Bill
Social Security Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021
passed, as at 2021-12-02. Indigenous Australians portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Indigenous Australians
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2021-09-01
- second reading — 2021-09-01
- second reading — 2021-10-25
- second reading — 2021-10-26
- second reading — 2021-10-26
- third reading — 2021-10-26
- introduced — 2021-11-22
- second reading — 2021-11-22
- second reading — 2021-11-25
- second reading — 2021-11-29
- second reading — 2021-11-29
- third reading — 2021-11-29
- passed — 2021-11-29
- royal assent — 2021-12-02
Divisions
- The majority voted in favour of *disagreeing* with an amendment, which would have added the text below to the usual [second reading motion](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/). A second reading motion is "*that the bill be read a second time,*" and is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of [the bill](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6768). Because this vote passed, the amendment failed. ### Amendment text > *That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:* > > *"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:* > > *(1) notes:* > >> *(a) the proposed pilot remote engagement program is intended to replace the current remote employment program, the Community Development Program (CDP);* >> >> *(b) the Government are the architects of the current failed CDP and the bill again delays long-overdue changes to this program;* >> >> *(c) concerns this bill could entrench a welfare model, rather than job creation, economic development and self-determination; and* >> >> *(d) this bill does not address fundamental issues in remote Australia such as housing and essential services; and* > > *(2) calls on the Government to adopt Labor's policy of a remote employment program with real jobs, proper wages with full conditions, and meaningful community control".* — 2021-10-26, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 58, noes 49
- The majority voted against an amendment to the usual [second reading](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/) motion "*That this bill be now read a second time,*" which is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill. This means that the amendment failed. It was introduced by NSW Senator [Jenny McAllister](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/jenny_mcallister) (Labor). ### Amendment text > *At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:* > > *(a) notes:* > >> *(i) that the proposed pilot remote engagement program is intended to replace the current remote employment program, the Community Development Program (CDP),* >> >> *(ii) that the Government is the architect of the current failed CDP and the bill again delays long-overdue changes to this program,* >> >> *(iii) concerns that this bill could entrench a welfare model, rather than job creation, economic development and self-determination, and* >> >> *(iv) that this bill does not address fundamental issues in remote Australia such as housing and essential services; and* > > *(b) calls on the Government to adopt Labor's policy of a remote employment program with real jobs, proper wages with full conditions, and meaningful community control".* — 2021-11-29, Senate: negative, ayes 22, noes 24
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2021-11-29.31.1) to the usual [second reading](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/) motion "*That this bill be now read a second time,*" which is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill. This means that the amendment failed. It was introduced by Victorian Senator [Lidia Thorpe](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/lidia_thorpe) (Greens). ### Amendment text > *At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate notes that:* > > *(a) this bill replaces the Community Development Program with a new framework piloting how employment services are delivered in remote communities, particularly communities with a high number of First Nations people;* > > *(b) these pilot programs dishonour the Federal Government's commitment to formal partnerships and shared decision-making in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap as it is not clear how communities have been chosen to participate in the pilots or if the principles of free, prior, and informed consent were followed when working with these communities;* > > *(c) people in these pilot programs will not be paid a living wage for work they are required to perform and they will not be given the industrial protections available to all working people;* > > *(d) this bill is opposed by human rights organisations, Aboriginal community controlled organisations, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services; and* > > *(e) this bill does not address the underlying issue causing under-employment or unemployment in regional, remote, and very remote areas of the country; namely, the lack of economic and job opportunities".* — 2021-11-29, Senate: negative, ayes 21, noes 24
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2021-11-29.33.1) to read the bill for a [second time](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/). This means that they voted to agree with the main idea of the bill and will now discuss it in greater detail. ### What is the bill's main idea? According to the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2122a/22bd023), the purpose of the bill is to: > * *establish a new remote engagement program payment to be paid to job seekers who participate in a remote engagement placement and* > * *remove provisions that establish or refer to the now non-operational Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) Scheme and related CDEP Scheme Participant Supplement.* — 2021-11-29, Senate: affirmative, ayes 31, noes 7
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2021-09-01.
The bill would create a new payment for job seekers who volunteer to take part in a remote engagement placement.
It would set the payment at between $100 and $190 per fortnight for up to 104 weeks, and let the Minister make rules about who qualifies and how much they get.
The bill would also remove outdated rules about the former Community Development Employment Projects scheme from the social security law.
- Establishes a new payment called the remote engagement program payment.
- Sets the payment rate at $100 to $190 per fortnight for a maximum of 104 weeks.
- Makes participation in the placement voluntary and lets a person leave if they choose.
- Allows the Minister to make legislative instruments on qualification criteria, non-payment circumstances, and the payment rate.
- Repeals or omits sections of the Social Security Act that relate to the former Community Development Employment Projects scheme.
Job seekers in remote communities who volunteer for a placement, and Indigenous people living in those communities.
Sources
em
em supp
billhome
frl act