[Greens-Media] Rudd changes must help all single parents on Newstart

[Redman, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

28 June 2013

Rudd changes must help all single parents on Newstart

Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today finally the ALP was following the Greens lead when it comes to helping vulnerable people stuck on inadequate payments like Newstart.
 
"Any changes Mr Rudd proposes to help single parents must include all those who have been dumped onto Newstart as a result of John Howard's Welfare to Work changes," Senator Siewert said today.
 
"Despite voting against Welfare to Work, Labor did nothing to repeal it after the 2007 election. They have had two full terms of Government to help single parents, and all we saw was a more punitive approach to those on Newstart and further cuts to parenting payments. 
 
"One line grabs and in-principle commitments won't help single parents, job seekers and other Australians stuck more than $130 below the poverty line.
 
"The Greens are the only party will full costed legislation on the table to increase Newstart and help all single parents on the payment. We are proposing a $50 per week increase to Newstart, indexation to ensure the payment keeps up with increases to the cost of living and a supplement payment of $40 per week for all single parents on Newstart.
 
"The Rudd Cabinet needs to commit to at least a $50 increase to Newstart, as has been called for so widely by people across the community. Anything less that this is simply inadequate," Senator Siewert concluded.