Appendix A: Expense Measures (Continued)
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Australian Institute of Family Studies — transfer
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | - | - | - | - |
| Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |
- | - | - | - | - |
| Total - Expense | - | - | - | - | - |
The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has been transferred from the portfolio of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) portfolio. The work of AIFS is more aligned with the work of the FaHCSIA portfolio now that families policy is a well‑established government agenda.
Baby Bonus — reset to $5,000 and pause indexation for three years
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Human Services | - | 0.4 | 1.5 | .. | - |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | 0.2 | -89.1 | -125.1 | -145.6 |
| Total - Expense | - | 0.5 | -87.5 | -125.1 | -145.6 |
From 1 July 2012 the Government will pause the indexation of the Baby Bonus payment for three years. The payment rate will also be reset to $5,000 per child from 1 September 2012. The current rate of the baby bonus is $5,437. The Baby Bonus is paid in 13 fortnightly instalments.
In addition to the Baby Bonus, eligible families will remain able to claim Family Tax Benefit Part A and/or Part B to help them with the costs of raising their child.
This measure will provide savings of $357.7 million over four years from 2011‑12. Savings from this measure will be redirected to support other Government priorities.
Better Targeting of Immunisation Incentives
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Human Services | - | 10.9 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 1.1 |
| Department of Health and Ageing |
- | 1.4 | 2.9 | 6.7 | 7.2 |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | 0.4 | -79.8 | -82.8 | -86.0 |
| Total - Expense | - | 12.8 | -70.5 | -73.9 | -77.7 |
| Related capital ($m) | |||||
| Department of Human Services | - | - | 0.2 | - | - |
The Government will introduce reforms to strengthen incentives for parents to have their children immunised which aim to improve immunisation coverage rates over time.
From 1 July 2012, the Government will make payment of the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A supplement conditional on a child being fully immunised. From 1 July 2013, children will also be required to receive vaccines for meningococcal C, pneumococcal and varicella (chicken pox) to be assessed as fully immunised. Immunisation is already a condition of the Child Care Benefit. These arrangements will replace the Maternity Immunisation Allowance which will cease from 1 July 2012.
This will strengthen the financial incentives for parents to immunise their young children because parents will need to have had their children fully vaccinated during the financial years that each child turns one, two and five years of age to receive the FTB Part A supplement in those years.
From 1 July 2013 Priorix — Tetra®, a combination vaccine which will replace individual doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and the varicella vaccine, will also be added to the National Immunisation Program. This addition will cost $15.7 million over four years.
This measure will provide savings of $209.1 million over four years.
Savings from this measure will be redirected to support other Government priorities.
Clean Energy Future — Helping Households — Essential Medical Equipment Payment
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | - | 15.3 | 15.7 | 16.2 |
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | - | - | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| Total - Expense | - | - | 17.1 | 17.5 | 17.9 |
The Government will provide $52.5 million over three years to assist eligible people to meet the additional carbon price related electricity costs incurred through operating essential medical equipment.
The Essential Medical Equipment Payment will be an annual, tax‑exempt payment of $140 available from 1 July 2012 to people who require specified medical equipment due to a medical condition or disability, who either hold, or care for someone in their household who holds, a Commonwealth concession card.
This measure delivers on the Government's plan for a clean energy future.
See also the related measures titled Clean Energy Future — Helping Households — tax cuts and increased payments and Clean Energy Future — Helping Households — residential aged care.
Further information can be found in the joint press release of 10 July 2011 issued by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, and the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
Clean Energy Future — Renewable Energy — Remote Indigenous Energy Program
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | 0.2 | 3.6 | 12.3 | 12.0 |
The Government will provide $40.0 million over five years (including $11.9 million in 2015‑16) to assist remote Indigenous communities to access clean, affordable and reliable 24‑hour power supply and manage their energy efficiently. This will contribute to improvements in health, education and long‑term economic viability.
The program will provide financial support for around 50 communities to install renewable energy systems, such as solar panels and wind turbines, and to repair and maintain up to 260 existing systems. The program will also provide communities with training in basic system maintenance and information on energy efficiency.
This measure delivers on the Government's plan for a clean energy future.
Further information can be found in the joint press release of 10 July 2011 issued by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer and the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
Community Development Employment Projects Program — redirection
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | - | -10.0 | -10.2 | -10.4 |
The Government will reduce funding under the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program by $30.6 million over four years from 2011‑12 (and in addition $79.0 million from 2015‑16 to 2021‑22). CDEP will retain $779.4 million over four years from 2011‑12 to continue to provide access to work readiness activities and community development projects.
Savings from this measure will be redirected to support other Government priorities.
Community Investment Program — redirection of funding
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | 6.0 | -3.8 | -4.6 | -4.8 |
The Government will provide $6.0 million in 2011‑12 to the Community Investment Program to respond to unanticipated community needs.
The Government will also redirect $15.1 million over four years from 2012‑13 (including $2.1 million in 2015‑16) from the Community Investment Program to support other Government priorities.
Remaining funding for the Community Investment Program of $233.2 million over five years from 2011‑12 will still be available to provide grants to community organisations to undertake local community projects.
