Welfare changes still leave many vulnerable

Issue 

Jac Taylor, Melbourne

On September 21, Dr Elspeth McInnes, convenor of the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children, criticised the Howard government's changes to its proposed "welfare-to-work" package as still failing for protect vulnerable families from the adverse impacts of the package.

"The government is still planning to slash payment rates on the youngest child's sixth birthday, still increasing the clawback on earnings and still cutting parents' access to education across the board", McInnes said. "Families with exemptions from activity testing will still have to live on less, they just won't have extra activities and punishments.

"One size does not fit all, yet all sole parent families after July 2006 will be marking their youngest child's sixth birthday with income cuts and new demands and punishments."

She welcomed the new $104 employment entry payment for parents but noted that the one-off payment barely compensated for three weeks of payment rate reductions. She also said the eight-week non-payment period did nothing to assist parents to get jobs. "The stress that such a punitive measure will cause cannot be overstated. To have to beg to have your most urgent bills paid will do nothing to enhance the well-being of families."

From Green Left Weekly, September 28, 2005.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

If you like our work, become a supporter

Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you.

For just $5 per month get the Green Left digital edition in your inbox each week. For $10 per month get the above and the print edition delivered to your door. You can also add a donation to your support by choosing the solidarity option of $20 per month.

Freecall now on 1800 634 206 or follow the support link below to make a secure supporter payment or donation online.