Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to thank all members who have participated in what has been a wide-ranging debate on the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee Bill 2023. The bill reflects the Albanese Labor government's commitment to support the most vulnerable in our society, tackle disadvantage and provide more opportunities to boost economic participation.

In our first two budgets we have laid the groundwork for supporting vulnerable people in our society and our community, and that work continues. We want to hear from experts, stakeholders and community as we recognise the value of ensuring that a broad range of views are considered in the design and development of policy. We know that disadvantage is complex and is a systematic problem. We can't resolve this in a single budget process or indeed in a single portfolio; it requires sustained commitment over time and across government. This bill ensures there is an enduring mechanism for the government to benefit from independent expert advice on ways to support Australians in need, broaden opportunity and reduce disadvantage in our communities.

The bill outlines the functions of the permanent committee, including the scope of its advice and reporting arrangements. It also outlines matters of membership, including appointments, and provides for an independent review of the committee and the act to be undertaken every five years. In the meantime, the interim committee has already provided its first report, including advice on policy setting systems, structures and adequacy effectiveness and sustainability of income support payments, which helped inform the government's consideration ahead of the 2023-24 budget. I acknowledge that the member for North Sydney and the member for Clark have circulated detailed amendments calling for changes to the bill, and we will deal with those amendments in consideration in detail.

This bill is about putting mechanisms in place for independent advice. I understand the opposition will be opposing this. It's not surprising that they don't want to hear independent advice. It wasn't what they were known for best when they were last in government—taking advice from experts or carefully considered policy. Many of the decisions of the former government could be only characterised as keeping themselves in power. Well, our government does things very differently. We make sure that we are listening, that we bring people in to get that independent advice. We are not afraid, like those opposite might be, to seek advice from experts, to have contested ideas and different perspectives brought together. This is what good decision-making looks like.

I am very keen for this bill to be passed. It is an important contribution to the many significant mechanisms our government has in place to ensure that different perspectives are brought to the table.

Of course, addressing disadvantage and boosting economic participation has been a significant focus for the government, whether it is through the establishment of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, through our white paper, through the numerous pieces of legislation that we have put in place, through our boosts to rent assistance and income support, or through our extension of the single-mother parenting payment and paid parental leave—and the list goes on and on and on. Our government is very proud of boosting economic inclusion and economic participation. I commend the bill to the House.

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