9th Dec 2020, 10:01 PM – Senate Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020 - Second Reading - Against program

The majority voted against a motion moved by WA Senator Rachel Siewert (Greens), which means it failed.

Motion text

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) this bill will entrench the racist, discriminatory, paternalistic, ineffective, top-down, blanket approach of compulsory income management via the Cashless Debit Card,

(ii) the Government did not consult with First Nations peoples in the Northern Territory about the introduction of the Cashless Debit Card or the continuation of compulsory income management, and

(iii) the Government failed to consult with people currently on the Cashless Debit Card about making it permanent; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) abandon all forms of compulsory income management currently operating in Australia,

(ii) carry out extensive consultation around Australia for any move to make income management voluntary and ensure that any new program is co-designed, and

(iii) immediately release the second impact evaluation being undertaken by the University of Adelaide".

What does this bill do?

The bill was introduced "to establish the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) as an ongoing program rather than a time-limited trial". The CDC program is controversial for many reasons, not least the limited evidence that it is benefiting the communities where it is currently in operation.

Read more about the program and what the bill does in the bills digest.