Labor accused of ‘steamrolling’ bill to make poverty committee permanent

A Senate committee recommended the permanent establishment of an expert panel on social and financial disadvantage that was set up as part of a deal with independent senator David Pocock. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

An expert panel set up to advise the federal government on social and financial disadvantage is a step closer to becoming a permanent body after receiving a Senate committee’s green tick.

The Labor-chaired committee, led by the Victorian senator Marielle Smith, recommended on Thursday the legislative mechanism to give the body permanency pass with no amendments.