Overarching responsibilities and principal legislation
Each Commonwealth minister has executive responsibility allocated by the Governor-General under the Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO). The AAO sets out which matters and legislation are administered by each department or portfolio.
The AAO is administered by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Visit the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website for the original and subsequent amendments.
Principal Acts administered by our department may be found on the AAO and include:
- A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999
- A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999
- Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme Act 2015
- Carer Recognition Act 2010
- Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989
- Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988
- Data-matching Program (Assistance and Tax) Act 1990
- Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023
- Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee Act 2023
- Gambling Measures Act 2012
- National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013
- National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018
- National Rental Affordability Scheme Act 2008
- Not-for-profit Sector Freedom to Advocate Act 2013
- Paid Parental Leave Act 2010
- Social Security Act 1991
- Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
- Social Security (International Agreements) Act 1999
- Student Assistance Act 1973
- Supported Accommodation Assistance Act 1994.
Federal Register of Legislation
The Federal Register of Legislation (FRL) is the authorised whole-of-government website for Commonwealth legislation and related documents. It contains the full text and details of the lifecycle of individual laws and the relationships between them.
The Legislation Register is managed by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
All legislation and related documents administered by our department appear on the FRL website.
Guides to Social Policy Law
The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law.
Visit the Guides to Social Policy Law website to view the following:
- Social Security Guide
- Family Assistance Guide
- Paid Parental Leave Guide
- Child Support Guide
- ABSTUDY Policy Manual
- Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme Guidelines
- National Redress Guide.
Status of legislation
Information on Social Services Bills is available on the bills and legislation page of the Parliament of Australia website.