The income management trial for child protection started in the Cannington area and the Kimberley region on 24th November 2008. Alongside this, income management trial for truancy was expected to commence in the Cannington area (but now seems to be on hold, due to opposition from the WA Government) and the Northern Territory in 2009.
The Australian Greens believe that rather than attempting to punish
struggling, low-income families, the Government should be dealing with
the underlying causes of neglect and delivering proper support for
families in crisis.

Income Quarantining for Child Protection 

This trial is not a blanket approach like the NT intervention that applies to everyone in the selected communities - instead a case manager from the WA Department for Child Protection can refer parents to Centrelink to have their payments income managed if they believe children are 'at risk.' This means Centrelink will income manage 70 percent of regular fortnightly payments and all of any advances and lump sum payments.

Area of Income Quarantining Trials

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Income Suspension for Truancy

Read Rachel's speech on this issue here

Check out Rachel's media release on latest developments with the trials

Have a read of the Greens' response to trial opposition from the WA Government

Under this trial Centrelink would have the power to suspend income support payments for up to 13 weeks or more and even cancel those payments -- if the child of a family on income support is missing school, and the school reports them to Centrelink.

The Australian Greens believe this punitive approach will cause more harm that good as it is targeted at punishing parents rather than addressing the needs of children and the underlying causes of failure to attend to school.

We will endevour to provide information to people to help them understand and avoid income management or suspension, and advice for families, schools, and community service providers to help them understand these issues and to be aware of the responsibilities that Centrelink, their school, and the WA Education Department have to provide them with assistance.

Send us your stories

These trials might affect you personally, or someone you know. We would like to hear your stories and allow you to put your personal accounts about the real impact of these trials on the record.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY HERE

We are also keen to work together with social support providers, schools, and community groups to see how we can help. Please get in touch with us if you would like to get involved.