2021-08-12
The Greens say they are extremely disappointed that the disallowance to make ParentsNext voluntary did not succeed.
The Greens are now calling on the Government to withdraw the regulation making ParentsNext compulsory following the Joint Human Rights Committee finding that it is incompatible with the human rights of parents and their children.
“ParentsNext is a degrading, punitive and coercive program”, Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“I’m very disappointed and distressed for the parents stuck in this punitive program.
“I tried to disallow this program back in 2018 and it’s devastating to think of the harm this program has caused since then.
“The Government needs to reconsider, look at the very clear evidence and withdraw the regulation and make the program voluntary.
“This program punishes and stigmatises single mothers.
"Rather than being supported to raise their children women are being subjected to a mandatory program that is resulting in adverse outcomes such as having to give up work days and study to meet program requirements or lose their payments because their children’s medical appointments conflict with appointments with providers.
"This Government has an ideological approach to people on income support and it was heartbreaking to read the submissions to this inquiry, because the same issues we examined during the 2018 Senate inquiry are happening over and over again."
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