Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 287

Reciprocal arrangements

Section 287 empowers the Minister to make orders giving effect to reciprocal or other arrangements with international organisations, other states or governments concerning social welfare matters.

• The Minister may make orders to implement reciprocal or other arrangements with international organisations, other states or governments, covering social insurance benefits, social assistance, child benefit, or any other scheme or payment under the Act, and may include any necessary adaptations or modifications.
• The Minister may amend or revoke any such order at any time.
• Where multiple reciprocal arrangements exist, the Minister may specify in an order how different arrangements interact — that is, how one arrangement applies to persons already covered by another, and vice versa.
• A "reciprocal or other arrangement" includes an agreement intended to be binding on the State, the Government or the Minister even if it has not yet formally become binding, provided the Minister is satisfied that the other party is giving effect to it.