Senate debates
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Social Security and Indigenous Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2010
Second Reading
Debate resumed from 15 June, on motion by Senator Stephens:
That this bill be now read a second time.
12:28 pm
Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The coalition will be supporting the Social Security and Indigenous Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2010 for reasons I will outline in a very brief summary. Schedule 1 completes the government’s response to the report of the Carer Payment (child) Review Taskforce—Carer payment (child):a new approach. The amendments also bring consistency to the assessment for carers of children for carer payment and carer allowance. The amendments made by the schedule commence on 1 July 2010, which is why the coalition is supporting the government in this move.
Schedule 3 deals with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land accounts. Schedule 2 encompasses minor administrative changes to the income management provisions on appropriation, debt recovery, and financial transactions. The coalition, as I indicated, will be supporting this bill.
12:29 pm
Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I will keep my comments brief. The Greens will be supporting the Social Security and Indigenous Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2010. I would however like to put on the record that we—as I think this place is pretty well aware—completely oppose income management. I need to make sure that people understand that, in supporting this legislation, we still oppose income management, but recognise that the amendments that are being made here do actually support Aboriginal people who are caught up in income management. The amendments are a very micro step in the right direction towards helping people who are under this punitive regime so we will be supporting these amendments.
12:30 pm
Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
in reply—I thank Senator Siewert and the opposition for their comments and commend the Social Security and Indigenous Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2010 to the Senate.
Question agreed to.
Bill read a second time.