MATERNITY ALLOWANCE.

No. 16 of 1943.

An Act to amend the Maternity Allowance Act 1912-1942.

[Assented to 29th March, 1943.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Maternity Allowance Act 1943.

(2.) The Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1942 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1943.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and forty-three, and the Principal Act, as amended by this Act, shall apply in respect of births occurring on or after that date.

3. Section four of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—

Maternity allowance.

“4.—(1.) Subject to this Act, a maternity allowance in accordance with this section shall be payable to every woman who gives birth to a child, either in the Commonwealth or on board a ship proceeding from a port in the Commonwealth or a Territory of the Commonwealth to another port in the Commonwealth or a Territory of the Commonwealth.

“(2.) The amount of the maternity allowance payable in pursuance of the last preceding sub-section shall be—

(a) where there are no other children—Five pounds;

(b) where there are one or two other children—Six pounds; or

(c) where there are three or more other children—Seven pounds ten shillings,

together with Twenty-five shillings in respect of each of the four weeks immediately before, and Twenty-five shillings in respect of each of the four weeks immediately after, the birth of the child.

“(3.) Payment of maternity allowance in accordance with this section shall be made out of the Trust Account established under the National Welfare Fund Act 1943 and known as the National Welfare Fund.”.

Who may be claimants.

4. Section six of the Principal Act is amended by omitting subsections (3.) and (4.).

Evidence as to income.

5. Section six a of the Principal Act is repealed.

6. Sections seven and seven a of the Principal Act are repealed and the following sections inserted in their stead:—

Claims for maternity allowance.

“7.—(1.) A maternity allowance shall not be paid unless a claim therefor has been made in accordance with a form approved by the Commissioner.

“(2.) A maternity allowance shall not be paid unless the claim therefor is made within three months after the date of the birth or within such longer period as the Commissioner, in special circumstances, allows.

Time of payment.

“7a. The amount of a maternity allowance specified in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of sub-section (2.) of section four of this Act, together with the amount of the maternity allowance payable in respect of the four weeks immediately preceding the birth of the child, shall be payable on the birth of the child and the balance of the maternity allowance shall be payable at the expiration of four weeks after the birth of the child.”.

Method of payment.

7. Section eight of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (1.) the words “by forwarding by post a money order” and inserting in their stead the words “in such manner as the Minister or the Director-General of Social Services approves”.