edited
18th Dec 2020
Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020 - Second Reading - Keep wording unchanged
Passed by a small majority
No rebellions 81% attendance
9th Dec 2020, 10:04 PM – Senate Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020 - Second Reading - Limit on program
Summary
EditThe majority voted in favour of 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). It was introduced by SA Senator Rex Patrick (Independent).
Note that, while this amendment was successful, it doesn't make any changes to the bill itself.
Amendment text
At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate calls on the Government to provide a commitment that no recipient of the Age Pension or a Veteran or Service Pension will be placed on the Cashless Debit Card, with the exception of those who volunteer or are referred by the Family Responsibility Commission, child protection workers, social workers or the Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Tribunal in the Northern Territory".
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.
Votes Passed by a small majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 9 No | |
| Mehreen Faruqi NSW | No | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | No | |
| Nick McKim Tasmania | No | |
| Janet Rice Victoria | No | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | No | |
| Jordon Steele-John WA | No | |
| Lidia Thorpe Victoria | No | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | No | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | No | |
| Australian Labor Party (68% turnout) | 0 Yes – 17 No | |
| Tim Ayres NSW | No | |
| Anthony Chisholm Queensland | No | |
| Raff Ciccone Victoria | No | |
| Patrick Dodson WA | No | |
| Don Farrell SA | No | |
| Nita Green Queensland | No | |
| Kristina Keneally NSW | No | |
| Kimberley Kitching Victoria | No | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | No | |
| Malarndirri McCarthy NT | No | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | No | |
| Louise Pratt WA | No | |
| Tony Sheldon NSW | No | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | No | |
| Jess Walsh Victoria | No | |
| Murray Watt Queensland | No | |
| Penny Wong SA | No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Absent | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Absent | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | Absent | |
| Katy Gallagher ACT | Absent | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | Absent | |
| Marielle Smith SA | Absent | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | Absent | |
| Stirling Griff SA Centre Alliance | Absent | |
| Sam McMahon NT Country Liberal Party | Yes | |
| Sue Lines WA Deputy President | No | |
| Rex Patrick SA Independent | Yes | |
| Jacqui Lambie Tasmania Jacqui Lambie Network | Yes | |
| Liberal National Party (50% turnout) | 1 Yes – 0 No | |
| James McGrath Queensland | Yes | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | Absent | |
| Liberal Party (83% turnout) | 24 Yes – 0 No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | Yes | |
| Alex Antic SA | Yes | |
| Wendy Askew Tasmania | Yes | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Yes | |
| Andrew Bragg NSW | Yes | |
| Slade Brockman WA | Yes | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Yes | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | Yes | |
| Jonathon Duniam Tasmania | Yes | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | Yes | |
| Sarah Henderson Victoria | Yes | |
| Hollie Hughes NSW | Yes | |
| Jane Hume Victoria | Yes | |
| Andrew McLachlan SA | Yes | |
| Jim Molan NSW | Yes | |
| Matt O'Sullivan WA | Yes | |
| James Paterson Victoria | Yes | |
| Marise Payne NSW | Yes | |
| Gerard Rennick Queensland | Yes | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | Yes | |
| Anne Ruston SA | Yes | |
| Dean Smith WA | Yes | |
| Amanda Stoker Queensland | Yes | |
| David Van Victoria | Yes | |
| Claire Chandler Tasmania | Absent | |
| David Fawcett SA | Absent | |
| Paul Scarr Queensland | Absent | |
| Zed Seselja ACT | Absent | |
| Ben Small WA | Absent | |
| National Party (100% turnout) | 3 Yes – 0 No | |
| Perin Davey NSW | Yes | |
| Susan McDonald Queensland | Yes | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | Yes | |
| Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (50% turnout) | 1 Yes – 0 No | |
| Malcolm Roberts Queensland | Yes | |
| Pauline Hanson Queensland | Absent | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria President | Yes | |
| Totals (79% turnout) | 33 Yes – 27 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.