Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Bill 2020 and related bills

The majority voted in favour of disagreeing with the amendment to the usual second reading motion "that the bill be read for a second time", which is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill. This mean that the amendment failed.

This amendment was introduced by Blaxland MP Jason Clare (Labor) and, if it had been successful, its text would have been added to the usual second reading motion as a note. In other words, it didn't seek to change the actual text of the bills.

MP Clare explained the rationale behind his amendment in his contribution to the debate.

Amendment text

That the following words be added after paragraph (9):

"(10) calls on the Government to:

(a) recognise the importance of local government;

(b) acknowledge that the closure of council facilities has resulted in significant revenue loss and workers being stood down;

(c) acknowledge that, without support, up to 45,000 local government workers could lose their jobs; and

(d) work together with state governments to address these important issues".