[Greens-Media] Media Release - Senate orders Government to table income management evaluation

[Redman, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

1 December 2014

Senate orders Government to table income management evaluation

The Senate has ordered the Government to table the Evaluation of New Income Management in the Northern Territory final report by Wednesday this week.

The order for production of documents was moved today by Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services, and was supported by the Senate.

"The Government has had the Evaluating New Income Management in the Northern Territory final report since the 30th of September, but has failed to release it, despite it being highly significant to their plans to expand income management through the healthy welfare card," Senator Siewert said today.

"The healthy welfare card is income management on steroids.

"This is another example of the Government's poor policy process and their unwillingness to have their flawed approach opened up to public debate and scrutiny.

"Media reports last week suggest this evaluation could be damning for the Government, but apparently neither Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews nor Parliament Secretary Alan Tudge have even read this report. Planning for new income management style regimes should not be finalised before this report is considered and publicly available.

"Many believe that income management is a failed, punitive and expensive regime, and from comments in the media last week, it seems this report confirms this. This evaluation needs to be publicly released so that the Government's decision making can be properly examined, something that they have been keen to avoid throughout their budget and welfare process.

"I call on the Government to respect the Senate's decision and ensure this report is tabled as requested by the 3rd of December," Senator Siewert concluded.


Motion Text:

*551 Senator Siewert: To move-That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, no later than 5 pm on Wednesday, 3 December 2014, the report into income management in the Northern Territory, Evaluating new income management in the Northern Territory, final report.