Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Greens oppose schedule 3 in the following terms:

(4) Schedule 3, page 6 (line 1) to page 8 (line 31), Schedule TO BE OPPOSED.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: The question is that schedule 3 stand as printed.

Question agreed to.

The Greens oppose schedule 2 in the following terms:

(2)   Schedule 2, item 2, page 5 (lines 9 to 15), item TO BE OPPOSED.

This relates to the freezing of the indexation of family tax benefit A and B. As I articulated in my speech during the second reading debate, we do not believe this is a good measure in that it focuses disproportionately on the members of our community on the lowest income, both those on low wages and those on income support. I acknowledge that the more well off Australians will not really notice it, but low-income families will notice it because every single penny counts for people on a low income. As I said in my speech, this money is often used to meet the lump-sum expenses that people have been accumulating through the year or when they need to replace a piece of equipment, pay bonds and things like that. I commend the amendment to the Senate.