Senate debates
Thursday, 14 May 2020
Motions
Pensions and Benefits
12:29 pm
Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I, and also on behalf of Senator Steele-John, move:
That the Senate—
(a) notes that Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment recipients did not receive the coronavirus supplement;
(b) acknowledges that people receiving the Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment receive up to $255.10 a fortnight less than someone on JobSeeker Payment with the coronavirus supplement;
(c) acknowledges that people on the Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment are also facing additional costs due to coronavirus that are not adequately met by the $750 economic stimulus payments; and
(d) calls on the Government to provide a top-up payment to Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment recipients so that these payments are equal to the new rate of JobSeeker Payment.
Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The commissioner of Australian Border Force has very clearly outlined, including at the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 hearing on 5 May, the Customs and Immigration roles and functions of the ABF at the border. Senator Keneally should know that. The Morrison government is getting on with the job of protecting Australians during this unprecedented crisis.
12:30 pm
Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Senator Keneally has an art of making immigration speeches that I admire. But, when it comes to understanding Australian Border Force, she needs to brush up on her facts. At the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 hearing on 5 May 2020, the ABF commissioner clearly put on the record evidence which rejects part 1(b), 1(f)(iii) and 1(f)(iv) of Senator Keneally's motion. One Nation will not be supporting this distorted and misleading motion.
Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The question is that motion 582 be agreed to.