Senator Lidia Thorpe has written to the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek, calling for a public apology after the Minister made inflammatory comments on Sky News that mischaracterised widely held concerns about Schedule 5 of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025.
The letter outlines that Schedule 5 was introduced without consultation or proper parliamentary scrutiny and is opposed by leading legal, disability, First Peoples and community organisations, who warn it will harm already over-policed and disadvantaged groups.
Senator Thorpe’s letter rejects the Minister’s suggestion that raising these concerns amounts to supporting payments for “rape, murder and child abuse”—a claim she describes as a a gross misrepresentation of expert advice.
Senator Thorpe has asked the Minister to correct the record and apologise during the current sitting week.
And she is asking for schedule 5 to be removed from the Social Security Bill and sent to inquiry to be scrutinised.
Quotes attributable to Senator Lidia Thorpe
"Tanya Plibersek's recent comments on Sky News about me, and the experts who oppose these powers, were outrageous.
"The experts are saying that Plibersek’s plan puts vulnerable people at risk. Aboriginal women, victims of domestic violence, children, and people with disability could all lose access to essential support.
"It was a new low for Plibersek to attack people standing up for human rights, legal protections, and the most vulnerable in our communities.
"If the government truly believes these powers are justified, they would have introduced this legislation openly, not hide it inside a technical amendments bill and hope nobody noticed.
"Sneaking it in at the last minute tells you they know it won’t stand up to scrutiny.
"Legal experts, disability organisations and more than 100 expert signatories to an open letter have warned that it threatens the presumption of innocence, undermines procedural fairness and will hit over-policed communities hardest.
"They say it goes against the rule of law, and have raised serious concerns it is unconstitutional, but the government has been avoiding questions around this.
"These experts were not consulted about this legislation.
"The Minister claims these powers will only be used in the most extreme circumstances, but the experts who have reviewed the legislation say it is written in a way that is likely to have broad impact and unintended consequences, particularly for women, children and First Nations people.
"It is irresponsible for the Minister to dismiss expert concerns. Her comments were a gross misrepresentation and dog-whistle designed to whip up fear and shut down debate.
"Instead of dishonestly attacking those fighting for human rights and justice, the Minister should be listening to the experts and the people whose lives will be most affected.
"I am asking Minister Plibersek to correct the record and apologise this sitting week.
"The public deserves an open, transparent government, not dishonest fearmongering. Labor should remove schedule 5 from this bill and send it to inquiry to be properly scrutinised."