Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon has criticized the Federal Government's attempts to push an extension and expansion of the cashless welfare card program through parliament.
While the bill went before the Senate on Wednesday night, plans to expand the program's reach to new areas and make it permanent in current areas were abandoned in favour of amendments which extended the ongoing trial's life by another two years.
Ms Claydon said the program would be devastating for disadvantaged families if expanded to regional areas such as the Hunter in the future, and that Labor would not support the bill, even in a "watered-down form".
"It's a program that punishes poor people, it's a program that separates vulnerable people from the rest of the community, subjects them to an income management regime that denies them agency in their lives," Ms Claydon said.
The bill was opposed in the Senate by Labor, the Greens, and independents Jacqui Lambie and Rex Patrick, but managed to find support in One Nation's vote.
Ms Claydon described the legislation as a lazy form of policymaking which did very little to fix structural issues and serious gaps in the welfare system.
"I would hope that the Government would actually listen to the expert advice that they commissioned," Ms Claydon said.
"If they did, if they listened to Aboriginal community controlled organisations on the ground, and if they were taking note of that advice, they would not be pursuing this legislation."
