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

I shall now deal with the second reading amendment circulated by the Australian Greens. As this amendment was not circulated within the required timeframe, it can only be considered by leave.

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

by leave—I move:

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) the Disability Support Pension (DSP) partner income test traps disabled people in abusive relationships by forcing people into a dynamic of financial dependency,

(ii) the DSP partner income test also prevents members of the community from forming relationships and getting married, and genuine marriage and partner equality must include the abolition of the partner income test,

(iii) the low rate of the DSP forces many disabled people in vicious cycles of poverty, fear and pain,

(iv) the tightening of eligibility of the DSP forces many people living with disability to rely on the lower rate under JobSeeker, entrenching poverty and disadvantage,

(v) poverty is a political choice; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) abolish the punitive partner income test for the DSP, and

(ii) raise the rate of income support payments as a matter of urgency".

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

The question is that the Australian Greens amendment on sheet 3301 be agreed to.

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

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