The Australian Greens have criticised Tony Abbott’s announcement that a Liberal Government would consider a nationwide expansion of income management.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson for Community Affairs today said the Greens are the only party who have consistently opposed income management, doing so since it was introduced as part of the 2007 Northern Territory Intervention.

“When these income management laws passed through the Senate, the Greens made it perfectly clear that the current or any future Government could force these measures on communities across the country,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“As the laws stand today, income quarantining can be applied to any place in Australia that the Government decides is disadvantaged, and anyone on related Centrelink payments will be affected,” Senator Siewert said.

“It is totally misleading to claim that indiscriminate and mandatory income management has anything to do with dignity or anything to do with reducing dependence on income support.

“Income management doesn't work and Mr Abbott should go and review the evidence and develop a more compassionate policy that helps the disadvantaged in our community.

“This passed through the Parliament with little public awareness and the only voice of opposition was the Greens.

“Income management is degrading and punitive and should be abandoned,” Senator Siewert concluded.


Click Here to read Senator Siewert's blog on Income Management