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

The time allotted for consideration of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee Bill 2023 has expired. I will now put the question required to conclude consideration of the bill. I will first deal with the second reading amendment circulated by the Australian Greens. The question is that the amendment on sheet 2293 be agreed to.

Australian Greens' circulated amendment—

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate calls on the Government to ensure that membership of the permanent Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee must include people with direct contemporary experience of poverty and sufficient representation of people most impacted by economic disadvantage including First Nations people, disabled people, women, and carers".

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

The question now is that the bill be read a second time.

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

I will now deal with the Committee of the Whole amendments, starting with the amendments circulated jointly by the Australian Greens and Senator David Pocock. I understand senators have requested that the questions be put separately on each sheet. The question is that the amendments on sheet 2153 be agreed to.

Australian Greens' and Senator David Pocock's circulated amendments

(1) Clause 6, page 4 (line 14), omit "and an economist", substitute ", an economist and a person with direct contemporary experience of living with a low income and economic exclusion".

(2) Clause 11, page 8 (line 27), at the end of subclause (2), add:

; (g) a person who has direct contemporary experience of living with a low income and economic exclusion.

(3) Clause 11, page 8 (after line 30), after paragraph (3)(a), insert:

(aa) ensure that at least one of those members is a person with disability; and

(ab) have regard to the desirability of the membership of the Committee being persons who are actively involved in policy, advocacy and peer support work related to economic exclusion; and

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

The question now is that the amendments on sheet 2303 be agreed to.

Australian Greens ' and Senator David Pocock's circulated amendments—

(1) Clause 3, page 2 (line 15), omit "function is to", substitute "functions are to develop national poverty measures and targets and".

(2) Clause 6, page 4 (line 5), omit "function is to", substitute "functions are to develop national poverty measures and targets and".

(3) Clause 6, page 4 (line 21), omit "function", substitute "functions".

(4) Heading to Division 2, page 5 (line 1), omit "function", substitute "functions".

(5) Heading to clause 8, page 5 (lines 5 and 6), omit "function—reports ahead of Commonwealth Government budgets", substitute "functions".

(6) Clause 8, page 5 (lines 7 and 8), omit subclause (1), insert:

(1) The Committee's functions are to:

(a) develop national poverty measures and national poverty targets; and

(b) report to the Joint Ministers ahead of each Commonwealth Government budget.

(7) Clause 8, page 6 (after line 14), after subclause (4), insert:

(4A) Without limiting subsection (2), the report must include advice about the national poverty measures and national poverty targets developed by the Committee under paragraph (1)(a).

(8) Clause 9, page 7 (line 8), omit "function", substitute "functions".

(9) Clause 11, page 8 (line 21), omit "function", substitute "functions".

(10) Clause 21, page 12 (line 4), omit "function", substitute "functions".

(11) Clause 24, page 13 (line 9), omit "function", substitute "functions".

(12) Clause 28, page 15 (line 2), omit "function", substitute "functions".

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

I will now deal with the amendments circulated by the Australian Greens. I understand senators have requested that the question be put separately on sheet 2164. The question is that the amendment on sheet 2164 be agreed to.

Australian Greens ' circulated amendment—

(1) Clause 8, page 6 (lines 20 to 27), omit subclause 8(6), substitute:

Direction by Joint Ministers

(6) The Joint Ministers may, by written notice to the Chair, direct the Committee to ensure that a particular report under this section at least addresses specified matters mentioned in subsection (2).

Question agreed to.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Could I have the coalition's opposition to this motion recorded?

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—One Nation would like our opposition to sheets 2164 and 2303 recorded.

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

The question now is that the amendments on sheets 2162, 2163, 2165 and 2304 be agreed to.

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Could we split out sheet 2163?

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

Yes. The question now is that the amendments on sheet 2162, 2165 and 2304 be agreed to.

SHEET 2162

Australian Greens' circulated amendment s

(1) Clause 4, page 3 (after line 5), after the definition of Committee , insert:

Community Affairs References Committee means the Senate Community Affairs References Committee, or such other committee constituted under a resolution of the Senate.

