[Greens-Media] Concerns grow over the future of the DSP

[Redman, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

12 March 2013

Concerns grow over the future of the DSP

http://tinyurl.com/pgwth9s

The Australian Greens said today that the Abbott Government is looking to save money off the backs of the most vulnerable in our community, with people alarmed by constant talk of reducing expenditure on the disability support pension. 

"The Government's talk of cost cutting is about making it harder for people to access the disability support payment, in other words making them live on even less money," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on families and community services said today.

"The Commission of Audit, Welfare Review and other reports, such as those advocating for a reduction in DSP's indexation, creates more uncertainty for people at a time when things are only getting tougher.

"People on Newstart are already living in poverty, and now the government is looking to condemn more people with disability to a similar fate.

"Any move to divert more people with disability onto Newstart will see them exposed to a life in poverty. After the next round of payment indexation on 20th March, Newstart will be $128 per week less than the pension at just $255.

"Evidence has shown that Newstart in itself is a barrier to employment, with the low rate of payment making it all but impossible to afford the basics, like food, bus fares and household bills

"Rather than diverting people away from important assistance, the Government should be investing in improved employment services to help people address the barriers to employment they're facing.

"The Government needs to increase Newstart by $50 and ensure it is indexed properly to prevent the gap between income support payments widening any further," Senator Siewert concluded.