The Albanese Government is trying to give the police the power to cut off a person's income support before they are convicted.
This is an affront to due process and the presumption of innocence – taking away the ability for a person to put food on the table, pay rent or afford medication – all while never having been charged.
Under this discriminatory proposed amendment, someone's income support could be stripped away if they are unaware police have issued a warrant.
We need to loudly show the government that due process matters – and that we won’t allow them to put more power in the hands of the police – especially when it comes to First Nation communities.
To Prime Minister Albanese, Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke:
The proposed Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical changes No.2) Bill 2025 will give police the power to cancel income support payments for people who have not been found guilty of any offence.
This will disproportionately impact First Nations people, who are grossly overrepresented in all stages of the system. For those impacted and their families, it will rip away their ability to put food on the table, cover medical expenses or keep a roof over their heads.
This amendment removes due process and throws away the presumption of innocence that underpins our legal system.
We call on the Albanese Government to walk away from these changes.