<P> Social security, in Australia, refers to a system of social welfare payments provided by Commonwealth Government of Australia . These payments are administered by Centrelink, a branch of the Department of Human Services . In Australia, most benefits are means tested . </P> <P> Prior to 1900 in Australia, charitable assistance from benevolent societies, sometimes with financial contributions from the authorities, was the primary means of relief for people not able to support themselves . The 1890s economic depression and the rise of the trade unions and the Labor parties during this period led to a movement for welfare reform . </P> <P> In 1900, the states of New South Wales and Victoria enacted legislation introducing non-contributory pensions for those aged 65 and over . Queensland legislated a similar system in 1907 before the Australian labor Commonwealth government led by Andrew Fisher introduced a national aged pension under the Invalid and Old - Aged Pensions Act 1908 . A national invalid diasbility pension was started in 1910, and a national maternity allowance was introduced in 1912 . </P> <P> During the Second World War, Australia under a labor government created a welfare state by enacting national schemes for: child endowment in 1941 (superseding the 1927 New South Wales scheme); a widows' pension in 1942 (superseding the New South Wales 1926 scheme); a wife's allowance in 1943; additional allowances for the children of pensioners in 1943; and unemployment, sickness, and special benefits in 1945 (superseding the Queensland 1923 scheme). </P>

When did the old age pension start in australia