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Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net)

Current status

This bill became law on Aug 10th, 2023.

Policy area

Welfare & housing

What does this bill do?

Single parents can keep Parenting Payment SingleA higher social security payment for single parents, which this bill lets more people keep until their youngest child turns 14. until their youngest child turns 14, and many who were moved onto JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. can move back to the higher payment from 20 September 2023.

Why was it introduced?

The old rules cut single parents off Parenting Payment when their youngest child turned 8, dropping many onto lower JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. payments while their children still needed significant care. This bill raises the cutoff to 14 and increases several working-age payments and Rent AssistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. to strengthen the safety net.

Broader context

Before the bill, single parents lost Parenting Payment SingleA higher social security payment for single parents, which this bill lets more people keep until their youngest child turns 14. when their youngest child turned 8 and many were shifted onto lower JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. rates, while low working-age payments and rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. were biting harder during the 2023 cost-of-living squeeze. The government responded by tying its budget safety-net package to higher payment rates, a 15% rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. lift and a higher Parenting Payment age cut-off, with Parliament passing the measure in August 2023 and key increases starting from 20 September 2023.

Key criticism

The main criticism was that the payment increases were too small and still left many people on JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients., Youth AllowanceA payment for young people who are studying, training, looking for work, or apprentices, which this bill lifts by $40 a fortnight. and related payments in poverty. That case was pushed hardest by the Greens and some crossbenchers, while the Coalition still backed the bill but argued it should focus more on work incentives through a higher income-free areaThe amount a person can earn before their payment starts to reduce, which several amendments in the page try to lift..

Who supported it?

Amanda Rishworth MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.

Introduced in House 25 May 2023
Passed House 31 May 2023
Passed Senate 02 Aug 2023
Became law 10 Aug 2023

Did it become law?

Yes

Became law 10 Aug 2023

Final passage

Passed without a counted vote

13 recorded amendment or procedural votes were found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.

Passage speed

77 days

From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

  1. Single parents can keep Parenting Payment SingleA higher social security payment for single parents, which this bill lets more people keep until their youngest child turns 14. until their youngest child turns 14, and many who were moved onto JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. can move back to the higher payment from 20 September 2023.

  2. JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients., Youth AllowanceA payment for young people who are studying, training, looking for work, or apprentices, which this bill lifts by $40 a fortnight., AustudyA payment for some students and apprentices over 25, which this bill also increases by $40 a fortnight., Parenting Payment for partnered parents, and Disability Support PensionA payment for people with a permanent disability that limits work, including younger recipients whose rates rise under this bill. for under-21s rise by $40 a fortnight, and future indexationThe regular rule that lifts payment rates over time to keep up with prices or wages, and this bill makes the higher base rates the new starting point. keeps applying from the higher rate.

  3. People aged 55 to 59 on JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. can get the higher long-term rate after 9 continuous months on payment, instead of waiting until age 60.

  4. Some people newly eligible for the higher JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. rate from age 55 also become eligible for linked support like telephone allowanceA small supplementary payment for phone and communication costs, which is linked to the higher JobSeeker rate for some people., pharmaceutical allowanceA supplementary payment meant to help with medicine costs, which some newly eligible JobSeeker recipients can also receive. and the pensioner concession cardA card that gives holders cheaper access to some services and concessions, and this bill extends eligibility to some older JobSeeker recipients..

  5. Commonwealth Rent AssistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. maximum rates rise by 15%, giving renters on government payments more help with rent.

