Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026 Consideration in Detail – Social Services

Clearly, since the federal budget in March, we’ve had a federal election. Traditionally, after an election, where there is no change of government, we might expect only minor adjustments, such as a reshuffle of ministerial line-ups and a few tweaks in responsibilities across those portfolios. After this most recent election, what we saw in the social services portfolio was far from minor.

On 13 May, the Prime Minister made substantial changes to the administrative arrangement orders, the mechanism by which executive responsibility is allocated amongst ministers. These changes dramatically reduce the responsibilities of the Minister for Social Services. Housing, rental and homelessness policy were stripped from the portfolio. The National Disability Insurance Scheme and foundational supports were also removed. Then, on 26 June, the Prime Minister went further still with responsibility for disability policy transferred to health, while the delivery of services and payments relating to social security, health and government services, along with whole-of-government service delivery policy, was transferred to the finance portfolio. These decisions were not just administrative; they were a clear signal—a signal that this prime minister had little confidence in his own minister. That’s hardly a ringing endorsement of either the Minister for Social Services or the previous minister for social services over the past three years under Labor. Can the minister outline what impact these significant changes to the department’s responsibilities will have on its budget and your influence around the cabinet table?

Australians are simply doing it tough. They’re doing tougher than ever before. One in six families reported being very concerned about their current financial situation and financial future. Even with a strong labour market and an increasingly mature superannuation system, our social security system supports more than six million Australians at a cost of $152 billion in 2025-26. This represents 19 per cent of all government expenditure. And, under the Albanese government, the number of long-term JobSeeker recipients—that is, those on payments for more than two years—is on the rise. It’s increasing. Minister, what macro issues will increase the number of social security recipients, and what measures are in your budget to reduce the reliance of Australians on our social security safety net?

Family and domestic violence remains at unacceptably high levels in our nation. In 2023-24, there were 46 female victims of intimate partner homicide. One in four women have experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 33 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence—it’s a sickening number—and up to seven times more likely to be victims of homicide. Between 2022 and 2024, sexual assaults rose by 17 per cent, while family violence related homicides and related offences increased by nearly 65 per cent. Minister, with the latest ABS crime statistics for 2024 from across Australia showing domestic violence and sexual assaults on the rise, and the significant delay in the rollout of funding from your so-called rapid review, what is the Albanese government doing now to ensure frontline services have the resources you promised?

The Closing the gap: annual data compilation report provides a sobering reminder of this government’s failures. Now in his fourth year, this distracted prime minister has failed to deliver meaningful change. The gap is not closing. It is widening. Of the 19 national targets, just four are on track. That is one less than last year. For too many targets, the data is missing, unreliable or outdated. In fact, only 10 targets had updated figures. And for crucial areas such as family safety, the numbers were simply not reliable. This is the reality that Indigenous communities face. They are struggling. Women and children remain unsafe, and this government is failing Indigenous Australians. Minister, how can Australians have any faith this government can close the gap when progress has gone backwards under your watch? And, Minister, where are you? Why are you not here in the chamber to answer these very, very important questions?