Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Brown, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) people with disability make up 18% of the population, but 30% of people entering prison,

(ii) the existing policy of suspending the Disability Support Pension for people in prison for up to two years helps to protect people with disability, who are already marginalised and experiencing severe hardship, when they exit prison,

(iii) people with disability are at particular risk upon leaving prison and should be properly supported at this critical time – to avoid recidivism, homelessness and social isolation, and

(iv) the Federal Government's plan to reduce the allowable suspension period for the Disability Support Pension for people in prison from two years to thirteen weeks, from January 2019, will have negative consequences for individuals and the community; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to abandon its plan to reduce the Disability Support Pension suspension period for people exiting prison.

Question agreed to.