The revised bill includes a new lower means test on family payments and the tightening of the disability support pension.

The bill passed the Senate with ALP and Greens support. Crossbench senators including Bob Day, David Leyonhjelm and Ricky Muir also supported the bill. Independent senator Nick Xenophon and Jacqui Lambie opposed, as did the Greens. The rest of the Palmer United Party abstained.

Measures passed support the Government’s decision to review disability support pension (DSP) recipients aged under 35 years against revised impairment tables.

From 1 January 2015, DSP recipients will generally be paid for up to four weeks only in a 12 month period if they are absent from Australia.

A sum of $3 million will fund the young carer bursary programme, which will provide support for young carers who look after people with disabilities, physical or mental health issues or older people in need of care.

From July 1, the family tax benefit (FTB) part B primary earner income limit will fall from $150,000 to $100,000 per year, and the FTB Part A per child add-on amount will no longer be used in calculating a family’s higher income free area.

Income from superannuation income will be included in the commonwealth seniors health card income test from January 1, with grandfathering provisions applied to existing cardholders.

Access to relocation scholarships will be restricted to students relocating to or from regional areas.