Opened the debate
The Minister argued that the Social Security bill resolved historical legal and compliance issues to restore trust in the safety net. Ayres highlighted recent increases to JobSeeker payments, Commonwealth Rent Assistance, and Paid Parental Leave, noting that the small debt waiver threshold had been raised to $250 and would be indexed. The legislation allowed Services Australia to use pre-issue income data from the Australian Taxation Office to finalise payments more accurately and efficiently. Regarding the Telecommunications bill, the Minister stated it would require Telstra, Optus, and TPG to provide reasonable outdoor mobile coverage, initially for voice and SMS services. Ayres explained that the obligation would leverage Low Earth Orbit satellite technology to reach remote areas, with a default commencement date of 1 December 2027.