Disability Care and Support — Laying the foundations for a National Disability insurance scheme
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $9.7 million in 2011‑12 to lay the foundation for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) following the recommendations of the Productivity Commission's final Report on Disability Care and Support.
This measure will support technical policy work to lay the foundations for reform as recommended by the Productivity Commission as a necessary precursor to the establishment of a national scheme. A Council of Australian Governments Select Council of Ministers is leading the reform in this area and is being supported by an Advisory Group of disability experts and advocates, that is providing expert advice on delivering the foundations for reform.
The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.
Further information can be found in the press release of 10 August 2011 issued by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Family Tax Benefit — Cease fortnightly payments to families who have zero entitlement for two consecutive years
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Human Services | - | 5.8 | 0.5 | .. | .. |
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | 0.1 | -0.9 | -1.2 | -1.2 |
| Australian Taxation Office | - | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Health and Ageing |
- | - | -0.3 | -1.0 | -0.7 |
| Total - Expense | - | 5.9 | -0.7 | -2.1 | -1.9 |
The Government will cease fortnightly payments of Family Tax Benefit (FTB) instalments to customers who claim FTB but are found to have no actual entitlement for two consecutive years following the end‑of‑year reconciliation with their income tax return.
Families no longer receiving FTB Part A or Part B instalments would still be able to make a lump sum claim at the end of the financial year, and exceptions will be made in special circumstances to ensure that families are not put at risk of hardship.
National Carer Strategy
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | 10.5 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 10.0 |
| Department of Human Services | - | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Department of Health and Ageing |
- | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Total - Expense | - | 12.4 | 9.7 | 10.1 | 10.5 |
The Government will provide $60.4 million over four years to implement a number of initiatives as part of the Government's National Carer Strategy, which aims to improve recognition and support for carers. The Government will allocate:
- $42.6 million over four years to provide carers of children with Type 1 Diabetes under the age of 16 years with automatic eligibility for Carer Allowance (child).
- $10.3 million over four years to continue the Carer Adjustment Payment. This one‑off payment of up to $10,000 assists families to adjust following a catastrophic event involving a child aged 0‑6 years.
- $2.9 million over four years to provide the Carer Supplement to carers who currently fail to qualify for the supplement, as they or their partner worked during the fortnight of 1 July.
- $2.0 million over four years to allow certain Carer Allowance (adult) recipients to qualify for a bereavement payment. Carers who receive an income support payment other than Carer Payment will be eligible for a lump sum bereavement payment (14 weeks of Carer Allowance) on the death of the person they are caring for.
- $1.6 million over two years to deliver a national campaign to raise public awareness of the role and contribution of carers, focusing on Indigenous carers, carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and young carers.
- $1.0 million in 2011‑12 to host a young carer festival in each state and territory recognising the contribution made by young carers.
Funding of $17.8 million for this measure was included as a 'decision taken but not yet announced' in the 2011‑12 Budget. An additional $42.6 million was agreed by the Government after the 2011‑12 Budget.
Further information can be found in the press release of 3 August 2011, issued by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Minister for Health and Ageing, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers.
Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory — Food security — strengthening remote stores
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | - | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.4 |
The Government will provide $40.9 million over 11 years (including $27.3 million from 2015‑16 to 2021‑22) to support food security in remote Indigenous communities.
This measure will strengthen the licensing of stores in remote areas of the Northern Territory. The scheme will be expanded to cover businesses located outside of major centres that are an important source of food or grocery items for remote Indigenous communities. The previous scheme only licensed remote stores that were participating in income management.
The program will assist remote stores, particularly those with limited financial capacity, with governance and retail training, point‑of‑sale technology, and essential minor infrastructure to meet acceptable standards.
Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory — Tackling Alcohol Abuse
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | - | 3.2 | 6.3 | 5.7 |
| Department of Human Services | - | - | 1.4 | 0.2 | - |
| Department of the Treasury | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total - Expense | - | - | 4.7 | 6.6 | 5.7 |
The Government will provide $45.6 million over 11 years (including $28.7 million from 2015‑16 to 2021‑22) to tackle alcohol abuse in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. This includes supporting the development and implementation of community specific alcohol management plans and referrals to income management by the Northern Territory Alcohol and Other Drugs Tribunal.
Further information can be found in the press release of 14 November 2011 issued by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Weekly income support payments to vulnerable Australians — expansion
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations |
- | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Human Services | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total - Expense | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $0.1m over four years from 2011‑12 to allow more vulnerable people to access their income support payments on a weekly basis to assist them to better budget their income, including to meet their rent payments. In addition, this measure will have an impact on the underlying cash balance of $1.5 million over four years from 2011‑12 that does not impact the fiscal balance, due to the bringing forward by one week of some payments into an earlier financial year.
This measure expands the Weekly income support payments to vulnerable Australians measure announced in the 2010‑11 Budget.
The cost of this measure will be absorbed by the Department of Human Services.
Western Australia's Appealathon and Telethon — contribution
| 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | 2013‑14 | 2014-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
- | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $3.0 million in 2011‑12 to support two Western Australian television charity appeals. The Channel Nine Appealathon and the Channel Seven Telethon will both receive $1.5 million. Funds from the Appealathon and the Telethon will provide assistance to families in need.
Funding for this measure will be provided from the Community Investment Program.
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