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.

Create a free account to read this article

Login or signup to continue reading

Continue with Email

Continue with Google

Continue with Apple

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 to national security. But the implications stretch far beyond

See Full Page