23rd Mar 2020, 4:42 PM – Representatives Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Bill 2020 and related bills - Second Reading - Ensuring continued employment

The majority voted to disagree with the amendment below being added to the usual second reading motion "that the bills be read for a second time". Reading a bill for a second time is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill. Because this amendment was unsuccessful, the words below will not be added. It was introduced by Watson MP Tony Burke (Labor).

What do these bills do?

These bills were introduced to "implement the Government’s economic response to the spread of the Coronavirus, which the Government announced between 12 and 22 March 2020." You can find a copy of the bills' text on the bills' homepages by clicking on the bill hyperlinks provided on this page (each bill has its own hyperlink), or read about the Government's intentions with the bill on the explanatory memorandum. Due to the speed with which the bills went through parliament, there is currently no bills digest.

Amendment text

That the following words be added:

''(6) there is no conditionality on assistance measures to business to keep workers employed; and

(7) calls on the Government to legislate for a mechanism that provides sufficient incentive for employers to keep employees in work''