2023-10-13
By Janet Rice
Senator for Victoria
This was the year the public recognised the power of having Greens in parliament - especially in filling the massive gap left by the major parties. The year was characterised by dedication, advocacy, and impactful action - from the corridors of parliament to the streets of our communities. We ran strong grassroots, movement-building campaigns around the country which really paid off. The contents of this report reflect the collaborative efforts of staff, advocates, community groups, unions, individuals and many more.
We had a huge year - from fighting for a better social safety net to advancing aged care reform and protecting forests. My office delivered compassionate support to our constituents across a diverse range of issues, including Immigration, Aged Care and Social Services. In situations where a deficient social safety net and an inundated immigration system fell short, my office stepped in to bridge the gap, offering crucial support to the most vulnerable segments of our community.
Social Safety Net
In a wealthy country like Australia, everyone should be living above the poverty line. As the cost of living crisis worsened this year, those on income support were hit the hardest.
This year saw the introduction of Labor’s Strengthening the Safety Net Bill - which was aptly described by a witness at the bill’s inquiry as a “parachute with holes”. I introduced a suite of amendments to this bill, including implementing recommendations from the Government’s-own Robodebt Royal Commission, the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, and the Womens’ Economic Inclusion Taskforce - to help make life easier for the most vulnerable Australians.
My team and I put raising the rate of income support on the agenda, and fought for an increase in JobSeeker in the Budget. Before the Budget, Labor refused to commit to an increase on JobSeeker, but through the efforts of the Greens and unemployment advocates, we achieved a small increase. There is still more to do on JobSeeker and all income support payments, and we will keep fighting alongside advocates.
I have continued to advocate for the termination of mutual obligations this year, in particular using estimates and senate hearings to emphasise the shortcomings of the employment service system. Thishas added to the pressure which is mounting on the government through a campaign by the CPSU and a parliamentary inquiry into Workforce Australia.
We had some wins for parents and their children this year. The parenting payment cut-off age was raised to 14, supporting single parents on JobSeeker for longer. We also welcomed the end of ParentsNext.
The gambling inquiry report was released this year, and its recommendations were a first step towards reducing the awful harm caused by gambling. I have continued to pressure the government to end gambling with a harm minimisation approach, and called on them to follow one of the report's key recommendations to urgently establish a strong regulator with teeth.
We welcomed the Robodebt Royal Commission and Report in July. This report was the culmination of years of fighting, advocacy, and bravery from the thousands of victims and their families who were indiscriminately targeted and traumatised by this callous and illegal scheme. We called on the recommendations to be urgently adopted. In my office, we are still hearing from constituents who have wrongful Robodebt levelled against them. While this report and the recommendations are a welcome first step, we are still far from achieving justice.
My Senate Inquiry into poverty tabled an interim report in May. The report outlined the devastating impact of poverty on millions of Australians and recommended that the government take urgent action to address this crisis. Poverty is a political choice and it was disappointing and perplexing to see the Labor government spending $368 billion on nuclear submarines and over $300 billion on tax cuts for the rich, instead of doing the bare minimum for people living below the poverty line in a cost of living crisis, particularly those struggling to survive on income support payments. The inquiry has held 8 hearings across the country, providing a platform for a diverse array of organisations, academics, and individuals with lived experience.
As chair of the Community Affairs committee, I helped launch the first ever national inquiry into the rental crisis - and it couldn't have come sooner. We’ve already received over 13,000 submissions about everything from skyrocketing rents, to insufficient rights around the length of leases and unfair evictions. For too long, renters have been ignored by the major parties. Every submission to the inquiry will build pressure on Labor to act in the interests of renters, forcing them to reckon with the scale of the problem and put human faces to the housing crisis.
Forests
We had a huge win when Victoria announced a ban on native forest logging from 2024. Now, we have growing momentum to end native forest logging across the country. The Greens are ready to work with the Albanese Government on a national ban on native forest logging, ensure a just transition for forestry workers and protect what remains of our precious native forests.
Another notable win was the reclassification of electricity generated through the burning of native Australian timber, resulting in its removal from the category of 'renewable energy’. We pushed Labor to revoke the Abbott-era policy, which allowed energy from burning wood from native forests to be counted with solar and wind. Pretending this energy is renewable is ludicrous!. The Greens fought hard to end this farce, and we’re glad that the government has worked with us and listened to the community who campaigned hard to end this absurdity.
It was really heartening to see that there were 2,900 submissions to the Government's consultation on whether burning native forest wood should be considered renewable; under 100 submissions were in favour, with the rest opposing. We clearly have both the community support and momentum to end native forest logging nationwide.
Older People
We have a collective responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of older Australians, whilst simultaneously laying the groundwork to guarantee that future generations are able to extend the same support and dignity to us as we age.
Earlier in the year I hosted a roundtable discussion with fourteen aged care advocacy groups and individual advocates on the development of the new Aged Care Act. It was wonderful to hear from these community and grassroots advocates about a human rights approach to aged care and how we can work together. We have continued to advocate for a human rights-based approach to aged care, which guarantees that older people will have universal access to the level of care and support they are assessed as needing. I also lodged a petition in the senate to bring back nurses, physios and allied health into aged care homes. The petition received over 22,000 signatures, including many from aged care workers.
– Janet