{"id":"F2017L01526","name":"Social Security (Declared Overseas Terrorist Act) Declaration 2017— London (15 September 2017)","slug":"social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-declaration-2017-london-15-september-2017","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":144328,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L01526-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Social Security (Declared Overseas Terrorist Act) Declaration 2017— London (15 September 2017)","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms](image.001.png)\n\nSocial Security (Declared Overseas Terrorist Act) Declaration 2017 — London (15 September 2017)\n\nSocial Security Act 1991\n\nI, MALCOLM BLIGH TURNBULL, Prime Minister, make this declaration under subsection 35B(1) of the Social Security Act 1991.\n\nDated 23 November 2017\n\n  \nMALCOLM BLIGH TURNBULL\n\nPrime Minister\n\n1 Name of declaration\n\nThis declaration is the Social Security (Declared Overseas Terrorist Act) Declaration 2017— London (15 September 2017)\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis declaration commences on the day after this instrument is registered.\n\n3 Definitions\n\nIn this declaration:\n\nAct means the Social Security Act 1991.\n\nterrorist act has the same meaning as in subsection 100.1(1) of the Criminal Code.\n\n4 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\n1) the attack at approximately 8.20 hours (local time) on Friday, 15 September 2017 on a train at Parsons Green Station in London, United Kingdom.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument does not change the statutory scope of the Social Security Act. It applies the existing power in subsection 35B(1) by identifying a particular overseas event as a \"declared overseas terrorist act\" (opening paragraph and section 4). It does not amend the Act's text, create new statutory powers, or add procedural requirements; it only activates the Act's existing mechanism in respect of the named event. Any change in legal effects for individuals depends on how the Social Security Act treats a declared overseas terrorist act, which is not set out in this instrument."},"complexity_factors":["Relies on external statutory provisions: references subsection 35B(1) of the Social Security Act 1991 (opening paragraph) and Criminal Code subsection 100.1(1) for the term \"terrorist act\" (section 3).","Instrument is narrowly focused: it only names a single event as a declared overseas terrorist act (section 4).","Effect depends on cross-references: actual legal consequences are determined by the Social Security Act, not by this instrument (opening paragraph and section 4).","Simple commencement rule: takes effect the day after registration (section 2).","No operative regulatory detail in the instrument itself (no procedures, duties, or payments specified)."],"plain_english_summary":"What this instrument does\n\n- This instrument is a formal declaration made by the Prime Minister under subsection 35B(1) of the Social Security Act 1991 (the Act). The Prime Minister states that a specific violent event—the attack on a train at Parsons Green Station in London at about 8:20 local time on 15 September 2017—is a “declared overseas terrorist act” for the purposes of that subsection (see opening paragraph and section 4).\n\nHow it works, mechanically\n\n- The declaration names the event precisely (section 4). It takes effect the day after the instrument is registered (section 2). The instrument does not itself change the Social Security Act; it operates by applying the statutory mechanism in subsection 35B(1) of the Act to this specified event (opening paragraph).\n\nKey definitions and references\n\n- The instrument adopts the Act as the governing statute for its operation (section 3). It treats “terrorist act” by reference to subsection 100.1(1) of the Criminal Code (section 3). The instrument is signed and dated by the Prime Minister (signature block and dated line).\n\nWho decides, who pays, and what changes for affected people\n\n- Who decides: the Prime Minister made this declaration under the power in subsection 35B(1) of the Act (opening paragraph). The instrument itself is the exercise of that decision-making power.\n- Who pays: this instrument does not specify any financial payments or which parties will bear costs. Any financial or entitlement consequences would flow from how the Social Security Act applies a “declared overseas terrorist act”; those downstream effects are not set out in this instrument (opening paragraph and section 4).\n- What changes: the only direct legal change in this instrument is to classify the named event as a “declared overseas terrorist act” for the purposes of subsection 35B(1) of the Social Security Act 1991 (section 4). The concrete consequences for individuals or payments depend on the provisions of the Social Security Act that refer to a declared overseas terrorist act; those provisions are not reproduced here.\n\nIncentives, compliance burdens and discretion (source-grounded)\n\n- Incentives and behavioural effects: by designating an event as a declared overseas terrorist act, the instrument enables whatever statutory responses attach to that label in the Social Security Act. This instrument does not itself prescribe individual behaviour, sanctions, or payments; it only supplies the statutory label (section 4).\n- Compliance burden: the declaration imposes no procedural obligations or reporting requirements on private parties by itself. Any compliance obligations would derive from the Social Security Act’s response to a declared overseas terrorist act (not contained in this instrument) (section 4).\n- Discretion and decision-making: the power to make this declaration is exercised by the Prime Minister under subsection 35B(1) of the Act (opening paragraph). The instrument demonstrates that the executive can specify particular overseas events by naming them in an instrument (section 4).\n\nCosts, trade-offs and implementation notes\n\n- The instrument is narrowly framed: it names one event and does not amend statutory text. Any costs, benefits or redistribution effects are indirect and depend on the Act’s operative rules tied to a declared overseas terrorist act. Those downstream effects are outside the text of this instrument and must be read in the Social Security Act itself (opening paragraph and section 4).\n- Implementation risk and timing: the declaration only takes legal effect once registered and from the day after registration (section 2). The instrument’s legal reach therefore depends on correct registration and on the interaction with the Social Security Act.\n\nSource citations: opening paragraph (power used), section 2 (commencement), section 3 (definitions), section 4 (the named declared act)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This declaration serves exactly its original intended purpose: to formally designate specific overseas terrorist incidents for the purposes of the Social Security Act. It is a discrete, single-purpose instrument that does not expand beyond its narrow statutory function."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (4 sections, approximately 200 words)","Only 2 defined terms ('Act' and 'terrorist act')","Single operational provision (section 4) with straightforward declaratory function","No cross-references beyond the enabling provision (subsection 35B(1)) and Criminal Code definition","No conditional logic, exceptions, or procedural requirements","Simple factual description of the incident (time, date, location)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a formal declaration by the Prime Minister that designates a specific terrorist incident as a 'declared overseas terrorist act' under Australian law.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Declares the Parsons Green train bombing in London (15 September 2017) to be an official 'declared overseas terrorist act'\n- This triggers special provisions in the Social Security Act 1991 that can affect welfare payments\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Primarily affects people receiving Australian social security payments who may have been involved in or affected by this specific terrorist attack\n- Could impact payment eligibility or conditions for those connected to the incident\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- Under the Social Security Act, when an event is declared a 'declared overseas terrorist act', it activates specific legal consequences for social security entitlements\n- This is part of Australia's framework for handling welfare payments in the context of terrorism incidents involving Australians overseas\n- The declaration creates the legal foundation for administrative decisions about payments related to this specific attack"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-declaration-2017-london-15-september-2017","history":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-declaration-2017-london-15-september-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-declaration-2017-london-15-september-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-declaration-2017-london-15-september-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-declaration-2017-london-15-september-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/social-security-declared-overseas-terrorist-act-declaration-2017-london-15-september-2017/documents"}}