(2) Clause 11, page 8 (after line 11), after subclause (1), insert:

(1A) Before the Minister appoints the Chair and other members of the Committee:

(a) the Minister must have referred the proposed appointment to the Community Affairs References Committee under section 26A; and

(b) one of the following must have occurred:

(i) the Community Affairs References Committee was taken to have approved the proposed appointment under subsection (4) of that section;

(ii) the Community Affairs References Committee has notified the Minister that it has decided to approve the proposed appointment.

(3) Page 14 (after line 13), after clause 26, insert:

26A Community Affairs References Committee—approval or rejection of proposed appointment

(1) The Community Affairs References Committee must approve or reject a proposed appointment for the Chair and other members of the Committee referred to the Community Affairs References Committee by the Minister.

(2) The Community Affairs References Committee must make the decision on a proposed appointment within :

(a) 14 days after the referral; or

(b) if, within the first 14 days after the referral, the Community Affairs References Committee notifies the Minister that it requires additional time to consider the referral—44 days after the referral.

(3) As soon as practicable after making the decision, the Community Affairs References Committee must:

(a) give the Minister written notice of the decision; and

(b) report the decision to the Senate.

(4) The Community Affairs References Committee is taken to have approved the proposed appointment if the Community Affairs References Committee does not give notice under subsection (3) within the period specified in paragraph (2)(a) or (b) as the case requires.

_____

SHEET 2165

(1) Clause 8, page 5 (lines 19 and 20), omit "including options to boost economic inclusion and tackle disadvantage", substitute "with a specific focus on the reduction of poverty".

(2) Clause 8, page 6 (after line 5), after subclause (2), insert:

(2B) Without limiting subsection (2), the report must include, in relation to the period since the last Commonwealth Government budget was delivered in the House of Representatives, the following information about access and eligibility for income support payments:

(a) data and analysis on the suspension and cancellation of income support payments resulting from a recipient's failure to meet mutual obligation requirements;

(b) for each kind of income support payment:

(i) the number of debts raised; and

(ii) the number of debts repealed;

(c) data and analysis on key points of disengagement from the social security system;

(d) the adequacy of income support payments, including whether income support payments ensure that recipients are above the poverty line.

(3) Clause 8, page 6 (line 5), at the end of subclause (2), add:

; (h) the eradication of poverty.

_____

SHEET 2304

(1) Clause 17, page 11 (after line 14), at the end of the clause, add:

(5) The Chair must give written notice to the Joint Ministers setting out the interests that have been disclosed to the Committee under subsection (1) as soon as practicable after the end of the meeting in which the disclosure was made.

(2) Page 11 (after line 14), after clause 17, insert:

17A Minister must establish register of interests

(1) The Minister must establish and maintain a register of interests setting out:

(a) the interests that have been included in a written notice given to the Joint Ministers under section 16 or subsection 17(5); and

(b) any other information prescribed by the regulations.

(2) The Minister must cause the register of interests to be:

(a) published on the Department's website; and

(b) updated as soon as practicable following written notice being given to the Joint Ministers under section 16 or subsection 17(5).

(3) If a person ceases to be a member of the Committee the Minister must remove information about the person from the register as soon as practicable after the Minister becomes aware that the person is no longer a member.

(4) The regulations must make provision for, or in relation to:

(a) the correction of information that is included in the register, including how a person may seek the correction of information that is about the person; and

(b) any other matter relating to the administration or operation of the register.

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—President, could you note my support for 2304.

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

Yes. The question now is that the amendment on sheet 2163 be agreed to.

Australian Greens' circulated amendment—

(1) Clause 14, page 10 (after line 6), after subclause (2), insert:

(2A) If a member of the Committee is a person who has direct contemporary experience of living with a low income and economic exclusion, that member is to be paid allowances appropriate to the circumstances of the member and having regard to the time and expertise the member contributes to the work of the Committee, including:

(a) any preparation undertaken by the member for a meeting of the Committee; and

(b) any other activity undertaken by the member relevant to the Committee's function.

