Division Description Changes — Bills — Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022; Consideration of Senate Message — 28th Sep 2022

Change	Division
representatives vote 2022-09-28#1 Edited by mackay staff on 2022-09-30 08:31:24	Title Bills — Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022; Consideration of Senate Message Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022 - Consideration of Senate Message - Agree and pass the bill Description ~~<p class="speaker">Amanda Rishworth</p>~~ ~~<p>I move:</p>~~ ~~<p class="italic">That the amendments be agreed to.</p>~~ <p>We had a long debate in the Senate last night, a very significant debate, and I would like to thank all of those senators that contributed. There are four sets of amendments to the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022 that have come to the House from the Senate, which are agreeable to the government. Indeed, they were not divided on in the Senate last night. I will go through those sets of amendments that we're talking about right now.</p> <p>I must say that these amendments came from extensive consultation and the Senate committee report. I would like to thank the Chair, Senator Marielle Smith, and all the senators who worked on that report, who did a great job.</p> <p>The first set of amendments before us strengthen the Family Responsibilities Commission and the work they do. I would be surprised if those opposite vote against the strengthening of the Family Responsibilities Commission. These amendments to do with that group have been endorsed by the Family Responsibilities Commission themselves.</p> <p>The second set of amendments allows for a transition for those in the four CDC sites. They will be able to get voluntary income management to transition seamlessly on 6 March to an enhanced technological card. We heard that people wanted a seamless transition.</p> <p>The third set of amendments, the government amendments, allow for the Northern Territory participants on the CD card to transition to an enhanced technology also on 6 March.</p> <p>Finally, as moved in the Senate by Senator Rice, is the requirement for me, as minister, to table a services plan to ensure that all of the CDC sites get a services plan. Indeed, we table the costs of the CDC itself under the former government.</p> ~~<p>These are sensible amendments. They do improve the bill. They are the result of listening to communities. Therefore, I commend the amendments to the House.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Milton Dick</p>~~ ~~<p>The question is that the amendments be agreed to.</p>~~ ~~<p></p>~~ ~~<p></p>~~ *The majority voted in favour of the [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debates/?id=2022-09-28.18.2): "That the amendments be agreed to." This means* that the majority voted to agree with the amendments passed by the Senate. Because both house of Parliament have now agreed with the bill in its amended form, it will [now become law](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/). ### What does this bill do? The [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2223a/23bd001) provides the following key points that explain what the bill does and why it was introduced: * There are two schemes for income support recipients that aim to limit spending on harmful goods such as alcohol, illicit drugs, and gambling. One is the cashless debit card (CDC) program and* the other is income management.* * The CDC program currently operates in six areas around Australia — Ceduna (South Australia), Kununurra and Wyndham in the East Kimberly (Western Australia),* the Goldfields region (Western Australia), the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay region (Queensland), the Northern Territory, and Cape York (Queensland). In June 2022 it applied to 17,382 people.* * The Bill will abolish the CDC program in line with the Government’s 2022 election commitment. *** The abolition will occur in two stages.** * Certain people who are currently participating in the CDC program may be moved to income management. Others may decide* to voluntarily participate in income management.*

~~Amanda Rishworth~~
~~I move:~~
~~That the amendments be agreed to.~~
We had a long debate in the Senate last night, a very significant debate, and I would like to thank all of those senators that contributed. There are four sets of amendments to the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022 that have come to the House from the Senate, which are agreeable to the government. Indeed, they were not divided on in the Senate last night. I will go through those sets of amendments that we're talking about right now.
I must say that these amendments came from extensive consultation and the Senate committee report. I would like to thank the Chair, Senator Marielle Smith, and all the senators who worked on that report, who did a great job.
The first set of amendments before us strengthen the Family Responsibilities Commission and the work they do. I would be surprised if those opposite vote against the strengthening of the Family Responsibilities Commission. These amendments to do with that group have been endorsed by the Family Responsibilities Commission themselves.
The second set of amendments allows for a transition for those in the four CDC sites. They will be able to get voluntary income management to transition seamlessly on 6 March to an enhanced technological card. We heard that people wanted a seamless transition.
The third set of amendments, the government amendments, allow for the Northern Territory participants on the CD card to transition to an enhanced technology also on 6 March.
Finally, as moved in the Senate by Senator Rice, is the requirement for me, as minister, to table a services plan to ensure that all of the CDC sites get a services plan. Indeed, we table the costs of the CDC itself under the former government.
~~These are sensible amendments. They do improve the bill. They are the result of listening to communities. Therefore, I commend the amendments to the House.~~
~~Milton Dick~~
~~The question is that the amendments be agreed to.~~
~~~~
~~~~
The majority voted in favour of the [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debates/?id=2022-09-28.18.2): "*That the amendments be agreed to.*" This means that the majority voted to agree with the amendments passed by the Senate.
Because both house of Parliament have now agreed with the bill in its amended form, it will [now become law](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/).
### What does this bill do?
The [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2223a/23bd001) provides the following key points that explain what the bill does and why it was introduced:
* *There are two schemes for income support recipients that aim to limit spending on harmful goods such as alcohol, illicit drugs, and gambling. One is the cashless debit card (CDC) program and the other is income management.*
* *The CDC program currently operates in six areas around Australia — Ceduna (South Australia), Kununurra and Wyndham in the East Kimberly (Western Australia), the Goldfields region (Western Australia), the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay region (Queensland), the Northern Territory, and Cape York (Queensland). In June 2022 it applied to 17,382 people.*
* *The Bill will abolish the CDC program in line with the Government’s 2022 election commitment.*
* *The abolition will occur in two stages.*
* *Certain people who are currently participating in the CDC program may be moved to income management. Others may decide to voluntarily participate in income management.*