Show source excerpts
  1. This Schedule will make amendments to Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part 2.10 of the Social Security Act to sustain the eligible principal carer’s parenting payment (single) qualification and higher rate of payment by raising the parenting payment (single) child age restriction from 8 to 14 years. This will allow eligible carers who have already transferred to a different payment, such as jobseeker payment, and experienced a rate reduction due to the current policy (i.e. their youngest child is between the age of 8 and 14), to requalify for parenting payment (single). These recipients will automatically transfer to parenting payment (single) on 20 September 2023.
    Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) explanatory memorandum
  2. The increase of $40 per fortnight is applied to the current rates of eligible payments. Legislated indexation arrangements continue to apply. For parenting payment and jobseeker payment, the indexation will apply on 20 September 2023 to the new higher rate and onwards on 20 March and 20 September of each year thereafter. For disability support pension (youth), youth allowance and austudy payment, future indexations will apply from 1 January 2024 and onwards on 1 January each year thereafter.
    Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) explanatory memorandum
  3. Currently, there is a higher rate of jobseeker payment provided to recipients aged 60 years and over, who have been on payment for 9 continuous months. This Schedule reduces the qualifying age for the higher rate of jobseeker payment to recipients aged 55 years and over. Over the past ten years, the proportion of mature‑aged Australians on jobseeker payment has significantly increased. This cohort can face higher barriers to employment, including age discrimination and poor health.
    Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) explanatory memorandum
  4. Items 11 to 16 provide consequential amendments to section 1061Q (telephone allowance), paragraph 1061ZA(2)(a) (pensioner concession card), point 1067L-C1 (pharmaceutical allowance for austudy payment), point 1068-D3 (pharmaceutical allowance for jobseeker payment) and point 1068B‑E1 (pharmaceutical allowance for parenting payment (partnered)) of the Social Security Act. The amendments align the criteria for these allowances with the new jobseeker payment eligibility age of 55 as amended by table items 4A, 4B and 5 in item 8 of this Schedule. This will ensure consistency across the respective frameworks for jobseeker payment and qualification for telephone allowance and pharmaceutical allowance for austudy payment, jobseeker payment and parenting payment (partnered).
    Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) explanatory memorandum
  5. This Schedule provides additional support to renters, increasing the maximum rates of Commonwealth rent assistance by 15 per cent.
    Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) explanatory memorandum

Context

Broader context for this bill

Before the bill, single parents lost Parenting Payment SingleA higher social security payment for single parents, which this bill lets more people keep until their youngest child turns 14. when their youngest child turned 8 and many were shifted onto lower JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. rates, while low working-age payments and rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. were biting harder during the 2023 cost-of-living squeeze. The government responded by tying its budget safety-net package to higher payment rates, a 15% rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. lift and a higher Parenting Payment age cut-off, with Parliament passing the measure in August 2023 and key increases starting from 20 September 2023.

  1. 2023

    Single parents were still cut off Parenting Payment when their youngest child turned 8

    Under the old rules, many single parents were moved onto lower JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. payments even though their children still needed substantial care.

    User payload ↗
  2. 25 May 2023

    Government ties safety-net changes to the 2023 cost-of-living package

    In the second reading speech, the government said the bill would deliver targeted help for low-income Australians as part of its $14.6 billion cost-of-living plan.

    Hansard ↗
  3. 25 May 2023

    House introduces the bill

    The bill was presented to the House to raise several income-support payments and change eligibility rules for Parenting Payment SingleA higher social security payment for single parents, which this bill lets more people keep until their youngest child turns 14..

    Parliamentary timeline ↗
  4. 02 Aug 2023

    Parliament passes the bill

    Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way for the new payment rates and eligibility changes to become law.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗
  5. 10 Aug 2023

    Royal AssentThe formal step where the Governor-General approves a passed bill, turning it into an Act. turns the bill into law

    Royal AssentThe formal step where the Governor-General approves a passed bill, turning it into an Act. completed the legislative process so the new social security measures could commence under the Act.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗
  6. 20 Sept 2023

    Higher payments and the new single-parent cut-off begin

    From this date, many single parents could move back to Parenting Payment SingleA higher social security payment for single parents, which this bill lets more people keep until their youngest child turns 14., working-age payments rose by $40 a fortnight and maximum Commonwealth Rent AssistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. increased by 15%.

    User payload ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

House Senate
Introduced 25 May 2023

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 25 May 2023

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Second reading debate 31 May 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

House second reading agreed 31 May 2023

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

Consideration in detail 31 May 2023

The chamber considered the bill in detail and dealt with amendments before the next stage.

