Human Rights Commission tells Senate inquiry that punitive impacts of the program risk ‘entrenching poverty and inequality’
A Senate inquiry is examining the program, which places compulsory participation requirements on about 73,000 people who are receiving parenting payments, have a child between the age of six months and five, and are classified as “disadvantaged” by Centrelink. About 95% of participants are women, and most are single mothers.
Guardian Australia has revealed that about one in five participants have received a temporary payment suspension, but department officials said 82% of those did not affect the person’s income support because they had “re-engaged” before their money was due.
Source: ParentsNext welfare program breaches human rights, inquiry hears | Australia news | The Guardian