Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move Australian Greens amendments (1) to (3) on sheet 1612 together:

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (at the end of the table), add:

(2) Page 18 (after line 6), at the end of the Bill, add:

Schedule 2 — Obligations of Minister: Local services plan

1 Definitions

(1) In this Schedule:

plan area means any of the following:

(a) the Ceduna area;

(b) the East Kimberley area;

(c) the Goldfields area;

(d) the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay area.

publication deadline means the day that is 6 months after the day that this Schedule commences.

(2) An expression that is used in Part 3D of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 as in force immediately before this item commences, has the same meaning, when used in this Schedule, as in that Part.

2 Local services plans

(1) The Minister must, for each plan area, prepare a written plan (a local services plan) for:

(a) improving community services in the area; and

(b) addressing social issues in the area.

(2) In preparing a local services plan for a plan area, the Minister must:

(a) have regard to the principle that the plan should prioritise evidence-based local investments; and

(b) cause consultation to occur with the following:

(i) community organisations, including First Nations organisations, that operate in the area;

(ii) health services that operate in the area;

(iii) businesses that operate in the area;

(iv) the State in which the area is located;

(v) each relevant local council.

(3) The Minister must cause the local services plan for each plan area to be:

(a) published on the Department's website on or before the publication deadline; and

(b) tabled in each House of the Parliament within 7 sitting days of that House after the plan is published under paragraph (a).

(4) A local services plan:

(a) is not a legislative instrument; and

(b) does not affect any legal rights, liabilities or duties.

(3) Page 18, at the end of the Bill (at the end of proposed Schedule 2), add:

Schedule 2A — Obligations of Minister: Cost of scheme

1 Definitions

(1) In this Schedule:

cashless debit card scheme means the cashless welfare arrangements established by Part 3D of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.

publication deadline means the day that is 6 months after the day that this Schedule commences.

(2) An expression that is used in Part 3D of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 as in force immediately before this item commences, has the same meaning, when used in this Schedule, as in that Part.

2 Cost of cashless debit card scheme

(1) The Minister must prepare a written estimate of the full cost to the Commonwealth of the operation of the cashless debit card scheme.

(2) The Minister must cause the estimate to be:

(a) published on the Department's website on or before the publication deadline; and

(b) tabled in each House of the Parliament within 7 sitting days of that House after the estimate is published under paragraph (a).

This Greens amendment requires a transition plan from the government in the four trial sites where the cashless debit card is being abolished. We want to have some certainty about the services that will be provided to support people in the transition. We've heard consistent evidence through the inquiry process that while compulsory income management is a failed program and does not work, what does work is actually being able to have services provided to people to support them, to help them overcome the disadvantage that they face and to help them to do the best they can if they are relying on income support payments that are below the poverty line. They deserve support from the government.

This amendment requires the government to prepare and publish a written plan within six months of the passing of this bill that would show that they have consulted with the local communities to prepare that plan and that would improve community services and address the social issues in each area. It would require the minister to publish this plan on the department's website and to be tabled in each house of parliament in six months time. I'm pleased to be able to support that.

It's important, in terms of transparency and accountability, to make sure that these communities, which are suffering a lot of social problems, which need a lot more support, are each going to have a really well-documented and transparent plan so that we can see what levels of support across what services are being provided.