Consideration in detail debate

House third reading agreed 31 May 2023

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Introduced 13 June 2023

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 13 June 2023

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Community Affairs review 22 June 2023

Referred to Committee (22/06/2023): Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (24/07/2023)

Referred to committee

APH bill page notes
Second reading debate 31 July 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 01 Aug 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Senate second reading agreed 01 Aug 2023

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

Committee of the Whole debate 01 Aug 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Committee of the Whole debate 02 Aug 2023

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Senate third reading agreed 02 Aug 2023

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Passed both houses 02 Aug 2023

Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.

Finally passed both Houses

Assent 10 Aug 2023

The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal step where the Governor-General approves a passed bill, turning it into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

The main criticism was that the payment increases were too small and still left many people on JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients., Youth AllowanceA payment for young people who are studying, training, looking for work, or apprentices, which this bill lifts by $40 a fortnight. and related payments in poverty. That case was pushed hardest by the Greens and some crossbenchers, while the Coalition still backed the bill but argued it should focus more on work incentives through a higher income-free areaThe amount a person can earn before their payment starts to reduce, which several amendments in the page try to lift..

Most criticism called for the bill to go further, not for the safety-net measures to be scrapped.

Increase still too small to prevent poverty

Critics argued the extra $40 a fortnight, including the widely cited $2.85 a day increase, was too small to materially change living standards and would still leave people below the poverty line.

Raised by The Greens, including Adam Bandt and Stephen Bates, and crossbench MPs such as Monique Ryan and Bridget Archer Source ↗

Wrong policy mix for getting people into work

The Coalition said lifting base payments was the wrong emphasis if the goal was to improve workforce participation, and argued recipients should be allowed to earn more before their payment is reduced instead.

Raised by Coalition speakers including Michael Sukkar and Bert Van Manen Source ↗

Some help would start too late

A narrower drafting criticism was that the Parenting Payment SingleA higher social security payment for single parents, which this bill lets more people keep until their youngest child turns 14. expansion began too late, leaving some families worse off in the meantime when the policy had already been accepted in principle.

Raised by Kylea Tink Source ↗

Further sources

parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗

Votes

Recorded votes

How the bill itself passed

The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.

Passed

House passed the bill

House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.

31 May 2023

Passed on the voices

In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.

Passed

Senate passed the bill

Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.

02 Aug 2023

Passed on the voices

In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.

Amendments at a glance

Recorded amendment and procedural votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.

House

Carried

Reject earlier payment start

Aye 72 No 15

Passed 72 to 15. Support came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, and Centre Alliance. Opposition came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.

31 May 2023

The vote rejected a second-reading statement calling for the bill's payment changes to start earlier rather than changing the bill's operative provisions.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 54 / 0
Unknown 12 / 6
Independent 0 / 8
Liberal Party 3 / 0
Nationals 2 / 0
Greens 0 / 1
Centre Alliance 1 / 0
Carried

Reject Bates poverty-line call

Aye 77 No 14

Passed 77 to 14. Support came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, and Centre Alliance. Opposition came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.

31 May 2023

The vote rejected a second-reading statement calling for higher income support before the House moved on to the remaining amendment question.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 58 / 0
Unknown 13 / 6
Independent 0 / 7
Liberal Party 3 / 0
Nationals 2 / 0
Greens 0 / 1
Centre Alliance 1 / 0
Carried

Reject Sukkar payment alternative

Aye 90 No 49

Passed 90 to 49. Support came from Labor, Greens, Centre Alliance, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party and Nationals. Minor-party and independent votes were split.

31 May 2023

The vote rejected the opposition's second-reading alternative and allowed the House to agree to the bill's second reading.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 63 / 0
Unknown 18 / 21
Liberal Party 0 / 16
Nationals 0 / 12
Independent 7 / 0
Greens 1 / 0
Centre Alliance 1 / 0

Senate

Defeated

Reject Pocock social security adequacy motion

Aye 10 No 29

Defeated 10 to 29. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, UAP, and minor parties and independents.

01 Aug 2023

This was a second-reading statement vote, so defeat meant the Senate did not attach that broader social security adequacy statement before proceeding with the bill.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 19
Greens 9 / 0
Unknown 0 / 5
Liberal Party 0 / 4
Independent 1 / 0
UAP 0 / 1
Defeated

Call for income support above poverty line

Aye 10 No 30

Defeated 10 to 30. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, UAP, and minor parties and independents.

