Bill
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Cashless Debit Card) Bill 2017
passed, as at 2018-02-20. Social Services portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Social Services
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2017-08-17
- second reading — 2017-08-17
- second reading — 2017-10-26
- second reading — 2018-02-05
- second reading — 2018-02-06
- second reading — 2018-02-06
- third reading — 2018-02-06
- introduced — 2018-02-07
- second reading — 2018-02-07
- second reading — 2018-02-07
- second reading — 2018-02-08
- second reading — 2018-02-12
- second reading — 2018-02-12
- committee — 2018-02-12
- third reading — 2018-02-12
- other — 2018-02-13
- passed — 2018-02-13
- royal assent — 2018-02-20
Divisions
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-08-17.21.1) introduced by Victorian Senator [Mitch Fifield](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/mitch_fifield) (Liberal) to an [original amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-08-17.19.1) introduced by ACT Senator [Katy Gallagher](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/act/katy_gallagher) (Labor) ### Amendment text > *"13 November 2017", substitute "16 October 2017".* ### Original amendment text > *At the end of the motion, add "and in respect of [Social Services Legislation Amendment (Cashless Debit Card) Bill 2017](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5939), the Community Affairs Legislation Committee report by 13 November 2017".* — 2017-08-17, Senate: negative, ayes 27, noes 32
- Social Services Legislation Amendment (Cashless Debit Card) Bill 2017 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea — 2018-02-06, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 77, noes 71
- Social Services Legislation Amendment (Cashless Debit Card) Bill 2017 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea — 2018-02-12, Senate: affirmative, ayes 35, noes 29
- The majority voted in favour of a [government amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2018-02-12.148.1) introduced by NSW Senator [Concetta Fierravanti-Wells](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/concetta_fierravanti-wells) (Liberal), which means it will now be included as part of the bill. ### What does the amendment do? Senator Fierravanti-Wells [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2018-02-12.148.1): > *The government amendment extends the trial of the cashless debit card to 30 June 2019. The amendments also specify that the trial will be limited to three sites—namely, the East Kimberley and the included communities, Ceduna and the surrounding regions, and the Goldfields. The bill retains the existing legislated limitations on trial parameters in relation to the number of sites, participant numbers and the duration of the cashless debit card trial.* > > *Under the current legislation, trial sites are determined via legislative instrument. The bill removes this ability and specifically names the trial areas. Instead, the minister will be able to declare that specific parts of the trial areas are exempt from the cashless debit card. This provides the government with the flexibility to remove localities. This reflects that discussions with communities in the Goldfields region are ongoing and that requirements for communities already on the cashless debit card may change over time.* ### Amendment text > *(1) Schedule 1, items 1 and 2, page 3 (lines 4 to 8), omit the items, substitute:* > > *1 Subsection 124PD(1)* > >> *Insert:* >> >> *Ceduna area means Ceduna within the meaning of the Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area—Ceduna and Surrounding Region) Determination2015 as in force on 15 March 2016 and includes the Surrounding Region (within the meaning of that determination as so in force).* >> >> *East Kimberley area means East Kimberley within the meaning of the Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area— — 2018-02-12, Senate: affirmative, ayes 30, noes 26
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2018-02-12.258.1) introduced by NSW Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron) (Labor), which means it failed. ### What do these amendments do? Senator Cameron [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2018-02-12.256.1): > *Our amendments seek to improve the way the trial work in Ceduna and East Kimberley by ensuring that the rules by which a community body makes recommendations to the secretary are transparent and made public. Labor, in its own consultations, heard the way in which the decisions made by the community body were not always clear and transparent.* > > *The government must specify funding for wraparound services in trial sites formally in the legislation. The wraparound services are important. There is no point in putting these cards in without appropriate wraparound services. The minister could give me a figure on what wraparound services cost across the country, but, for the bill that's been brought here, we didn't get any specified idea of what the wraparound services were costing. We are seeking that the government specify the social support services to ensure trial participants get the alcohol rehabilitation, mental health and other support services they need. The funding allocated in the new services being delivered is not clear to trial participants. This amendment requires the information be made public.* ### Amendment text > *(2) Schedule 1, item 2, page 3 (lines 7 and 8), omit the item, substitute:* > > *2 Paragraph 124PF(1 ) ( b)* > >> *Omit "30 June 2018", substitute "30 June 2019".* > > *3 Subsection 124PF(2)* > >> *Omit "up to 3 discrete", substitute "2 discrete".* > > *4 Paragraph 124PK(2 ) ( a)* > >> *After "voluntary participant", insert "reached in accordance with the requirements set out in a determination made under subsection (6)".* > > *5 At the end of section 124PK* > >> *Add:* >> >> — 2018-02-12, Senate: negative, ayes 26, noes 30
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2018-02-12.270.1) that item 1 of schedule 1 stand as printed. In other words, they voted to leave that item unchanged. This motion was put after NSW Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron) (Labor) moved a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2018-02-12.268.1) to oppose the item. — 2018-02-12, Senate: affirmative, ayes 30, noes 26
- Social Services Legislation Amendment (Cashless Debit Card) Bill 2017 - Third Reading - Pass the bill — 2018-02-12, Senate: affirmative, ayes 30, noes 26
- Social Services Legislation Amendment (Cashless Debit Card) Bill 2017 - Consideration of Senate Message - Agree with the amendment to pass the bill — 2018-02-13, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 77, noes 69
Plain-language summary
No machine-written summary in this export.
Sources
em
em supp
em supp
billhome
frl act