Bill
Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022
passed, as at 2022-09-30. Social Services portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Social Services
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2022-07-27
- second reading — 2022-07-27
- second reading — 2022-08-02
- second reading — 2022-08-03
- third reading — 2022-08-03
- introduced — 2022-08-03
- second reading — 2022-08-03
- second reading — 2022-09-26
- second reading — 2022-09-27
- second reading — 2022-09-27
- committee — 2022-09-27
- third reading — 2022-09-27
- other — 2022-09-28
- other — 2022-09-28
- passed — 2022-09-28
- royal assent — 2022-09-30
Divisions
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2022-08-02.113.8) "*that the bill be considered urgent.*" ### What does this mean? Speaker and MP for Oxley [Milton Dick](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/oxley/milton_dick) (Labor) [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2022-08-02.115.1): > *As the House has declared the bill urgent, I remind members standing order 85 provides principles for proceedings, which include standing order 31 will not apply and a second reading debate may continue from 7.30 until 10 pm or earlier if no member rises to speak. Each member will have a maximum of 10 minutes of speaking time. At 10 pm or earlier the Speaker shall interrupt the debate and immediately adjourn the House until 9 am tomorrow. After prayers tomorrow, the question on the bill will be put without further amendment or debate.* ### Why would this bill be considered urgent? Watson MP [Tony Burke](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/watson/tony_burke) (Labor) [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2022-08-02.113.1): > *I previously explained to the House one of the challenges with the bill that is now before us is that if it is to be carried by both houses, for the deadline on the card, which is within the bill, there needs to be a phase down period. The phase down period is required because—and I'm not sure how this has happened, and I don't want to engage too much with the debate—it has been possible with this particular card for people to connect it to Afterpay accounts. As a result of that, you can't just suddenly end it on a set date without there being a staged down period. For that reason, for the bill to be able to work, the government requires when we return in the next sitting fortnight for the Senate to pass it at that point.* > > *Those familiar with the Senate, which I suspect is none of us—but I know enough to know that overwhelmingly their go — 2022-08-02, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 82, noes 59
- Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022 - Second Reading - Agree with bill's main idea — 2022-08-03, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 86, noes 54
- Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022 - Third Reading - Pass the bill — 2022-08-03, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 86, noes 57
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2022-09-26.20.2) to the usual second reading motion, which is "*that the bill be read a second time*". To read a bill a [second time](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/) is to agree with its main idea. The amendment was introduced by South Australian Senator [Anne Ruston](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/anne_ruston) (Liberal). ### Motion text > *Omit all words after "that", substitute "further consideration of the bill be made an order of the day for the next day of sitting after the Senate passes a resolution that it is of the opinion that both of the following conditions have been met:* > >> *(a) thorough and appropriate consultation has occurred with all relevant stakeholders and communities about the changes proposed by the bill; and* >> >> *(b) a bill providing a permanent alternative to income management has been introduced into the Parliament".* — 2022-09-27, Senate: negative, ayes 26, noes 30
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2022-09-27.153.1) to the usual second reading motion, which is "*that the bill be read a second time*". To read a bill a [second time](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/) is to agree with its main idea. The amendment was introduced by Victorian Senator [Janet Rice](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/janet_rice) (Greens). ### Motion text > *At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate calls on the Government to:* > >> *(a) provide a clear plan for an end to all compulsory income management, which disproportionately impacts First Nations peoples; and* >> >> *(b) urgently and significantly increase the funding for community and support services through a jobs and services plan, including redirecting any savings from the abolition of the cashless debit card to these services".* — 2022-09-27, Senate: negative, ayes 11, noes 41
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2022-09-27.155.1) to the usual second reading motion, which is "*that the bill be read a second time*". To read a bill a [second time](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/) is to agree with its main idea. The amendment was introduced on behalf of Queensland Senator [Gerard Rennick](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/gerard_rennick) (Liberal). ### Motion text > *At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate calls on the Government to ensure that no recipient of the Age Pension or a Veteran or Service Pension will be placed on income management by the Commonwealth Government or any of its agencies. The current authority the Family Responsibility Commission, child protection workers, or the Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Tribunal in the Northern Territory will continue".* — 2022-09-27, Senate: negative, ayes 24, noes 32
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2022-09-27.157.1) to the usual second reading motion, which is "*that the bill be read a second time*". To read a bill a [second time](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/) is to agree with its main idea. The amendment was introduced by Tasmanian Senator [Jacqui Lambie](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/tasmania/jacqui_lambie) (Jacqui Lambie Network). ### Motion text > *At the end of the motion, add ", and the Senate:* > > *(a) agrees that it is imperative that social disruption be minimised in trial sites where the cashless debit card is being repealed; and* > > *(b) orders that there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, by no later than 2 pm on Friday, 30 September 2022, a transition plan which includes an outline of the following:* > >> *(i) the administrative measures that will be taken by the Commonwealth Government to ensure cashless welfare participants will continue to have access to restrictable payments, including regarding any changes relating to those participants' bank accounts or bank cards,* >> >> *(ii) the social and community supports that will be available to combat alcohol abuse, drug abuse and crime in program areas,* >> >> *(iii) the measures that the Commonwealth Government will take to combat coercive control and financial abuse in relation to cashless welfare participants who are using the restrictions under the cashless welfare scheme to control their own finances, and* >> >> *(iv) the Commonwealth Government's economic plan for the program areas, including what measures the Commonwealth Government will take to increase access to training and jobs in program areas".* — 2022-09-27, Senate: negative, ayes 27, noes 29
- Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea — 2022-09-27, Senate: affirmative, ayes 32, noes 24
- The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2022-09-27.390.1) (1) and (3) on [sheet 1656](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr6887_amend_a401f5c5-7c7a-48f4-8dc1-01669466f8fc%22;rec=0), which means they failed. The amendments were to end compulsory income management. ### What does this bill do? The [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2223a/23bd001) provides the following key points that explain what the bill does and why it was introduced: * *There are two schemes for income support recipients that aim to limit spending on harmful goods such as alcohol, illicit drugs, and gambling. One is the cashless debit card (CDC) program and the other is income management.* * *The CDC program currently operates in six areas around Australia — Ceduna (South Australia), Kununurra and Wyndham in the East Kimberly (Western Australia), the Goldfields region (Western Australia), the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay region (Queensland), the Northern Territory, and Cape York (Queensland). In June 2022 it applied to 17,382 people.* * *The Bill will abolish the CDC program in line with the Government’s 2022 election commitment.* * *The abolition will occur in two stages.* * *Certain people who are currently participating in the CDC program may be moved to income management. Others may decide to voluntarily participate in income management.* — 2022-09-27, Senate: negative, ayes 11, noes 32
- Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022 - in Committee - Agree with the bill as amended — 2022-09-27, Senate: affirmative, ayes 33, noes 26
- Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022 - Third Reading - Pass the bill — 2022-09-27, Senate: affirmative, ayes 33, noes 26
- Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022 - Consideration of Senate Message - Agree and pass the bill — 2022-09-28, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 87, noes 51
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2022-07-27.
This bill would scrap the cashless debit card welfare program.
It would instead let people move to the income management system in Part 3B of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 where suitable.
Around 17,300 current card users, a large proportion of whom are Indigenous Australians, would be affected.
- Abolishes Part 3D of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.
- Makes consequential amendments to the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration Act) Act 1999, the National Emergency Declaration Act 2020 and the Social Security Act 1991.
- Is the first of two tranches of reforms.
The roughly 17,300 people currently using the cashless debit card, many of whom are First Nations people.
Sources
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