01 Aug 2023

This was a second-reading statement vote, so it asked the Senate whether to endorse a broader demand for higher welfare payments before passing the bill.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 19
Greens 9 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 5
Unknown 0 / 5
Independent 1 / 0
UAP 0 / 1
Defeated

Call for higher JobSeeker threshold

Aye 11 No 29

Defeated 11 to 29. Support came from Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, UAP, and minor parties and independents.

01 Aug 2023

This was a second-reading statement vote, so it sought Senate support for a stronger work incentive and higher earnings threshold rather than changing the bill text itself.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 19
Greens 9 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 5
Unknown 0 / 4
Independent 1 / 0
Jacqui Lambie Network 1 / 0
UAP 0 / 1
Defeated

Raise single parent child age

Aye 11 No 29

Defeated 11 to 29. Support came from Jacqui Lambie Network and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, UAP, and minor parties and independents. One cross-floor vote was recorded: Penny Allman-Payne (Greens) voted no. Greens had split recorded votes.

01 Aug 2023

This was a committee-stage direct amendment package aimed at expanding parenting payment singleA higher social security payment for single parents, which this bill lets more people keep until their youngest child turns 14. eligibility, so defeat kept the bill's lower age threshold in place.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 17
Greens 9 / 1
Liberal Party 0 / 5
Unknown 0 / 4
Independent 1 / 0
Jacqui Lambie Network 1 / 0
Nationals 0 / 1
UAP 0 / 1
Defeated

Call for higher JobSeeker threshold

Aye 11 No 29

Moved by Hanson-Young. Defeated 11 to 29. Support came from Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, UAP, and minor parties and independents.

01 Aug 2023

This was a second-reading statement vote, so it tested whether the Senate would formally back a higher earnings threshold before the bill passed.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 19
Greens 9 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 5
Unknown 0 / 4
Independent 1 / 0
Jacqui Lambie Network 1 / 0
UAP 0 / 1
Defeated

Raise payments above poverty line

Aye 10 No 25

Defeated 10 to 25. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Jacqui Lambie Network, UAP, and minor parties and independents.

02 Aug 2023

This was a committee-stage direct amendment package, so defeat kept the bill's original payment settings unchanged.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 16
Greens 9 / 0
Unknown 0 / 4
Liberal Party 0 / 3
Independent 1 / 0
Jacqui Lambie Network 0 / 1
UAP 0 / 1
Defeated

Raise JobSeeker earning limit

Aye 12 No 23

Defeated 12 to 23. Support came from Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Liberal Party. Minor-party and independent votes were split.

02 Aug 2023

This was a committee-stage amendment to the bill itself, and defeat meant the higher income-free areaThe amount a person can earn before their payment starts to reduce, which several amendments in the page try to lift. was not adopted.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 16
Greens 9 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 4
Unknown 1 / 3
Independent 1 / 0
Jacqui Lambie Network 1 / 0
Defeated

Lower JobSeeker age to 55

Aye 23 No 33

Defeated 23 to 33. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and UAP. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network, One Nation, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.

02 Aug 2023

This was a committee-stage amendment package that would have expanded access to the higher JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. rate, and its defeat left the bill's 55-to-59 eligibility change out.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 17
Liberal Party 16 / 0
Greens 0 / 9
Unknown 2 / 4
Nationals 4 / 0
Independent 0 / 1
Jacqui Lambie Network 0 / 1
One Nation 0 / 1
UAP 1 / 0
Defeated

Keep JobSeeker rates unchanged

Aye 10 No 26

Defeated 10 to 26. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Jacqui Lambie Network, Liberal Party, Nationals, and minor parties and independents.

02 Aug 2023

This was a committee-stage amendment package, so defeat meant the bill proceeded without those requested changes.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 17
Greens 9 / 0
Unknown 0 / 5
Independent 1 / 0
Jacqui Lambie Network 0 / 1
Liberal Party 0 / 1
Nationals 0 / 1
UAP 0 / 1
Defeated

Restore debt recovery time limit

Aye 14 No 27

Defeated 14 to 27. Support came from Greens, One Nation, Jacqui Lambie Network, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.

