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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises that single rates of unemployment payments are completely inadequate to cover basic living costs;

(b) acknowledges that our social safety net currently fails to protect jobseekers from falling into poverty;

(c) notes that:

(i) the Australian Council of Social Service has called for an increase of $75 a week to allowance payments for single people from 1 January 2019, and

(ii) the 2018-19 Budget did not increase any allowance payments, including Newstart or Youth Allowance; and

(d) urges the Federal Government to increase the single rate of Newstart and Youth Allowance by $75 a week.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Newstart is too low. Labor knows this, but, unlike the Greens, we want to bring about change, not pull stunts. That's why Bill Shorten has committed to a root-and-branch review of Newstart. The truth is that if you want to see an increase to Newstart you've got to change the government.

How do you think the last major increase to social security came about? The Labor government commissioned the Harmer review into the adequacy of the pension. This was a proper policy process that was undertaken. Consultations with key stakeholders were held and it was paid for in the budget. As a result, pensions were increased by $30 a week, the biggest increase in history. One million Australians were lifted out of poverty. It didn't happen because of a stunt in the Senate from a minor party like the Greens; it happened because there was a Labor government in office.

We fully understand that Newstart hasn't seen an increase in real terms for more than 20 years. That's why we've worked so hard in the last two years to protect the energy supplement for vulnerable Australians on Newstart.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion as moved by Senator Siewert be agreed to. Those of that opinion, say aye—

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Di Natale, I've already started the vote. It's too late now. I'll put the question again—

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I seek leave once the vote has been conducted?

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, you can seek the call after the question, Senator Di Natale. The question is that the motion, as moved by Senate Siewert, be agreed to.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is leave granted? Leave is granted for one minute.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Deputy President. Look, I just couldn't resist when I heard Senator Chisholm mention the word 'stunt'. The last time I heard a Labor senator use the word stunt when referring to a Greens' proposal was in relation to the royal commission. It was Senator Sam Dastyari who, in justifying a vote against a royal commission, said he wouldn't support it because it was a Greens' stunt. Well, if Senator Chisholm's been paying attention, he'd see right now that we do have a royal commission, and it was in large part thanks to the hard work of the Greens—in fact, my colleague, Senator Whish-Wilson—and some sensible National Party members who recognised that it was time that we had a review into the banking sector. Now, it won't be long before the Labor Party do come on board with the campaign to raise Newstart—something that Senator Siewert has been campaigning on for many, many years. I know many of you are a bit slow on the uptake, but it won't be long before you get there and, when you do, you'll thank the Greens and many other members of the community for leading the charge. (Time expired)