Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I move general business notice of motion No. 149, I wish to inform the chamber that Senator Brown will also sponsor the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Steele-John and Brown, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that new research from the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling at the University of Canberra found that:

  (i) the income gap between households with disability and households without is $107 a week for a household with an adult member with disability,

  (ii) two of every five First Nations households relying on the Disability Support Pension as their source of income ran out of money for basic living expenses in the last 12 months, and

  (iii) to close the gap in household income to provide the same standard of living, families already receiving the Disability Support Pension would need $183 more per week on average, and $343 for 200,000 disabled people receiving Newstart;

(b) recognises that the financial cost of living with disability and the declining access to the Disability Support Pension is causing significant economic, social and psychological stress and unnecessary hardship for disabled people;

(c) acknowledges that there are a significant number of disabled people and their families who are living at or below the poverty line; and

(d) calls on the Federal Government to ensure the eligibility process for the Disability Support Pension is fair, reasonable, accessible, equitable and does not generate financial hardship and economic insecurity for disabled people and their support networks.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) | Link to this | Hansard source

Many people with disability want to participate fully in the social and economic life of our community. To enable them to do so, the government provides a range of payments and targeted supports, including the disability support pension, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and concession cards. The assessment process for DSP is an application for access to a pension for an extended period of time—usually many years. It is appropriate that the process is rigorous to ensure consistency and equality and ensure support goes to those who need it.

Question agreed to.