Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before moving general business notice of motion No. 1254, I indicate that Senator McCarthy will be co-sponsoring the motion. At the request of Senator Chisholm and Senator McCarthy, I move:

(a) that there be laid on the table by the Minister for Families and Social Services, by no later than 3.30 pm on Friday, 22 October 2021:

(i) each contract for the delivery of the Cashless Debit Card, including contracts with Indue,

(ii) documents showing the total cost of the Cashless Debit Card scheme since inception,

(iii) documents relating to the Cashless Debit Card Technology Working Group, including minutes of meetings, and

(iv) documents relating to product level blocking using the Cashless Debit Card or other payment systems, including in relation to product level blocking trials; and

(b) if the Senate is not sitting when the documents are ready for presentation, the documents are to be presented to the President under standing order 166.

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.

Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One minute, please.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The cashless debit card is a program for working age payment recipients to help stabilise their lives and get them on a pathway to work and provide opportunity for individuals, their families and communities. Those on the other side should be ashamed of the way they're obsessed with playing politics with this issue. They supported the cashless debit card being introduced in 2015 and through its expansion, up until the 2019 election, when they decided to put politics above people. And now they're running a shameful scare campaign aimed at age pensioners. It is disgusting. The government has never had and will never have a plan to force age pensioners onto the cashless debit card. First Labor wanted a retirees tax and now they're lying to retirees. What's next? Unlike those opposite, we have always been transparent with the Australian people about our plans for the cashless debit card. We will not oppose this OPD.

Question agreed to.