KATOOMBA — The federal government's changes to family support, sole parenting payments and child care were the subject of a robust discussion at a 60-strong forum organised by the Katoomba branch of the ALP on April 22.

The forum was addressed by Tanya Plibersek, federal Labor MP for Sydney, and Dr John Falzon, recently appointed as CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Plibersek told the meeting that the changes would make it very hard for lower-income and sole-parent families to look after their children. She said childcare costs had grown out of all proportion to incomes and “the Howard government's recent changes to the industrial relations system may force employees to work longer hours, at shorter notice and for less pay”.

Falzon condemned a recent government decision to pay charities to manage people who had been unable to meet Centrelink guidelines on work tests. He said that St Vincent de Paul had “drawn a line in the sand” and decided it would not take the government's money. Although St Vincent de Paul would continue to support people in need, Falzon said, “charity is no substitute for justice”.

Naomi Parry

From Green Left Weekly, May 3, 2006.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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