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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges that Australia is in recession for the first time in 30 years;

(b) notes that the Government is actively considering bringing forward $48 billion worth of personal income tax cuts in the October Budget that will give even more cash to millionaires and the super wealthy;

(c) recognises that the Government is cutting the Coronavirus Supplement to the JobSeeker Payment by $300 a fortnight on 25 September 2020 and refuses to confirm that the rate of JobSeeker will not return to $40 a day in December; and

(d) calls on the Government to drop planned tax cuts to the wealthy and invest in those on income support and on low incomes.

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia is in the biggest recession in almost a century, and we need a plan for jobs. We have always been open minded about tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners, but we've expressed our concern with stage 3 tax cuts throughout. We need to see what is in the budget tonight, Tuesday, but the government doesn't need to choose between tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners and a permanent increase to JobSeeker, which is too low. The government should provide Australians who are out of work some certainty by announcing a permanent increase to JobSeeker in the budget tonight.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

The government wants Australians to earn more and to keep more of what they earn. Under coalition governments taxes will be lower, fairer and simpler.

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

The question is that motion No. 801 be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [16:33]

(The President—Senator Ryan)

Question negatived.