edited
18th Dec 2020
Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020 - Second Reading - Keep wording unchanged
Passed by a small majority
No rebellions 81% attendance
9th Dec 2020, 12:14 AM – Senate Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020 - in Committee - Access to funds
Summary
EditThe majority voted against amendments (4) and (5) on sheet 1171, which were introduced by SA Senator Rex Patrick (Independent). This means they failed.
Amendment text
(4) Schedule 1, page 23 (after line 13), after item 92, insert:
92A Paragraph 124PJ(4)(a)
Repeal the pargraph, substitute
(a) the Secretary is satisfied that the person is unable to use the person’s debit card that was issued to the person and that is attached to the person’s welfare restricted bank account, or is unable to access that account, as a direct result of:
(i) a technological fault or malfunction with that card or account; or
(ii) a power or communications outage; or
(iii) a natural disaster; or
(iv) if a national emergency declaration (within the meaning of the National Emergency Declaration Act 2020 ) is in force—an emergency to which the declaration relates; or
(5) Schedule 1, page 23 (before line 14), before item 93, insert:
92B At the end of Subdivision B of Division 3 of Part 3D
Add:
124PMA Transfer of funds from welfare restricted bank account
(1) For a person who is a program participant or voluntary participant, the Secretary may make a determination that the person is permitted to transfer a specified amount from the person’s welfare restricted bank account to another bank account.
(2) The Secretary may make a determination under subsection (1) only if the Secretary is satisfied that the person is unable to use the person’s debit card that was issued to the person and that is attached to the person’s welfare restricted bank account as a direct result of a matter covered by paragraph 124PJ(4)(a).
(3) A determination under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.
More about the bill
The bill was introduced "to establish the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) as an ongoing program rather than a time-limited trial". The CDC program is controversial for many reasons, not least the limited evidence that it is benefiting the communities where it is currently in operation.
Read more about the program and what the bill does in the bills digest.
Votes Not passed by a small majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 9 Yes – 0 No | |
| Mehreen Faruqi NSW | Yes | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
| Nick McKim Tasmania | Yes | |
| Janet Rice Victoria | Yes | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | Yes | |
| Jordon Steele-John WA | Yes | |
| Lidia Thorpe Victoria | Yes | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | Yes | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | Yes | |
| Australian Labor Party (84% turnout) | 21 Yes – 0 No | |
| Tim Ayres NSW | Yes | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Yes | |
| Anthony Chisholm Queensland | Yes | |
| Raff Ciccone Victoria | Yes | |
| Patrick Dodson WA | Yes | |
| Don Farrell SA | Yes | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | Yes | |
| Nita Green Queensland | Yes | |
| Kristina Keneally NSW | Yes | |
| Kimberley Kitching Victoria | Yes | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | Yes | |
| Malarndirri McCarthy NT | Yes | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | Yes | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Yes | |
| Louise Pratt WA | Yes | |
| Tony Sheldon NSW | Yes | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | Yes | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | Yes | |
| Jess Walsh Victoria | Yes | |
| Murray Watt Queensland | Yes | |
| Penny Wong SA | Yes | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Absent | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Katy Gallagher ACT | Absent | |
| Marielle Smith SA | Absent | |
| Stirling Griff SA Centre Alliance | Absent | |
| Sam McMahon NT Country Liberal Party | No | |
| Sue Lines WA Deputy President | Yes | |
| Rex Patrick SA Independent | Yes | |
| Jacqui Lambie Tasmania Jacqui Lambie Network | Yes | |
| Liberal National Party (50% turnout) | 0 Yes – 1 No | |
| James McGrath Queensland | No | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | Absent | |
| Liberal Party (90% turnout) | 0 Yes – 26 No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | No | |
| Alex Antic SA | No | |
| Wendy Askew Tasmania | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | No | |
| Andrew Bragg NSW | No | |
| Slade Brockman WA | No | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | No | |
| Claire Chandler Tasmania | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Jonathon Duniam Tasmania | No | |
| David Fawcett SA | No | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | No | |
| Sarah Henderson Victoria | No | |
| Jane Hume Victoria | No | |
| Andrew McLachlan SA | No | |
| Jim Molan NSW | No | |
| Matt O'Sullivan WA | No | |
| James Paterson Victoria | No | |
| Marise Payne NSW | No | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | No | |
| Anne Ruston SA | No | |
| Paul Scarr Queensland | No | |
| Ben Small WA | No | |
| Dean Smith WA | No | |
| Amanda Stoker Queensland | No | |
| David Van Victoria | No | |
| Hollie Hughes NSW | Absent | |
| Gerard Rennick Queensland | Absent | |
| Zed Seselja ACT | Absent | |
| National Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 3 No | |
| Perin Davey NSW | No | |
| Susan McDonald Queensland | No | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | No | |
| Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
| Pauline Hanson Queensland | No | |
| Malcolm Roberts Queensland | No | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria President | No | |
| Totals (88% turnout) | 33 Yes – 34 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.