Government continues campaign against income support

The Australian Greens said today it was clear the Government is working on a long term plan to reduce access to important income support payments, a move that would affect millions of Australians.

"The recent budget cruelty was just the start of the Government's plans, comments from the Treasurer today remind us of that," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said.

"Suggesting that people treat welfare as a source of permanent income and forget where the money comes from shows how little he understands about trying to make ends meet. This Government is undertaking an ideological campaign against our social security system.

"Simplifying the current system is code for cutting income support and payments that are essential for low income families. It is clear that the Coalition's only real goal is to take assistance away from those who need it the most.

"The fact that the Government is not making training a focus of their reinstated work for the dole regime shows that they're not genuine about wanting people to find secure, long term employment.

"Training, education and support are fundamental to helping people move into secure work. Without proper training, the Government's scheme will simply see people cycle through periods of work for the dole before they're dumped off income support all together.

"The Government is ignoring the concerns of the community and they're ignoring all the evidence about how best to help people into work and out of poverty. They cannot continue to use their baseless rhetoric as justification for cuts to those who can least afford it," Senator Siewert concluded.