An Act relating to Social Services.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Social Services Amendment Act 1976.

(2) The Social Services Act 1947-1975 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Social Services Act 1947-1976.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Definitions.

3. Section 18 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting in the definition of “income”, after paragraph (eaa), the following paragraph:—

“(ea) a payment received by a trainee in full-time training under the scheme known as the National Employment and Training System, being—

(i) a payment known as the training component; or

(ii) a payment of a living away from home allowance;

Rate of age or invalid pension (including guardians allowance payable to an unmarried person).

4. Section 28 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-section (1a) the figures “$2,015” and substituting the figures “$2,145”; and

(b) by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-section (1a) the figures “$1,677” and substituting the figures “$1,781

Inmates of benevolent homes.

5. Section 50 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-section (1) the figures “$676” and substituting the figures “$728”; and

(b) by omitting from that paragraph the figures “$728” and substituting the figures “$780”.

Inmates of benevolent homes.

6. Section 80 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-section (1) the figures “$676” and substituting the figures “$728”; and

(b) by omitting from that paragraph the figures “$728” and substituting the figures “$780”.

Interpretation.

7. Section 106 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting in the definition of “income” in sub-section (1), after paragraph (ba), the following paragraph:—

“(bb) a payment received by a trainee in full-time training under the scheme known as the National Employment and Training System, being—

(i) a payment known as the training component; or

(ii) a payment of a living away from home allowance;”.

Rate of unemployment and sickness benefit.

8. Section 112 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-section (1) the figures “$38.75” and substituting the figures “$41.25”;

(b) by omitting from paragraph (c) of sub-section (1) the figures “$32.25” and substituting the figures “$34.25”;

(d) by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-section (2) the figures “$32.25” (wherever occurring) and substituting the figures “$34.25”;

(e) by omitting from sub-section (4) the figures “$38.75” (wherever occurring) and substituting the figures “$41.25”; and

(f) by omitting from sub-section (4a) the figures “$64.50” (wherever occurring) and substituting the figures “$68.50”.

Offences.

9. (1) Section 138 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (1) the words “One hundred dollars” and substituting the figures “$500”.

(2) The amendment made by sub-section (1) does not apply in relation to an offence committed before the commencement of this section.

Application of certain amendments.

10. (1) The amendments made by this Act, in so far as they affect instalments of age, invalid or widows’ pensions or supporting mothers’ benefits, apply in relation to an instalment of such a pension or benefit falling due on 13 May 1976 and to all subsequent instalments.

(2) The amendments made by this Act, in so far as they affect instalments of service pensions under the Repatriation Act 1920-1976, apply in relation to an instalment of such a pension falling due on 6 May 1976 and to all subsequent instalments.

(3) The amendments made by this Act, in so far as they affect instalments of unemployment or sickness benefits, apply in relation to an instalment of such a benefit falling due on 1 May 1976 and to all subsequent instalments.