Ged Kearney (Cooper, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to thank all the members who've spoken on this bill for their support and for their constructive comments. With respect to some of the comments made by the member for Warringah, we understand only too well that families broadly and, particularly, single parent families are indeed under cost-of-living pressures. That's why we have introduced a myriad of measures—cost-of-living savings, cost-of-living measures—to help families who are under that pressure. I'm sure that the member has heard us make those lists over and over again, and I'm sure that I won't waste this House's time by going through them all again. But I will mention one, of course: it is including tripling the rent assistance.

With respect to the family and domestic violence issues that the member has raised, we are currently spending over $4 billion or investing $4 billion to protect victims of family and domestic violence. Just yesterday, indeed, we launched 'Our Ways—Strong Ways—Our Voices', an absolute landmark document and strategy to make sure that First Nations people are protected from family, domestic and sexual violence.

It was an absolutely amazing day yesterday, with many members of the First Nations communities there to share in that—something they have been calling on for days. Just this morning with Assistant Minister Rebecca White, we announced an excellent measure to expand a program that we are working with primary health care facilities to train up health professionals, admin staff and allied health staff to know exactly what to do when someone discloses family and domestic violence in their health facility. It is a wonderful program that has been lauded right across the primary health care sector.

With respect to a royal commission, the minister made it very clear in question time the other day that there have been royal commissions after royal commissions and reports after reports into family and domestic violence with hundreds and hundreds of recommendations. The very people working in the sector—peak bodies and those at the coalface—have all said to us: 'We don't need another inquiry. What we need is for you to get on with the job and invest the resources you might expend on a royal commission into the sector and make sure you actually make in roads on those recommendations.' The Albanese government is indeed also, with other issues raised by the member, delivering on our commitment to embed safety in Commonwealth systems and ensure the social security system cannot be weaponised against women experiencing violence. New measures will be introduced to reform the special circumstances debt waiver, which will give Services Australia extended powers to waive social security debts that have been incurred as a result of domestic and family violence.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 16:36 to 16:48

When considering a debt waiver, Services Australia will be able to take into account all the circumstances that lead to someone knowingly making a false statement in relation to a debtor not complying with the law, including circumstances of coercion or financial abuse. So, as the Minister for Social Services and member for Sydney said in introducing it, the bill proposes technical changes which will simply strengthen the legal basis of current policy and practice. The minister's office and the Department of Social Services have provided briefings to the opposition and the crossbench, and we will continue to make these available to assist in the Senate's consideration of the bill. The bill takes important steps to ensure the social security system is operating as intended and in accordance with the law. The Albanese Labor government will always do the work to make sure this system is strong and robust, providing the best support it can to the Australian people who rely on it. I commend the bill.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation announced.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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