Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, Senator Farrell. As reported by the West Australian newspaper today, in the WA Goldfields town of Laverton, formerly a place where the cashless debit card was in operation, last week the Desert Inn Hotel, after discussions with local police, voluntarily imposed liquor restrictions to combat alcohol fuelled violence. What role has the withdrawal of the cashless debit card played in increasing crime, domestic violence and dysfunction in Laverton?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Cash for her question. The cashless debit card was obviously a controversial issue going into the last election. We as an opposition took to the Australian people the proposition that we should remove the cashless debit card. One of the first things that the new Minister for Social Services, Minister Rishworth, did was to introduce legislation into this place—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Cash?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I think it's pretty obvious that my point of order is on relevance. Senator Farrell, could you at least direct your comments to the alcohol fuelled violence in Laverton.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, the minister is being relevant. You have asked about the CDC. He is entitled to put the government's reasons for its abolition. Minister, please continue.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We took the proposition to the Australian people, and that included people in Western Australia and—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Don't insult us. The people in Laverton said no.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The people in Western Australia voted overwhelmingly for an Anthony Albanese Labor government. Senator Cash, you know as well as I do the number of seats that your government lost in Western Australia. So all I'm saying is—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Ruston! Minister, please continue.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We took our policy to the last election. Senator Cash, you would be appalled if we didn't do what we said we were going to do. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, a supplementary question?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Shire of Laverton president, Patrick Hill, was today reported as saying:

The kids are not getting fed, the women get bashed up and it's just going back to the way it was.

Minister, what are you going to do to protect the women and children in Laverton and other towns around Australia where you've withdrawn the cashless debit card?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Regrettably, Senator Cash, the issues that you raise as significant in Laverton are not unique to that town. Let's take one of the issues that you're talking about.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, when I'm deliberately answering or doing my best to answer your questions—

That may be so, but the people of Australia have made a decision. One of the reasons they voted for us at the last election was our policies on domestic violence. I don't say that we are going to solve all of the problems overnight— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just a moment, Senator Cash. I will wait until there is silence on your side.

Senator Ruston, I just called for silence. Senator Cash, a second supplementary question?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, will you commit to restoring the cashless debit card as a matter of urgency in Laverton and in other communities being ravaged by alcohol fuelled crime, violence and dysfunction because your government abolished it last year, and will you apologise to the people of Laverton?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can only reiterate the comments that Senator Wong made a few moments ago—that politicising these sorts of issues in this way, in this Senate, does you no credit, Senator Cash. It does you no credit. It does you no credit to take advantage of the issues that are going on in this town and other towns to try to get some sort of political advantage out of the—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. I'm going to ask for silence to allow the minister to finish the question. Please continue, Minister Farrell.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam President. I reiterate my point. It doesn't do you any good, Senator Cash, to be seeking to use the disadvantage of— (Time expired)