2016-03-03
Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert reacts to news in the West Australian newspaper today that the Government is considering docking income support payments for fine defaulters.
“The Greens do not support jailing people for being too poor to pay their fines, we also do not support throwing them into further poverty by docking their income support payments.
“This punishes our most vulnerable. Those on income support such as Newstart are living below the poverty line already. People aren’t using their income support to pay fines because they need to buy food and put a roof over their heads.
“We know that income support payments like Newstart are leaving people around $37 a day to live on, this is already pushing them below the poverty line. They simply can’t afford to pay these fines.
“To consider this proposal demonstrates how our State and Federal government disproportionately target vulnerable people accessing income support. Not all fine defaulters are on income support, this approach unfairly targets those trying to make ends meet.
“I urge Minister Porter to reject this proposal. The WA Government should pursue measures that give people on income support some breathing space to pay back their fines whilst avoiding a jail sentence”.