Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On the matter that is before the Senate, which is the time that we will have to scrutinise and allow public input into the legislation regarding the abolition of the cashless debit card, I think it is absolutely appalling that proper time is not being given to allow the community and, in particular, the communities that are involved in the cashless debit card to give input into this decision that we all need to make in this place. It is an absolute travesty.

We saw, through the election campaign, many comments from those opposite and from around the country, calling for greater levels of transparency and accountability. Here is the first opportunity for that to be enacted and on display. Yet, sadly, what we're seeing from this government is a ramming-through of this legislation. Granted, they took this decision to the election. The Australian people, of course, did make their decision. But let's look at the particular communities where the cashless debit card is in operation.

We know that the member for O'Connor, Mr Wilson, was very much out there with his support of the cashless debit card. He was re-elected. You look at the member for Grey. He's also someone who's very supportive of the cashless debit card, and Ceduna, in the western part of South Australia, is one of the cashless debit card areas. He was re-elected. You look at the north-west of Western Australia, right up the very top in the East Kimberley, part of the seat of Durack, where Ms Price is the member. She is also someone who is very much on the record in support of the cashless debit card. She was re-elected. So it's really important that we actually hear from these communities where the cashless debit card is in operation.