02 Aug 2023

This was a direct committee amendment to the bill, and defeat left the existing debt recovery rules unchanged.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 0 / 17
Greens 9 / 0
Unknown 1 / 5
Liberal Party 0 / 2
Nationals 0 / 2
One Nation 2 / 0
Independent 1 / 0
Jacqui Lambie Network 1 / 0
UAP 0 / 1

These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

Start here — lead voices

Sponsor speech Supports

Amanda Rishworth

Australian Labor Party • MP 25 May 2023

Amanda Rishworth supports the bill, arguing that the measures in the bill deliver on our commitment to consider the rates of payments ahead of every budget.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead opposing voice Opposes

Adam Bandt

Australian Greens • MP 31 May 2023

Bandt opposes the bill because he says its $2.85-a-day increase to income support still leaves people below the poverty line.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead supporting voice Supports

Michael Sukkar

Liberal Party • MP 31 May 2023

Michael Sukkar says the opposition will support the bill, but he argues the JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. change is the wrong approach because it raises welfare payments without enough incentive to work.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead non-major voice Supports

Helen Haines

Independent • MP 31 May 2023

Helen Haines supports the bill because it gives some immediate help to vulnerable Australians, especially with higher payments, rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. and single parent support.

Read in Hansard ↗

All speeches by bloc

Labor

8 speakers · 9 contributions · 8 support

  1. Brian Mitchell Brian Mitchell supports the bill and says it strengthens the safety net by lifting payments for people on low incomes, especially single parents, older jobseekers and renters.
    “The measures in the bill will provide additional assistance to around two million income support recipients. With the amendments in this bill, the rates of JobSeeker, youth allowance, parenting payment, Austudy, Abstudy, disability support, and youth and special benefit will increase by $40 a fortnight from 20 September 2023—$40 a fortnight, or $20 a week. It's a modest increase, no doubt, but this increase will assist people who are on some of the lowest incomes in Australia and who rely on a safety net for support.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 31 May 2023

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Kate Thwaites Kate Thwaites supports the bill, saying it will deliver much-needed cost-of-living relief and strengthen the safety net for people on the lowest incomes.
    “I am very pleased to be speaking in support of this bill from our government, the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) Bill 2023, which will be delivering much-needed support to Australians at a time of need.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 31 May 2023

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  3. Justine Elliot Justine Elliot supports the bill and says it will strengthen the social safety net by lifting JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. and other payments, expanding parenting payment and rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent., and helping people facing cost-of-living pressure.
    “I am very proud to rise today to speak in support of this bill, the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) Bill 2023. I am very proud because this bill really is significant in Labor's ongoing commitment to improve our social safety net, which of course forms the backbone of our nation's welfare system. We're doing that because we know people are doing it tough and we know there are massive increases in the cost of living. We speak to people every day who are in this situation. That's why, through this bill and our budget, we have addressed many of those issues. We understand how important it is. Labor hears what the community says and acts. By implementing the income support measures outlined in our government's $14.6 billion cost-of-living package, what this bill aims to do is assist the lives of those millions of Australians who we know are having a really difficult time.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 31 May 2023

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  4. Amanda Rishworth ★ 2 contributions Amanda Rishworth supports the bill, arguing that the measures in the bill deliver on our commitment to consider the rates of payments ahead of every budget.

    Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Amanda Rishworth on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.

    Second reading speech Australian Labor Party • MP • 25 May 2023

    Amanda Rishworth supports the bill, arguing that the measures in the bill deliver on our commitment to consider the rates of payments ahead of every budget. The speech also says that but we know that cost-of-living pressures have a disproportionate impact on those on the lowest incomes, and that is why the government is providing targeted support to strengthen Australia's social safety net.