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

I'll now deal with the amendments circulated by Senator David Pocock. I understand that senators have requested that the question be put separately on sheet 2300. The question is that the amendments on sheet 2300 be agreed to.

Senator David Pocock's circulated amendments—

(1) Clause 8, page 7 (after line 4), at the end of the clause, add:

Government response to report

(10) Within 3 months after the report is published on the Department's website under subsection (9):

(a) the Joint Ministers must cause a written statement to be prepared setting out the Commonwealth Government's response to the Committee's report, including its response to each recommendation; and

(b) the Minister must cause the statement to be published on the Department's website.

Question negatived.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I ask that the Greens' support for the amendment be noted.

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

Thank you, Senator McKim.

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I ask that my support for the amendment be noted.

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

Thank you, Senator David Pocock. Senator Lambie?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Could I also ask that our support be recorded.

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

Yes. Thank you.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I also ask for my support to be recorded.

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

Thank you, Senator Thorpe. The question now is that the amendments on sheets 2296, 2297, 2298 and 2299 be agreed to. Senator Roberts?

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Could I request that I vote separately on the amendments on sheet 2299 please.

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

I shall put the question again. The question is that the amendments on sheets 2296, 2297 and 2298 be agreed to.

Senator David Pocock's circulated amendments—

SHEET 2296

(1) Clause 19, page 11 (lines 21 to 23), omit the clause, substitute:

19 Termination of appointment

(1) The Minister may terminate the appointment of a member of the Committee:

(a) for misbehaviour; or

(b) if the member is unable to perform the duties of the member's office because of physical or mental incapacity.

(2) The Minister may terminate the appointment of a member of the Committee if:

(a) the member:

(i) becomes bankrupt; or

(ii) applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or

(iii) compounds with the member's creditors; or

(b) the member is absent, except on leave of absence, from 3 consecutive meetings of the Committee; or

(c) the member fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 16 (disclosure of interests to Joint Ministers) or section 17 (disclosure of interests to Committee).

(3) The Minister may terminate the appointment of a member of the Committee if the Minister is satisfied that, because of a change of circumstances occurring after the member's appointment, the member is no longer a representative of the kind covered by subsection 11(2).

_____

SHEET 2297

(1)—Clause 8, page 7 (line 4), after "website", insert "at least 14 days before the Commonwealth Government budget is delivered in the House of Representatives".

_____

SHEET 2298

(1) Page 13 (after line 12), at the end of Part 2, add:

24A Joint Ministers to attend meetings and provide advice or assistance

(1) The Minister is to attend 1 meeting of the Committee each financial year.

(2) The Treasurer is to attend 1 meeting of the Committee each financial year.

(3) The Joint Ministers:

(a) may provide any reasonable advice or assistance requested by the Chair for the purposes of the performance of the Committee's function; but

(b) must not take part in any decision of the Committee about matters or advice to be included by the Committee in a report under section 8.

Question agreed to.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Could we have the opposition's opposition to those amendments recorded please.

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

Are there any other views? Senator Roberts?

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Yes, I oppose. Thanks.

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

The question now is that the amendment on sheet 2299 be agreed to.

Senator David Pocock's circulated amendment—

(1) Clause 28, page 15 (lines 4 and 5), omit "5 years", substitute "3 years".

Question agreed to.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I ask that the opposition's opposition to that amendment be recorded please.

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

I will now deal with the amendment circulated by the Jacqui Lambie Network. As this amendment was circulated after 6.30 pm, it can only be considered by leave. Is a senator seeking leave to move it? Senator Tyrrell?

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move my amendment.

Leave granted.

I move the Jacqui Lambie Network amendment on sheet 2322:

(1)—Clause 8, page 6 (after line 9), after paragraph (3)(a), insert:

(aa) the eradication of poverty;

Question negatived.