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

I indicate on behalf of the Greens that the Greens will be supporting the amendment moved by Senator Dodson. We have been advocating for an extremely long time for a permanent increase to the base rate of the JobSeeker payment—the old Newstart payment. We would like to see the coronavirus supplement extended. Of course, I have a bill in this place that would extend the original supplement, but the $250 per fortnight is the least we can do. Although we've been advocating since the beginning of the crisis that people on disability support pension, people on carer payment and age pensioners who are on CRA should also get the coronavirus supplement, paragraph (b) of this amendment, indicating better support for recipients goes some way to meeting the needs of people on DSP, the age pension and carer payment, who we all know are paying more costs in the face of the pandemic and need additional support. We will be supporting these amendments.