What are my obligations if I give an “assurance of support”?

Some visa applicants need to provide an assurance of support before their visa can be granted. This support has to be given because most migrants cannot get social security for the first 2 years. The assurance is a legal agreement in which the “assurer”, who signs the assurance, agrees to provide necessary financial support to a new migrant and to repay to the Australian government certain social security benefits if paid to the visa holder covered by the assurance.
The assurance of support is a 2 year commitment by an Australian permanent resident. The person who gives the support must have a certain level of income and can be a different person from the visa sponsor. The assurer must pay the refundable security bond for all applicant members of the family aged 18 years and over who are covered by the assurance of support. The bond money is refunded to the assurer after 2 years if there has been no claim for one of the social security payments covered by the assurance of support scheme.