Division Description Changes — Motions — Coronavirus Supplement — 11th Nov 2020

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senate vote 2020-11-11#5

Edited by mackay staff

on 2020-11-13 13:29:15

Title

  • Motions — Coronavirus Supplement
  • Motions - Coronavirus Supplement - Increase JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance

Description

  • <p class="speaker">Rachel Siewert</p>
  • <p>I move:</p>
  • <p class="italic">That the Senate&#8212;</p>
  • The majority voted against a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2020-11-11.150.1) introduced by West Australian Senator [Rachel Siewert](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/rachel_siewert) (Greens), which means it failed.
  • ### Motion text
  • > *That the Senate—*
  • >
  • > *(a) condemns the Government's announcement that it is cutting the Coronavirus Supplement to $150 a fortnight between January and March 2021 which will see people on the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance drop further below the poverty line;*
  • >
  • > *(b) notes that this Government is treating income support payments like a political football by making ad-hoc and last minute announcements to changes in payment rates, which is in stark comparison to the certainty provided to those on JobKeeper Payment; and*
  • >
  • > *(c) calls on the Government to immediately announce a permanent and ongoing increase to the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance that ensures no one receiving these payments falls below the poverty line.*
  • <p class="italic">(a) condemns the Government's announcement that it is cutting the Coronavirus Supplement to $150 a fortnight between January and March 2021 which will see people on the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance drop further below the poverty line;</p>
  • <p class="italic">(b) notes that this Government is treating income support payments like a political football by making ad-hoc and last minute announcements to changes in payment rates, which is in stark comparison to the certainty provided to those on JobKeeper Payment; and</p>
  • <p class="italic">(c) calls on the Government to immediately announce a permanent and ongoing increase to the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance that ensures no one receiving these payments falls below the poverty line.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Anne Ruston</p>
  • <p>I seek leave to make a short statement.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p>
  • <p>Leave is granted for one minute.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Anne Ruston</p>
  • <p>The government is extending payment of the coronavirus supplement for a further three months from 1 January 2021, at a cost of $3.2 billion, to provide additional temporary support to Australians impacted by the pandemic. The extension of the coronavirus supplement and a range of enhanced eligibility criteria within the social services system complement the $507 billion worth of direct economic and balance sheet support already committed to by this government. The government's priority is to get Australians back to work, including through the JobKeeper program and the JobMaker program, as set out in the budget.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p>
  • <p>The question is that motion No. 846 be agreed to.</p>