29th Oct 2020, 1:00 PM – Representatives Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Coronavirus and Other Measures) Bill 2020 - Second Reading - Keep motion unchanged

The majority voted in favour of a motion that "the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question." In other words, they voted to keep the words of the motion unchanged. The motion in this case was "That this bill be now read a second time." Giving a bill a second reading is the same as agreeing with its main idea.

Proposed change

That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) since the start of the recession, the number of people relying on unemployment payments has doubled;

(b) many pensioners—including those on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment—have faced increased costs during the pandemic; and

(c) the Minister has the power under the Social Security Act to extend the Coronavirus Supplement; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) extend the $250 per fortnight Coronavirus Supplement until March, in line with Jobkeeper;

(b) better support pensioners—including Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment recipients—facing increased costs in protecting their health because of the coronavirus pandemic; and

(c) announce a permanent increase to the base rate of the Jobseeker Payment".