{"id":"F2019L01475","name":"Social Security (Declared Overseas Terrorist Act—Christchurch 2019) Declaration 2019","slug":"social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-christchurch-2019-declaration-2019","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":100297,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2019L01475-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n  This instrument is the Social Security (Declared Overseas Terrorist Act—Christchurch 2019) Declaration 2019.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on the day after registration.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under subsection 35B(1) of the Act.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 4 Definitions\n\n  (1) In this instrument:\n\n> Act means the Social Security Act 1991.\n\n> terrorist act has the meaning given by subsection 100.1(1) of the Criminal Code.\n\n  (2) Dates and times in this instrument are expressed in terms of New Zealand Daylight Time.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Declared overseas terrorist act","content":"#### 5 Declared overseas terrorist act\n\nFor the purposes of subsection 35B(1) of the Act, the following terrorist act is a declared overseas terrorist act:\n\n    (a) the mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15 March 2019, which occurred at:\n    (i) al-Noor Mosque at approximately 1.40pm local time; and\n    (ii) Linwood Islamic Centre at approximately 1.55pm local time.","sortOrder":4}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument performs exactly the narrow, specific function it was designed for: declaring a particular overseas terrorist act to trigger social security entitlements. There is no scope creep or expansion beyond the original legislative purpose of subsection 35B(1) of the Social Security Act 1991."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short instrument (only 5 sections)","Only 2 defined terms ('Act' and 'terrorist act')","No cross-references beyond basic authority citation","No conditional logic or exceptions","Single operative provision with straightforward factual declaration","Minimal legislative machinery (commencement, authority, definitions all standard)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a short legal declaration that officially recognises the Christchurch mosque shootings as a 'declared overseas terrorist act' under Australian social security law.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Formally declares the mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on 15 March 2019 to be a terrorist act for the purposes of Australian social security payments\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Australian victims and families affected by the Christchurch attacks who may be eligible for special social security benefits (such as the Australian Victim of Terrorism Overseas Payment)\n- The declaration triggers access to specific support payments that are only available when the government officially declares an event to be terrorism under this law\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- Without this declaration, victims would not automatically qualify for certain Australian government financial assistance\n- It ensures Australian citizens, residents, or their families who were harmed in the Christchurch attacks can access income support, similar to assistance available for domestic terrorism victims\n- The declaration uses New Zealand time (not Australian time) to precisely identify when the attacks occurred"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument is narrowly scoped and does not expand or alter the procedural reach of the Social Security Act in itself. It simply applies the Act's existing power (subsection 35B(1)) to name two specified incidents on 15 March 2019 as a \"declared overseas terrorist act.\" Any change in who is affected or how is determined by how subsection 35B(1) and related provisions of the Social Security Act operate; the instrument contains no new substantive rules beyond the declaration (see sections 3 and 5)."},"complexity_factors":["Very short, single-purpose instrument (only a declaration) confined to a specific event (section 5).","Relies on cross-reference to subsection 35B(1) of the Social Security Act 1991 for legal consequences, so understanding full effect requires consulting that external provision (section 3).","Uses external definition of \"terrorist act\" in the Criminal Code, adding a secondary cross-reference (section 4(1)).","Specifies times in a particular time zone (NZDT), requiring attention to temporal reading (section 4(2)).","No procedural or remedial detail in the instrument itself; operational effects are not self-contained."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument formally declares the 15 March 2019 Christchurch mass shootings (al-Noor Mosque ~1:40pm NZDT and Linwood Islamic Centre ~1:55pm NZDT) to be a \"declared overseas terrorist act\" for the purposes of subsection 35B(1) of the Social Security Act 1991. It adopts the Criminal Code meaning of \"terrorist act,\" uses New Zealand Daylight Time, and takes effect the day after registration. \n\nThe declaration changes how rights, obligations or entitlements under the Social Security Act are applied where that subsection depends on such a declaration."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-christchurch-2019-declaration-2019","history":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-christchurch-2019-declaration-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-christchurch-2019-declaration-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-christchurch-2019-declaration-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-christchurch-2019-declaration-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-christchurch-2019-declaration-2019/documents"}}