The Federal Government’s Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No 2) Bill 2025 is back before the Senate today.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) and more than 40 other organisations have spoken out about Schedule 5 of the bill, which seeks to grant police and ministers new powers to withhold Centrelink payments for people accused of certain offences before they have had access to legal assistance or appeared before a court.

Quotes from Nerita Waight, NATSILS Acting Chair:

“If made law, this bill will have a disproportionate and grave impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Access to social security should never be determined through a policing approach. There is clear evidence that policing in Australia is not experienced equally. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately subject to racial profiling and over-policing practices.

“This measure effectively introduces policing powers into the social security system. This represents a significant and concerning policy shift that requires full public scrutiny. We are deeply concerned that this proposal was developed without any consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations, or the broader legal assistance sector.

“We continue to call on the Government to withdraw this controversial legislation.”

Please see NATSILS’ previous statement on this issue here. 

Media contact:
Kayla Foster
kayla.foster@essentialmedia.com.au
0447 040 029.