2024-04-26
The Greens have slammed Labor for ignoring the recommendations of its own hand-picked advisory body two years in a row, calling for an immediate increase to all income support payments above the poverty line.
Quotes from Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens social services spokesperson:
“When it comes to income support, we don't have a real safety net in this country.
“JobSeeker is a starvation-payment and millions of Australians are currently living in abject poverty.
“Labor continue to ignore the most vulnerable Australians who have been hit hardest with rent hikes and the cost of living crisis.
"Minister Rishworth’s refusal to implement the recommendations of Labor’s own hand-picked economic inclusion advisory committee because they “can’t fund every good idea” is a slap in the face to everyone in desperate need of a substantive increase to the rate of Centrelink payments.
“No one deserves poverty, and in a wealthy country like ours, it’s pure madness that Labor are keeping people trapped on payments that don’t cover their basic needs.
“Labor managed to find room in the budget for $4500 a year in Stage 3 tax cuts for every billionaire and politician in the country, but can't raise Centrelink above the poverty line for struggling Australians.
“Income support is so inadequate that people can’t cover their most basic needs: some are only showering once a week because they can’t afford hot water, others can’t buy essential medication, and a third of Australian households are struggling to put food on the table.
“A government has a moral responsibility to ensure its citizens aren’t left starving.
“The Greens welcome the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee’s recommendation to include those with direct experience of receiving income support or economic exclusion as members of the committee, an amendment the Greens put up to the government’s Safety Net Bill last year which Labor voted down.
“Labor needs to seriously reconsider their priorities ahead of May’s budget. The Greens are fighting for a strong social safety net and liveable wage that would raise all Centrelink payments above the Henderson poverty line.”