Report on Participation Requirements and Penalties

25 September 2002

View the report as a single document - (PDF 312KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:


Membership of the Committee	(PDF 50KB)

Recommendations	(PDF 58KB)

Chapter 1 - Introduction	(PDF 103KB)
Terms of Reference Conduct of the inquiry Reform of the welfare system The Bill Independent Review of Breaches and Penalties in the Social Security System

Chapter 2 - The legislative proposals including parenting payment and mature age newstart recipients	(PDF 241KB)
Introduction Parenting payment participation requirements Requirement to enter into a participation agreement Initial interviews/‘cooling-off’ period Requirement to comply with a participation agreement Recognition of children’s needs Eligibility for Family Tax Benefit Participation requirements for mature age newstart recipients Other issues affecting participation requirements The need for further exemptions Simplification of income reporting Implementation of the proposed measures by Centrelink Effective communication by Centrelink The need for a participation allowance Breaches and penalties Parenting payment Mature age Newstart The impact of breaching Reducing the impact of breaching Conclusion Personal Support Programme Working Credit Language, Literacy and Numeracy Supplement Closure of access to mature age allowance and partner allowance

Chapter 3 - The independent review of breaches and penalties in the social security system	(PDF 153KB)
The Independent Review and its recommendations Implementation of the Review’s recommendations Response from Members of the Review ‘Especially vulnerable persons regime’ Choice of provider Income reporting Investigations Penalties Other recommendations Extension of proposed measures to all income support recipients Conclusion

Government members minority report	(PDF 63KB)

Appendix 1 - List of public submissions, tabled documents and other additional information authorised for publication by the committee	(PDF 81KB)

Appendix 2 - Witnesses who appeared before the committee at public hearings	(PDF 78KB)

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3515

Fax: +61 2 6277 5829

Email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au

Phone:	+61 2 6277 3515
Fax:	+61 2 6277 5829
Email:	community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au