Coronavirus Supplement

The majority voted against a motion introduced by West Australian Senator Rachel Siewert (Greens), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) condemns the Government's announcement that it is cutting the Coronavirus Supplement to $150 a fortnight between January and March 2021 which will see people on the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance drop further below the poverty line;

(b) notes that this Government is treating income support payments like a political football by making ad-hoc and last minute announcements to changes in payment rates, which is in stark comparison to the certainty provided to those on JobKeeper Payment; and

(c) calls on the Government to immediately announce a permanent and ongoing increase to the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance that ensures no one receiving these payments falls below the poverty line.