Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025

Stage by Stage

Summaries in reported speech - not a transcript. In date order, both chambers.

1. Thursday 4 September 2025 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   The Minister for Social Services introduced the bill to reform social security debt management and address historical calculation errors. Key measures included raising the debt waiver threshold to $250, indexing it annually, and expanding waivers for victims of financial abuse. The legislation also validated the historic practice of income apportionment to avoid recalculating millions of old debts, while establishing a resolution scheme offering compensation of up to $600 to affected individuals. The debate concluded with the bill being commended to the House.

   Outcome: The debate was adjourned after the minister commended the bill to the House.

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2. Monday 27 October 2025 · House of Representatives

   Consideration in Detail
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3. Wednesday 29 October 2025 · House of Representatives

   Consideration in Detail

   The debate focused on amendments to the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025. Independent members moved amendments to improve support for domestic violence survivors and reinstate a six-year limit on debt recovery, both of which were rejected by the government. The Minister for Social Services explained that existing flexibility addressed some concerns and that debt recovery reforms were under consultation. The government subsequently moved and passed technical amendments clarifying debt waiver provisions and introducing benefit restriction notices for individuals evading arrest for serious violent or sexual offences.

   Outcome: The bill, as amended by the government, was agreed to.

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4. Wednesday 29 October 2025 · House of Representatives

   Third Reading
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5. Monday 3 November 2025 · Senate

   First Reading
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6. Monday 3 November 2025 · Senate

   Second Reading

   The Minister for Industry and Innovation introduced two bills to the Senate. The first bill modernised biometric facial image collection standards and adjusted citizenship residency requirements for athletes. The second bill reformed social security debt management by raising waiver thresholds, aiding victims of financial abuse, and establishing a resolution scheme for historic income apportionment errors. The debate was adjourned with the bills listed as separate orders of the day.

   Outcome: The debate was adjourned and the bills were ordered to be listed on the Notice Paper as separate orders of the day.

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7. Wednesday 5 November 2025 · Senate

   Second Reading

   The Senate debated the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025, which addresses legacy issues regarding income apportionment, expands debt waiver provisions, and introduces powers to suspend benefits for individuals with outstanding arrest warrants for serious offences. The government supported the bill as a measure to restore fairness and legal certainty, while the Greens and One Nation opposed it, citing inadequate compensation and human rights concerns. The Coalition supported the bill but raised concerns about the lack of scrutiny for late amendments. Independent Senator David Pocock opposed the bill due to the inclusion of Schedule 5, which was added after committee inquiry.

   Outcome: The bill was debated in the Senate with mixed support; the Coalition supported it with reservations, Labor supported it, while the Greens and One Nation opposed it, and Independent Senator Pocock indicated opposition due to Schedule 5.

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8. Monday 24 November 2025 · Senate

   In Committee

   The Senate debated government amendments to automate small debt waivers and introduce Schedule 5, which allowed the Minister for Home Affairs to cancel social security payments for individuals with outstanding arrest warrants for serious violent or sexual offences. Crossbench and Greens senators, including Senator Lidia Thorpe and Senator Malcolm Roberts, strongly opposed these measures due to concerns regarding due process, the presumption of innocence, and disproportionate impacts on First Nations people. Senator Allman-Payne also moved amendments to remove retrospective validation of income apportionment, which the government defended as necessary to avoid significant costs and reopening historical debts. The committee ultimately agreed to the question on Schedule 5 standing as printed before progress was reported.

   Outcome: The question that Schedule 5 stand as printed was agreed to, and progress was reported.

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9. Monday 24 November 2025 · Senate

   Second Reading

   The debate centred on Schedule 5 of the bill, which grants the police minister power to cancel social security payments for individuals with outstanding arrest warrants for serious violent or sexual offences. Independent and Greens senators moved motions to split the schedule for scrutiny or remove it, arguing it violated the presumption of innocence, lacked proper consultation, and disproportionately harmed vulnerable groups including First Nations people and those with disabilities. The government defended the measure as a narrowly targeted tool rarely used, citing administrative safeguards and commitments to oversight by the Commonwealth Ombudsman. Both motions were defeated, allowing the bill to proceed without separating Schedule 5.

   Outcome: The motion to split Schedule 5 was negatived, and a subsequent motion to remove Schedule 5 was also not passed.

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10. Tuesday 25 November 2025 · Senate

    In Committee

    The Senate considered amendments moved by Senator Allman-Payne to reinstate a six-year statute of limitations on debt recovery across various social security acts, implementing a key recommendation from the robodebt royal commission. Senator Gallagher opposed the amendments, arguing that the government was still designing an effective replacement and that the bill's debt waiver provisions would address the backlog more immediately. Senator Allman-Payne criticised the delay, noting that vulnerable recipients were being treated differently from other debtors. The committee voted on the amendments, with the first six passing and the seventh failing.

    Outcome: Division 6 passed with 25 votes to 15, while Division 7 was not passed with 16 votes to 25.

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11. Tuesday 25 November 2025 · Senate

    General Debate

    Senator Fatima Payman moved an order for the production of documents concerning amendments to the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025. The motion sought records related to the development of benefit restriction notices and an explanation for their exclusion from the original bill. Senator Jess Walsh opposed the motion, characterising it as overly broad and part of a trend of excessive document requests. The government declined to support the order, urging the senator to narrow its scope.

    Outcome: The motion was not agreed to, as the government did not support it and the division result indicated a majority against the opposition's position.

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12. Wednesday 26 November 2025 · House of Representatives

    Consideration of Senate Message

    The Minister for Social Services moved that the Senate amendments be considered and agreed to immediately. Plibersek explained that the amendments aligned the small debt waiver regime across key legislation and set a new threshold for automatic waivers. She highlighted broader reforms including the income apportionment resolution scheme and expanded debt waivers for domestic violence victims. The House agreed to the amendments without further debate.

    Outcome: The question was agreed to.

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13. Wednesday 26 November 2025 · Senate

    In Committee

    The Senate considered amendments to the bill during committee stage. Senator Allman-Payne moved amendments to extend the income apportionment resolution scheme back to 1991, extend its duration to three years, increase the small debt waiver threshold to $440, and remove 'knowingly' and 'justified' requirements from domestic violence debt waivers. Senator Pocock moved amendments to ensure ministers consider Services Australia advice before cancelling benefits under Schedule 5, and later moved to refer Schedule 5 to a committee for inquiry. The government opposed all amendments, arguing the bill balances fiscal responsibility with fairness and that Schedule 5 addresses a specific law enforcement gap. All amendments were defeated.

    Outcome: All seven divisions on the amendments were lost, with the government retaining control of the bill's provisions.

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14. Wednesday 26 November 2025 · Senate

    Third Reading
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