2016-08-15
The Australian Greens welcome the ACTU taking steps to challenge the discriminatory work for the dole scheme in remote Australia, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“The different arrangements for work for the dole measures in remote communities is discriminatory in the first place and the evidence of the adverse impact on these communities make it even more pressing that these measures are challenged.
“People in remote communities, the vast majority of whom are Aboriginal, are required to do 25 hours while people in the broader community are only required to do 15 hours.
“Having one approach for the broader community but another harsh approach in Aboriginal communities smacks of discrimination, I am glad the ACTU are taking steps to address it.
“The ‘Financial penalties under the remote jobs and communities program’ report by ANU earlier this year documented the impact of this approach on Aboriginal communities. Across the board we must move away from paternalistic top-down approaches to helping people into employment.”