Amanda Stoker (Queensland, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I thank senators for their sincere and heartfelt contributions and commend these bills—which facilitate the operation of certain aspects of this redress scheme—to the Senate. The objective of these bills is to ensure that receipt of a redress payment does not, first, affect a participants' access to or eligibility for any pensions, payments, benefits or services—however they might be described—provided by the Commonwealth; second, require the repayment of an amount to the Commonwealth and to ensure that the redress payment is absolutely inalienable. They will also ensure eligible participants of this scheme receive the full benefit of their redress payment. Payments under the scheme are excluded from income testing for other Commonwealth payments or benefits and will facilitate the crosschecking of identity information. I commend that too to the Senate.

As a group, this Senate should be honoured to be involved in this important and historic moment. We should also acknowledge the work that members of the stolen generations and their families have done in the past and that they continue to do to bring this scheme into effect.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.