Kristin O’Connell from the Antipoverty Centre had this to say about the amendment to give police powers over welfare:

We’re here today to talk about an egregious attack on the rule of law. First Nations people will be
disproportionately harmed by the new powers the Government is attempting to give itself.
As Royal Commissioner Catherine Holmes warned, politicians must stop the easy populism of antiwelfare rhetoric. But that is exactly what Minister Plibersek and the Labor Government are doing
with this bill.

The underhanded nature of this amendment – sneaking in a drastic attack on the rule of law at the
last minute, after inquiries had already concluded – is shameful. Many of you may not know this, but the Minister then went on Sky News to say that we all “support people who are rapists and child
abusers.” It is disgusting.

I’m here today on behalf of groups representing single mothers, Aboriginal women’s legal services,
disabled people, welfare advocates, and many others. And we are saying clearly: this is absolutely
unacceptable.
It is unacceptable because of the process. It is unacceptable because it removes the presumption of innocence from people simply because of their income level. That presumption is foundational to
the rule of law.

If this bill passes, 5.5 million people will no longer have equality before the law.
This bill was supposed to address the Government’s own unlawful raising and collection of
Centrelink debts. Instead, the Government has decided to fuel more anti-welfare sentiment,
stigmatise people further, and cause more harm to welfare recipients and their families – who will
also be punished under this bill.