6 November 2025
The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) joins the call for the Federal Government to withdraw Schedule 5 of the Social Security and Other Legislative Amendments (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025.
The amendment would allow the Home Affairs Minister to cancel a person’s Centrelink payment if there is a warrant for their arrest for a serious crime, even if they have not been charged or convicted. AFDO warns that this change would have devastating consequences for people with disability who rely on social security to survive.
AFDO CEO Ross Joyce said the proposal weaponises the social security system and risks causing unnecessary harm to innocent people.
“This amendment would see people lose their income, housing and access to essentials on the basis of a police warrant, not a court finding. For people with disability already living on the lowest incomes, the consequences would be catastrophic,” Mr Joyce said. “We know from the Disability Royal Commission that people with disability are already overrepresented in the justice system and face systemic discrimination. This measure will deepen that inequality and push more people into poverty and crisis.”
AFDO Chair Grant Lindsay said the proposal undermines fundamental principles of fairness and due process.
“No government should be allowed to cut off someone’s payment without a court decision. People with disability, First Nations people and others who are often over-policed will be hit hardest,” the Chair said. “The government should be investing in support, not punishment. This proposal is discriminatory, unjust and must be scrapped.”
AFDO has joined other Disability Representative Organisations (DROs), legal bodies, and social justice advocates, including ACOSS, Economic Justice Australia, and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, in calling for the Senate to reject Schedule 5 entirely.
AFDO urges the Federal Government to remove Schedule 5 from the Bill immediately.
ENDS
For media inquiries, please contact: Ross Joyce, CEO – AFDO – mobile; 0402 842 040 (text preferred to connect) or email: ceo@afdo.org.au
About AFDO
For over twenty years, the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), a Disabled Peoples Organisation (DPO), is the pre-eminent national peak in the disability sector, along with its disability-specific and population or cross-disability members, representing people with disability with a total reach of over 4.5 million Australians.
AFDO continues to provide a strong, trusted, independent voice for the disability sector on national policy, inquiries, submissions, systemic advocacy and advisory on government initiatives with the Federal and State/Territory governments.
We work to develop a community where all people with disability can participate in all aspects of social, economic, political, and cultural life.
This includes genuine participation in mainstream community life, the development of respectful and valued relationships, social and economic participation, and the opportunity to contribute as valued citizens.
AFDO’s Full & Associate Member Organisations:
| Advocacy for Inclusion Inc. – ACT | Blind Citizens Australia |
| Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia | Deaf Australia |
| Brain Injury Australia | Deafness Forum Australia |
| Deafblind Australia | Disability Justice Australia |
| Disability Advocacy Network Australia | |
| Disability Resources Centre – Vic | Physical Disability Australia |
| Enhanced Lifestyles – SA | Polio Australia |
| People With Disabilities WA | South West Autism Network – WA |
| Post Polio Victoria | Women With Disabilities ACT |
| Women with Disabilities Victoria | All Means All |
| National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum | AMAZE – Vic |
| Advocacy WA | Aspergers Victoria |
| AED Legal Centre – Vic | Bus Stop Films Ltd – Aust |
| Arts Access Victoria | Disability Voices Tasmania |
| Disability Advocacy & Complaints Service – SA | Integrated disAbility Action – NT |
| Leadership Plus – Vic | Lived Experience Australia |
| National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder | Multiple Sclerosis Australia |
| Parkinsons Australia | National Union of Students – Disabilities Dept.
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Settlement Services International – Aust |
Star Victoria Inc |
| Youth Disability Advocacy Service – Vic | Tourettes Syndrome Assoc. of Australia |
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