services Portfolio Measures
removing study, volunteering and travel time from the participation
limit.
What is the government doing to provide cost of living relief?
• The Government will deliver responsible cost-of-living relief for
Australians by delivering targeted support. Measures include:
o Freezing social security deeming rates at current levels for a
further 12 months to 30 June 2025.
o Further increasing maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent
Assistance (CRA) by 10 per cent, to reduce rental stress for
private renters receiving income support or Family Tax Benefit
Part A, and who are eligible for the maximum rate of CRA.
o Expanding eligibility for the higher rate of JobSeeker Payment
for recipients with a Partial Capacity to Work (0-14 hours per
week).
• Additionally, the Government is investing $23.1 million to enter into
a bilateral international social security agreement with Uruguay.
This will enable us to share the costs of providing retirement
income support to those who have split their working life between
the 2 countries.
For further cost of living see QB24-000025
CONTACT NAME: Richard Baumgart
POSITION: Group Manager
PHONE:s 47F
Portfolio Coordination
Date Cleared: 15 May 2024
5
FOI LEX 51051
OFFICIAL
Document 69
REDRESS
QB22-000034
National Redress Scheme
Issue: Can the Minister provide the House with an update on the
progress of the National Redress Scheme?
Headline response
The Albanese Labor Government is committed to a timely,
trauma-informed, accessible Redress Scheme that supports and
recognises survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.
TALKING POINTS
• The 2024-25 Budget provided an additional $33.3 million to further
support applicants to the Redress Scheme through:
o $26.1 million over 4 years for a targeted support service to
assist them to submit complete applications; and
o $7.2 million in 2024-25 for knowmore Legal Services to
deliver free legal services and support for survivors. This is
in addition to the $6.25 million in current funding for
knowmore for this service in 2024-25.
• The 2024-25 Budget provided an additional $92.4 million in
2024-25 to support the administration of the National Redress
Scheme. This is in addition to the $62.1 million over 5 years which
was provided in 2023-24 and brings funding for 2024-25 to
$113.7 million.
• This additional funding responds to an increase in applications and
aims to reduce the impact on survivors waiting for outcomes.
1
Modified: 20/6/2024
OFFICIAL
REDRESS
• The 2023-24 Budget provided $80.1 million for essential Redress
Support Services to assist survivors to apply to the Scheme.
• This additional funding also corrects the failure of the Liberal
National Party to provide adequate funding for its operations.
• Following the Final Australian Government Response to the
Second Year Review, the Government introduced the National
Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendments
Bill 2023
(the Bill) into Parliament in November 2023.
• The Bill passed through Parliament on 20 March 2024, with all
measures, except the reassessment measure, taking effect on
4 April 2024. The Amending Act makes a range of important
enhancements to the Scheme:
o the option of having a finalised application reassessed
where a relevant institution subsequently joins the Scheme
or a government agrees to be the Funder of Last Resort;
o removing the restriction on people applying from gaol;
o better targeting assessment for serious criminal
convictions;
o allowing additional information with a review request and
introducing a ‘no worse off’ provision so reviewed offers are
not reduced by a differing interpretation of the application;
and
o providing additional authorisations for sharing protected
information, including for the purposes of sharing
information about non-participating institutions with
applicants.
2
Modified: 20/6/2024
OFFICIAL
REDRESS
• The reassessment measure will commence no later than
29 September 2024 to allow time for system and process design to
be finalised.
• Another enhancement to Scheme eligibility commenced on
29 November 2023, enabling former child migrants who are not
Australian citizens or permanent residents to apply.
• These measures will improve the Scheme and the experience of
survivors for its remaining years of operation.
• As at 14 June 2024, over 43,000
applications have been received
by the Scheme, with over 18,000 outcomes issued to survivors.
If ASKED – Why were some Review recommendations not
supported?
• The rationale for all positions are outlined in the Final Government
response. These were reached in agreement with all governments
as Scheme partners. Consideration was given to the risks
concerning institutional participation, introducing inequity between
survivors, and re-traumatising survivors.
If ASKED – Why has the Government made it easier for people
convicted of serious crimes to access redress?
• The Scheme’s special assessment process for people with serious
criminal convictions is being better targeted based on years of
practical experience.
3
Modified: 20/6/2024
OFFICIAL
REDRESS
• In essence, this will not change who is prevented from accessing
redress. People who have committed the types of crimes that
would bring the Scheme into disrepute will still need to go through
the special assessment process. But redress outcomes for many
others who would not be prevented from accessing the Scheme
after undergoing the special assessment process will not be
unnecessarily delayed.
[If needed] People with the particularly serious offences prescribed
(i.e. unlawful killing, sexual offences, or terrorism offences),
or where the Scheme Operator determines exceptional
circumstances exist – regardless of the person’s offence – will
be required to undergo the full special assessment process.
CONTACT NAME: Mark Harrigan
POSITION: Group Manager Redress
PHONE: s 47F
LAST UPDATE: 20 June 2024
4
Modified: 20/6/2024
OFFICIAL
REDRESS
BACKGROUND / KEY STATISTICS AS AT 14 June 2024
• 43,142 applications for Redress have been received by the Scheme.
o 18,116 outcomes which have been issued to applicants. Of these:
▪ 16,850 applications have been finalised resulting in 15,694
payments, totalling approximately $1.4 billion.
• To date, 6 institutions are publicly named as declining to join the Scheme:
Woodlands Golf Club (VIC), CYMS Basketball Association (VIC), Devonport
Community Church (TAS), Forrest Tennis Club (ACT), Kenja Communication
(ACT, NSW & VIC), and De La Salle Caringbah Junior Rugby League Football
Club (NSW).
o Institutions which fail to join the Scheme will be publicly named,
be ineligible for Commonwealth grant funding and may be stripped
of their charitable status.
• There are currently 540 institutions participating in the Scheme. In addition,
there are 133 unique institutions where the Commonwealth, with state and
territory governments, have taken responsibility under Funder of Last Resort
arrangements. This includes four partly participating institutions.
• Processing times can vary, depending on the complexity of an application,
or whether an institution has joined the Redress Scheme.
• Over the life of the Scheme, the average processing time from the date the
Scheme first receives an application until notifying an outcome is around
12.6 months.
o This includes time outside the Scheme’s control, such as when
gathering information from institutions or applicants or when applicants
are considering their options.
• The Scheme continues to look for improvement opportunities at each step
of the application process to maximise efficiency.
Contact Officer’s Name and Position:
Mark Harrigan, Group Manager Redress
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
DSS Input Cleared By (include
Mark Harrigan, Group Manager Redress
position):
Phone/Mobile:
s 47F
Clearance Date:
20 June 2024
MO Clearance Date:
To be completed by MO
5
Modified: 20/6/2024