    “The measures in the bill deliver on our commitment to consider the rates of payments ahead of every budget. They deliver on our commitment to provide additional assistance where we can, to those Australians doing it tough, particularly those on income support payments.”
    Read this contribution in Hansard ↗

    Second reading speech Australian Labor Party • MP • 31 May 2023

    Rishworth strongly supports the bill, saying it will strengthen the safety net and deliver cost-of-living help through higher working-age payments, more support for single parents, and increased rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent.. She also rejects opposition amendments that would delay or redirect the package, arguing the measures are targeted and ready to commence once the system changes are in place.

    “This bill will implement the income support measures that make up part of the government's $14.6 billion cost-of-living plan to provide broad based support to millions of Australians in different settings and circumstances. This bill strengthens our social safety net and furthers the government's commitment to support those who need it the most.”
    Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
  5. Sam Rae Rae supports the bill and says it will give practical cost-of-living relief to people on income support by lifting JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients., parenting payment and rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. rates.
    “I would urge them—I would urge everybody in this House, the Greens included—to understand the true impact that this bill and its meaningful outcomes will have on communities like mine and like their own and all across Australia. This is an opportunity for us to take positive steps to improve the lives of Australians everywhere and ensure that our communities are living happily, healthily, and with dignity.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 31 May 2023

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  6. Peter Khalil Khalil supports the bill and says it will strengthen the safety net by lifting JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients., rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. and other payments, expanding eligibility for older JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. recipients, and helping single parents and low-income renters cope with cost-of-living pressure.
    “The Albanese government has already—from September last year—boosted social security payments for more than 4.7 million Australians in the largest increase to allowances in 30 years. For my part, as the member for Wills, I will continue to support increased rates for payments such as JobSeeker for my community. As a government, we believe a strong safety net is essential. These supports need to be in place for all Australians if and when they need them. The Albanese government will continue supporting people who are doing it tough. The substance and the detail of this whole package, some of which I've outlined, are real. This will make a difference to people's lives. That's why the government has been so committed to supporting Australians during this difficult time, and we will continue to ensure vulnerable Australians are not forgotten.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 31 May 2023

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  7. Anne Stanley Stanley supports the bill and says it will strengthen the social safety net by lifting JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. and other payments, expanding parenting payment access, and increasing Commonwealth rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent..
    “The Albanese government is also aware of the tough economic conditions facing Australians, and the May budget is a direct response to support those who need it most, because that is what Labor governments do—and this legislation delivers on that plan. But of course we know that there is more to do, and we will be introducing further legislation in the House to continue our plan to help Australians. I commend the Minister for Social Services for introducing this bill and for the work she has done to ensure that Australia's safety net is strong for all Australians that need it. I commend the bill to the House.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 31 May 2023

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  8. Tim Ayres Ayres supports the bill and urges the Senate to pass it quickly so low-income people can receive the higher payments from 20 September.
    “Do not deny low-income families the benefit of the payments that are set out in this bill. While it may not meet the policy objectives of the opposition and may not meet the ambitions of the Greens party, there are real people who are relying on this Senate to do its work and make sure those payments make their way into their accounts in the week following 20 September. I commend the bill to the House—to the Senate; wherever we are!”

    Australian Labor Party • Senator • 01 Aug 2023

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Coalition

4 speakers · 4 support

  1. Michael Sukkar ★ Michael Sukkar says the opposition will support the bill, but he argues the JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. change is the wrong approach because it raises welfare payments without enough incentive to work.
    “In this chamber, if the government does not adopt our approach and stubbornly refuses to adopt the more superior approach of removing disincentives to work and giving people the ability to earn more money, we will not stand in the way of the bill and will therefore support it. But that doesn't mean that we won't be encouraging the government at every opportunity here and also in the other place to take up what is an eminently sensible idea. The hallmark of a good government is when you take up ideas, even when they are not your own but you know they are good. It shows a maturity when you can say, 'Okay, it wasn't our idea, but clearly what the opposition here has proposed is superior for everybody.' If the government decides to do that, I will be very grateful and I will give them great credit for adopting another policy that we are proposing that makes so much sense.”

