Senate debates Bills

Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Seniors Health Card and Other Measures) Bill 2014; In Committee


Claire Moore

Claire Moore Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women

11:15 am

As I said in my remarks in the second reading debate, we are keen in this bill to split the element to do with the seniors health card from the other machinery of government issues. We oppose the seniors health card supplement in schedule 1 but we remain supportive of the rest of the bill. So I move our amendment (2) on sheet 7549:

(2) Schedule 1, page 6 (line 1) to page 7 (line 26), to be opposed.

Mitch Fifield

Mitch Fifield Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services

I would like to make clear, for the benefit of colleagues, that if this amendment were successful it would, in effect, see the gutting of this bill. It would see the thresholds not indexed, as is the intent of the legislation. I think it is important that colleagues are clear on that.

As is the perversity of the wording of motions in this place, in order to support the bill as it stands, colleagues need to vote yes. Colleagues who wish to support the opposition's proposition would vote no. If colleagues want the bill to stand as printed they will need to vote yes.

Rachel Siewert

Rachel Siewert WA, Australian Greens

11:16 am

Just to be clear, as I articulated in my contribution in the second reading debate, we will be voting no because we do not think this particular measure is appropriate at this time. We will be voting no.

Cory Bernardi

Cory Bernardi SA, Liberal Party

The question is that schedule 1 stand as printed.

Bill agreed to.

Bill reported without amendments; report adopted.