9th Nov 2020, 7:37 PM – Senate Regulations and Determinations - Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response — 2020 Measures No. 14) Determination 2020 - Disallow

The majority voted against a motion:

That Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response—2020 Measures No. 14) Determination 2020, made under the Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Act 2020 and the Social Security Act 1991, be disallowed.

This means that the motion failed.

What was the purpose of this motion?

West Australian Senator Patrick Dodson (Labor) explained that:

Labor is seeking to disallow part 1 of schedule 2 of the Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response—2020 Measures No. 14) Determination 2020. When making this determination, the Minister for Families and Social Services has reinstated the liquid assets waiting period for people accessing unemployment payments. This move will force thousands of Australians in need to wait up to three months before they can access JobSeeker. The liquid assets waiting period was suspended in March, due to the pandemic, in order for struggling Australians to access the support they needed quickly. Reversing this now is an unnecessary and cruel move at a time of unprecedented hardship for so many Australians.

What does 'disallow' mean?

To disallow a legislative instrument - like this Determination - is to stop it from having legal force. In this case, the motion was to stop a particular Part of the Determination from having legal force.