Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I'll just indicate at the start that the Australian Greens would like the questions put separately on the government's amendment, because we intend to vote differently on each. With regard to that, we are happy with the change of reporting date for the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022. So we intend to support that amendment to the report, with the amended date of 31 August, as flagged by the minister.

But we have our own amendment with regard to part (a) of the government's amendment to the report:

At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of:

(a) the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment (Selection and Appointment) Bill 2022, the bill not be referred to a committee; and

(b) the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022, the Community Affairs Legislation Committee report on 26 August 2022".

That report has been circulated in my name in the chamber. For the benefit of colleagues in the chamber, this amendment, if it were accepted by the chamber, would refer the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment (Selection and Appointment) Bill 2022 to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for an inquiry and report by 31 August 2022. I know that my colleague Senator Shoebridge would like to make a contribution to the debate. I just offer that to senators as perhaps some courtesy in terms of taking up the time of this chamber. I won't be taking my full five minutes, because I would like the chamber to be able to hear from Senator Shoebridge on that matter and also, briefly, Senator Rice on the matter of the cashless debit card.

But, briefly, the Human Rights Commission legislation amendment bill is really critical legislation. I note that Senator Shoebridge has articulated very well, publicly, the need for an LGBTIQ+ commissioner on the Human Rights Commission. This is a gaping hole in the structures of the commission, and it should be filled. Senator Shoebridge has quite rightly identified an opportunity to make that happen. I think it's really critical that we hear from the LGBTIQ+ community through the mechanism of a Senate inquiry so their concerns can be heard and their deeply held and genuine wishes for an LGBTIQ+ commissioner on the Human Rights Commission can be understood by the government, by the Senate and, ultimately, by the whole parliament. I repeat the Greens' request for these questions to be put separately, and I move my amendment to the minister's amendment.