In a move that has stunned civil liberties advocates and welfare recipients alike, the Albanese government has introduced a last-minute amendment to the social security bill that would allow the Home Affairs Minister to cancel Centrelink payments based on police or ASIO recommendations - even before a person is convicted of a crime.

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The rationale? According to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, "the government shouldn't be paying people to hide from police". The amendment targets individuals with outstanding warrants for serious violent or sexual offences, or those deemed a threat t

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