The Greens have also joined the fight against the bill. Penny Allman-Payne said:

I sat on the legislative committee that examined this bill. Schedule 5 was not scrutinised in that
process because Labor snuck it in at the last minute.
This is a Government with a worse transparency record than the Morrison Government.
Labor told people on income support that “no one would be left behind.” Yet instead of increasing
payments – so that 2.5 million Australians are not living in poverty – or implementing the Royal
Commission’s recommendation for a six-year limit on debt recovery, they have inserted an
amendment that criminalises people before they have even been convicted.
It is abhorrent. It is shameful. And many people out there must be asking: what is the point of Labor?
This bill attempts to wipe away 30 years of unlawful conduct by the Department. In doing so, Labor
has inserted Schedule 5, which breaches the rule of law and undermines people’s human rights – all while avoiding scrutiny.
The Greens will work with the crossbench to remove Schedule 5. Hundreds of experts are warning
that it will demonise people on income support and breach basic legal principles. We will stand up
for people and do everything we can to stop this