[Greens-Media] Spam: Coalition return to Welfare to Work will pressure vulnerable people and charities

[Redman, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

5 July 2013

Coalition return to Welfare to Work will pressure vulnerable people and charities
 
Tony Abbott's return to punishing Welfare to Work policies will put even more pressure on vulnerable people, emergency relief centres and charity organisations, the Australian Greens said today.
 
"Just days after Australia's community organisations release a report showing they're unable to meet demand for assistance, the Coalition have flagged their intention to implement harsh, out-dated policies that target some of the most vulnerable young people in our community," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on families and community services said today.
 
"Suspending payments will not help young people into secure work, it will drive them into poverty. More people will turn to our already stretched not-for-profit sector for assistance, just as we saw following January's cuts to parenting payments.
 
"This Coalition policy is straight out of the John Howard playbook. During the Howard years we saw the Welfare to Work regime take a punitive approach to our most vulnerable people, and history looks set to be repeated if Tony Abbott is elected.
 
"The Coalition seem to have no comprehension of the reality of life on Newstart or Youth Allowance and the challenges people face as they look for work. Suspending payments won't help people into secure work or help them build the skills or knowledge they need to embark on a career.
 
"Tony Abbott is ignoring the substantial body of evidence that shows how important it is to deliver a $50 per week increase to Newstart and Youth Allowance in order to help people address whatever barriers to work they face.
 
"The Greens will strongly oppose a return to welfare to work policies and will continue with our legislation to deliver the much needed increase of $50 per week," Senator Siewert concluded.