    Liberal Party • MP • 31 May 2023

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  2. Bridget Archer Bridget Archer supports the bill and backs its higher income support, rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. and expanded parenting payment, saying these changes help people in poverty.
    “To the matter at hand, as someone who's lobbied my own side while in government for an increase in JobSeeker, I of course support the $40-a-fortnight increase proposed by the government, which also extends to recipients of youth allowance, partnered parenting payment, Austudy and youth disability support pension. I also support the increase in rent assistance and the proposed expansion in eligibility for the higher rate of JobSeeker payment to recipients aged 55 years and over who have been on payments for nine or more continuous months.”

    Liberal Party • MP • 31 May 2023

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  3. James Stevens James Stevens says the coalition will not block the bill and supports its aim of strengthening support for vulnerable Australians, but argues it does not go far enough and should do more to help people move into work and respond to inflation and rental pressures.
    “We're not standing in the way of changes the government are seeking to put in place from their budget.”

    Liberal Party • MP • 31 May 2023

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  4. Bert Van Manen Van Manen says the opposition will support most of the bill, including the extra help for single parents, older JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. recipients and rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent., but wants the government to back the coalition's higher income-free areaThe amount a person can earn before their payment starts to reduce, which several amendments in the page try to lift. amendment.
    “It's a pleasure to rise to speak on the Social Services and Other legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) Bill 2023. As outlined by the shadow minister, the opposition will be supporting the majority of the provisions in this bill, including expanding the eligibility for assistance for single parents, the higher rate of JobSeeker for those over 55 and the increase in Commonwealth rent assistance. But we call on the government to support the coalition's superior policy to increase the amount jobseekers can earn before it impacts on their payment, and that's the amendment and the contribution that I want to focus on this afternoon.”

    Liberal Party • MP • 31 May 2023

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Greens

3 speakers · 2 oppose · 1 mixed

  1. Adam Bandt ★ Bandt opposes the bill because he says its $2.85-a-day increase to income support still leaves people below the poverty line.
    “This increase of $2.85 a day from Labor keeps people below the poverty line.”

    Australian Greens • MP • 31 May 2023

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  2. Stephen Bates Bates opposes the bill in its current form and moves an amendment demanding higher income support, arguing the government is leaving people in poverty behind.
    “We have a second reading amendment calling for the increase to income support payments. Actions speak louder than words—and that is true in this place as well.”

    Australian Greens • MP • 31 May 2023

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  3. Barbara Pocock Pocock says the Greens do not accept this bill’s $40 a fortnight increase because it still leaves people in poverty, and she argues the payment should be lifted above the poverty line instead.
    “It is an obscenity that we are debating a meagre $40 a fortnight rise for people living in extreme poverty while the government plans to give almost $350 a fortnight in tax cuts to the top two per cent of wage earners, without a second thought. We need to scrap the stage 3 income tax cuts and increase the JobSeeker payment above the poverty line, to $88 a day. Raising the rate above the poverty line would help people rather than hold them back from finding work. We saw during the height of a pandemic that governments can end poverty and ensure a strong social safety net. We should not need a pandemic for the government to choose to end the suffering of thousands of Australians, their households and their children. I just repeat that the amendment I foreshadowed is in Senator Hanson-Young's name.”

    Australian Greens • Senator • 01 Aug 2023

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Minor parties and independents

7 speakers · 6 support · 1 mixed

  1. Helen Haines ★ Helen Haines supports the bill because it gives some immediate help to vulnerable Australians, especially with higher payments, rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. and single parent support.
    “In conclusion, I support this bill because we need to do a lot more to support our vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians. I represent an electorate where 31,000 people aged 15 and over have government benefits as their main source of income, and I know that any increase, however small, will make a difference.”

    Independent • MP • 31 May 2023

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  2. Dai Le Le says she supports the bill’s increases to JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. and other payments, but argues the changes are too small to deal with the cost-of-living crisis and should be paired with a higher income-free areaThe amount a person can earn before their payment starts to reduce, which several amendments in the page try to lift. so jobseekers can work part time without being penalised.
    “While I support the government's move to increase JobSeeker and other income support payments to assist those most vulnerable in our community, I question how a $2.85 a day increase can go towards assisting families in Fowler on JobSeeker, the age pension, the disability support pension, as well as young people studying and looking for jobs when everything has gone up so much.”

