Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) Share this | Hansard source

I move opposition amendment (4) on sheet 1196 revised:

(4) Schedule 1, item 51, page 18 (after line 30), at the end of Part 8-2, add:

201 Ending indexing of relevant prior payments

(1) As soon as practicable after this section commences, the Minister must consider the action that needs to be taken to end the indexing of relevant prior payments.

(2) Within 90 days after this section commences, the Minister must prepare a report on:

  (a) what the Minister has done, or plans to do, to have indexing ended as mentioned in subsection (1); or

  (b) if the Minister has not done, and does not plan to do, anything—the Minister's reasons for this.

(3) The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of the Parliament on or before the first sitting day of that House after the end of those 90 days.

(4) In this section:

   action includes amending this Act, an instrument made under this Act, or any other law.

This amendment will stop the indexation of prior payments. We know that many people have had a disappointing experience when they have been through the damaging process of applying, only to receive a tiny or non-existent settlement.

The CHAIR: The question is that opposition amendment (4) on sheet 1196, as moved by Senator Pratt, be agreed to.

The committee divided. [21:40]

(The Chair—Senator Lines)