Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that people with disability face many barriers to finding and maintaining secure work and are poorly represented in the workforce;

(b) acknowledges that the report of the Australian Council of Social Service, Poverty in Australia 2016, reported 510,900 adults with a disability were living below the poverty line in 2013-14, not including people with disability with core activity limitation, and that, in 2014, 36.2 per cent of Disability Support Pension recipients were living below the poverty line; and

(c) calls on the Government to abandon its attacks on supports for people with disability, including moving people with disability off the Disability Support Pension and making access to the Mobility Allowance tougher.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government rejects the assertions made in this motion. The government is providing significant support to people with disabilities through disability employment services and ensuring that the NDIS is fully funded. The coalition government's policy is to ensure that only people in genuine need can access the disability support pension. Those assessed with the capacity to work are provided with significant support to find employment. It is well noted that where people have the capacity to work, gainful and meaningful employment leads to significantly better life outcomes than a life on welfare.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that notice of motion No. 164 moved by Senator Siewert be agreed to.