17th Jun 2021, 11:27 AM – Representatives Social Services Legislation Amendment (Portability Extensions) Bill 2021 - Second Reading - Age pension and pensioners stranded overseas

The majority voted in favour of disagreeing with an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" - parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill. Because this vote passed, the usual second reading motion will remain unchanged.

Motion text

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) these changes are necessary due to the tens of thousands of Australians who remain stranded overseas, including many Australian pensioners; and

(b) Australian pensioners stranded overseas have been let down by the Government due to delays in the vaccine rollout and lack of specialist quarantine facilities; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) do more to bring Australian pensioners stranded overseas home by accelerating the vaccine rollout and establishing specialised quarantine facilities; and

(b) not cut the pension".