    Independent • MP • 31 May 2023

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  3. Kylea Tink Kylea Tink says she supports the bill’s help for single parents and older JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. recipients, but cannot back it as drafted because the parenting payment change starts too late and will leave some families worse off in the meantime.
    “The desperation felt by Australians both young and old in the current environment is something I feel very deeply. The measures implemented through this bill show me that the government does recognise the challenges faced by many, and I thank them for that. But I can't stand here earnestly, with the desperate stories of constituents in North Sydney echoing in my mind, and accept this bill as it stands. The bill offers a welcome starting point. But I urge the government to consider a system-wide review of Australia's revenue, to ensure more can be provided for Australia's most vulnerable.”

    Independent • MP • 31 May 2023

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  4. Zoe Daniel Zoe Daniel supports the bill, saying it is a step in the right direction even though it does not go far enough.
    “It is the case that the changes in this legislation don't go far enough, but they are a step in the right direction. More women and more young people will now be enabled to find work. That should make for a more productive workforce, and that, in turn, should make for a more prosperous future, and that's why I'm supporting this bill.”

    Independent • MP • 31 May 2023

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  5. Monique Ryan Ryan supports the bill and says it is a start, but argues it does not go far enough to lift JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients., youth allowanceA payment for young people who are studying, training, looking for work, or apprentices, which this bill lifts by $40 a fortnight. and rent assistanceAn extra payment that helps people on eligible payments cover rent, which this bill raises by 15 percent. to levels that would actually prevent poverty.
    “I urge the Albanese government to show the generosity that our most vulnerable people deserve and increase income support payments to at least $76 a day. Former secretary of the Department of the Treasury Ken Henry estimated that the cost of following the scientific recommendations of the economic advisory committee on JobSeeker, an amount that he described as 'a rounding in the margin' in the context of a $630 billion budget, was $14 billion. Of course, we need to tend our budget carefully. Of course, we need to find savings where we can. We need tax reform and we need a generational shift in our approach to community housing. But, most of all, we need to work out what matters most to us. Who matters most to us? And we need to prioritise our most vulnerable, for whom relatively minor increases in support would make an absolute world of difference. We should not hesitate to undertake a rounding in the margin for those who are at the margin. We should consider what it really costs to leave those people behind. I commend the bill to the House.”

    Independent • MP • 31 May 2023

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  6. Kate Chaney Chaney supports the bill and says it makes a start, but she argues the JobSeekerThe main payment for unemployed people and some others looking for work, which this bill increases and adjusts for older recipients. increase is far too small and still leaves people below the poverty line.
    “I rise to support this Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) Bill 2023 and urge the government t do more to alleviate poverty in Australia. In a country like Australia, we should be able to set our safety net at a level that means people can access the basics of life and live with dignity without destroying incentives to work.”

    Independent • MP • 31 May 2023

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  7. Rebekha Sharkie Rebekha Sharkie supports the bill and says it strikes a sensible middle ground by lifting payments and adjusting thresholds for people on welfare.
    “All in all, I support these measures by government. There are some advocates who say that it's not enough, and others who say that it's too much. I think that this finds a very happy medium in between the two. I do think that some of the measures that the coalition has been talking about with respect to lifting the threshold that can be earned before someone loses 50 cents of the dollar in their payment, particularly with JobSeeker, is a very wise thing to do. Otherwise, it can become quite a poverty trap. At the moment, a person can earn, I think, only $150 a fortnight before they start losing 50 cents in the dollar in their payment. Many people are reluctant to take on those extra hours. Perhaps they have only an eight-hour job a fortnight, or less, or slightly more, but they are reluctant to take on extra for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they're worried about losing 50 cents in the dollar and then potentially losing all of the other suite of supports—in particular, the healthcare card—if they earn too much. Secondly, they're really worried about losing their payment altogether and then having to go through the rigmarole of applying for Centrelink again if that job doesn't turn into something that has a long-term prospect.”

    Centre Alliance • MP • 31 May 2023

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