Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

One of the really important things that any government can do to build a thriving and cohesive society is to address disadvantage. Australia is the lucky country, but it's important that it's the lucky country for all. A fairer society is a more cohesive and peaceful society, and that benefits us all. A fairer society means that when you fall on hard times you know that you are still part of the broader community and that the broader community supports you to get back on your feet. We're there for you. Of course, that experience of community support comes through the actions of a caring and compassionate government that is here for all Australians. That's not what we've seen over the last 10 years, and I'm not surprised to hear that those opposite are opposing this bill. They have demonstrated over the last decade and, in fact, more recently that they stand for division, not for that cohesive, peaceful society that we are looking for.

Before I came to this place, I ran a number of not-for-profit agencies that focused on those experiencing disadvantage. I was the chair of UnitingCare Wesley Bowden, the CEO of women's homelessness service Catherine House and the CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society in South Australia. I've seen how cruel and random life can be and how hard it can be to pick yourself up when life has kicked you in the guts. Advantages and opportunities are not distributed evenly. For all that there are those of us who've been blessed with all the advantages—health, education, a stable childhood home, a supportive partner, gainful employment—there are others for whom poor health, poor education, an unstable childhood home, an abusive partner, unemployment or predatory employment experiences have been barriers to full participation in our society. This is not their fault, but these barriers can be very difficult to overcome.

While each individual experiencing disadvantage needs an individual response—and that's what the not-for-profit sector does so well—it's important that we address disadvantage at a systemic level. This is the classic metaphor of the fence at the top of the cliff, not just the ambulance at the bottom. That's why I decided to leave the not-for-profit sector and seek to be elected to this place so as to address those systemic issues, and that's what is at the heart of this bill, and it's what Labor governments are all about.

This bill will establish the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee in legislation. Ahead of every federal budget the committee will provide advice to the government on economic inclusion and tackling disadvantage. This is really important information to be under consideration when setting economic plans and levers—the impact on Australians from all walks of life experiencing various types of disadvantage. An interim committee was established in December 2022, which provided advice to the government ahead of the 2023-24 budget. This bill now supports the government's commitment to legislate a permanent role for the committee in 2023.

The bill outlines the functions of the committee, the contents of its reports and the provision and publication of the committee's reports. This includes economic inclusion, including approaches to boost economic participation through policy settings, systems and structures in the social security system and other relevant programs and policies; the adequacy, effectiveness and sustainability of income support payments, including options to boost economic inclusion and tackle disadvantage; and options to reduce barriers and disincentives to work, including in relation to social security and employment services.

The bill requires the committee in preparing its report to demonstrate its regard to the government's economic and fiscal outlook and fiscal strategy. The bill also requires the committee to report to the Treasurer and the Minister for Social Services with sufficient time for its advice to be considered ahead of every budget. The government will annually publish the committee's findings, without a requirement to formally respond.

The committee will comprise up to 14 members, including the chair. Members will be appointed by the Minister for Social Services, in consultation with the Treasurer, and be leading economists, academics, community advocates, union and business representatives, and representatives of the community sector. This committee will bring together representatives from various parts of our communities.

The current membership of the interim committee includes representatives of community advisory services to the NDIS, various economists and academics, a representative of an Aboriginal women's organisation in Fitzroy Crossing and representatives of ACOSS, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Council of Trade Unions. It's really good to see, in addition to academics and economists, a broad representation of people working or living with experience of disadvantage, who can speak of the lived experience of disadvantage and analyse proposals through that lens.

The Albanese Labor government is committed to boosting economic inclusion and tackling disadvantage. This bill will ensure that there is an ongoing mechanism for the provision of independent expert advice to government on matters relating to economic inclusion and disadvantage. This bill will ensure that there is an enduring mechanism for government to benefit from expert advice on how best to support Australians most in need and minimise disadvantage in our communities. The establishment of the committee as a statutory body furthers the government's commitment to provide support to Australians most in need and the commitment to listen to experts, stakeholders and community views to inform decisions in the budget, while acting in a fiscally responsible manner.

The Albanese Labor government is committed to a strong social security safety net. We will always look to provide more support where we can to those most in need where it is responsible to do so in line with the government's economic and fiscal outlook and fiscal strategy. The committee is an example of the government's commitment to listen to experts, stakeholders and community views to inform decisions in the budget.

Disadvantage is a complex and systemic problem. This is an issue that is not limited to consideration in a single budget process or resolved within a single portfolio, so it's important that this committee has an ongoing role established in legislation to provide advice for this budget and the next and the next and to consider various portfolios where it sees they are relevant, because disadvantage is not only persistent but multifaceted and changing. As policy changes the impacts change. This committee's reports will provide important information for consideration now and in the future.

The committee's membership will include a diverse range of individuals representing the views of people impacted by the work of the committee along with the relevant experts. The committee will include a number of members who work closely with and represent the views of income support recipients and people with lived experience of disadvantage. Through its work, the committee will also consider and listen to perspectives of people experiencing economic exclusion and disadvantage.

The committee will consist of a chair and up to 13 members, comprising economists, academics, union and business representatives and community advocates, who will be appointed by the Minister for Social Services in consultation with the Treasurer. Members will hold the office on a part-time basis for a period of three years, and they will be eligible for reappointment once their term ends. Members of the committee will not be remunerated. The government has committed ongoing funding of $8.7 million over the forward estimates to support the operation of the committee, including the ability for the committee to commission independent research and for secretariat support.

The committee will provide annual advice in a report to government on a range of matters, with a focus on economic inclusion and boosting participation, the adequacy and sustainability of income support payments, and reducing barriers to economic participation. In its report, the committee will be required to demonstrate regard to the government's economic and fiscal outlook and fiscal strategy, workforce participation, relevant policies and the sustainability of the social security system. The committee's findings will be published on the Department of Social Services's website.

There is an interim committee already in existence, and the committee provided advice to the 2023-24 budget. The government delivered significant income support measures in that budget which came into effect 20 September 2023, providing much additional support to Australians who are doing it tough. These measures included increasing the base rate of working-age and student payments by $40 a fortnight, reducing the qualifying age to 55 years, down from 60 years, for the higher rate of JobSeeker payment for single recipients who've been on the payment for nine continuous months; increasing the maximum rates of Commonwealth rent assistance by 15 per cent; and extending the parent payment single to parents until their child is 14 years of age, up from eight years.

In its next phase of work ahead of the 2024-25 budget, the government has asked the committee to focus on improvements in the social security system that would support participation, in particular for disadvantaged groups experiencing or at risk of long-term unemployment. The committee's advice will complement other processes, including the employment white paper and the inquiry into employment services, which should be reporting some time this month.

The government believes that everyone deserves the opportunity and the dignity of work. We recognise the wide range of benefits that come from having a job, including economic, social and personal benefits. The Albanese Labor government will always look to provide support where we can to those most in need, where it is responsible and affordable to do so and to weigh it up against other priorities and fiscal challenges. This is consistent with the commitment that government made to consider income support payments ahead of every budget and to give consideration to measures where we can support people in Australia who are doing it tough, because Australia is a lucky country, but we want it to be lucky for us all. Thank you.

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