✦ Plain-English Summary

Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus (Measures No. 2) Bill 2020

What it does

This is a second wave of economic support laws responding to COVID-19, covering everything from wage subsidies and tax breaks to childcare support and small business lending guarantees. It amends existing laws so the government can get money out faster and support more sectors of the economy that were struggling.

Why it matters

Businesses and workers needed quick help during lockdowns, and normal processes were too slow. These changes let the government fast-track payments, loosen eligibility rules for welfare, and get credit flowing to small businesses without the usual red tape.

Key details

• Fair Work changes: The bill temporarily relaxed employment law rules so employers could adjust wages and conditions more easily during the crisis (these rules were set to end in late September 2020).

• Tax and welfare adjustments: Government payments to workers and businesses weren't counted as taxable income or held against welfare eligibility—so people wouldn't lose benefits or face unexpected tax bills after getting emergency support.

• Child care support: The government removed normal limits on how much it would pay childcare services to keep them operating, and gave the Minister power to review rejected funding requests quickly.

Official Description

Introduced with the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Bill 2020, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2019-2020 and Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2019-2020 to respond to the economic impacts of the coronavirus, the bill amends: the Fair Work Act 2009 to temporarily enable employers to issue JobKeeper enabling directions; eight Acts to makes amendments consequential on the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020 ; the Guarantee of Lending to Small and Medium Enterprises (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Act 2020 to ensure that certain categories of smaller non-authorised deposit-taking institutions will fall within the definition of ‘financial institution’; the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 to: modify how child care subsidy (CCS) entitlements are reviewed when an individual, who is a member of a couple for some but not all of the CCS fortnights in an income year, meets the CCS reconciliation conditions; and provide that payments of Additional Child Care Subsidy and funding agreements for certain grant programs occur under the existing standing appropriation; and the Taxation Administration Act 1953 to allow, until 30 June 2023, the disclosure of de-identified protected information to the Treasury for the purposes of policy development and analysis in relation to the coronavirus. Also: provides a temporary mechanism for ministers to change arrangements for meeting information and documentary requirements under Commonwealth legislation; and allows the Veterans’ Minister to: increase, by legislative instrument, the amount paid to a person receiving a payment under the veterans’ law by the amount of the coronavirus supplement, and vary the qualifications and eligibility for payments by legislative instrument.

Committee Referrals

Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

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