The Australian Greens said today that the Government needs to work to address possible flaws in its Restart program and expand its approach to genuinely help older jobseekers into work.

"There are more than 204,000 older Australians on Newstart, meaning they are living below the poverty line for extended periods of time. Living in poverty erodes a person's capacity to work and had long term health and mental health impacts," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said today.

The Australian Greens have introduced a new bill in the Senate to boost income support payments to single parents.

The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Caring for Single Parents) Bill 2014 would see single parents remain eligible for parenting payments until their youngest child turns 16, rather than the current limit of 8 imposed by the Howard Government's Welfare to Work regime in 2006, and widened by the former ALP Government. It will also ensure employees who are carers have the right to request flexible working arrangements.

The Australian Greens said today that the Federal Government's budget would not stand up to a ‘families test', given its tough measures that would disproportionately target single parents and low income households.

"Since May, the budget has not stood up to any level of scrutiny and in fact hurts the disadvantaged the most. Its flaws would be clearly exposed by a families test or impact statement, as has been introduced in the UK," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services.

-Greens will push for directors of low tax paying companies to give personal evidence direct to Parliament
-Corporate tax avoiders in Australia are the real ‘leaners,' Abbott government budget priorities are unethical

Greens Leader Christine Milne says the Senate inquiry she initiated to investigate corporate tax avoidance will examine new evidence of widespread and shocking profit shifting to tax haven Luxembourg.

Greens Leader Christine Milne says Prime Minister Abbott is setting Australia up to fail in the eyes of the G20, by ignoring global warming and playing domestic politics on the international stage.

"Tony Abbott is promising the G20 he'll deliver on some of his cruel budget cuts that have already been denounced by the Senate and the community as unacceptable," said Senator Milne

"Using the G20 to wedge the Senate is another crash or crash through tactic, but it's going to backfire on the Abbott government.

The Australian Greens said today that a proposed toughening of compliance and participation requirements for Disability Support Pension recipients could have significant adverse consequences for people with disability.

"It is very concerning that the Government is considering extending tough compliance and participation measures for people with disability. Taking this compliance driven approach to people with significant barriers to employment is flawed and could lead to a loss of income support," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens disabilities spokesperson said today.

The Australian Greens have marked International Anti-Poverty Day, calling on the Federal Government to prioritise a National Anti-Poverty Strategy, and to abandon cruel cuts to social security and income support.

"Australia is a wealthy nation with a strong economy, but too many people are being left behind and ignored," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for families and community services said today.

The Australian Greens said today that evidence presented to the Senate Inquiry into income inequality shows the disproportionate impact of the Government's budget on the most vulnerable members of the community.

"NATSEM outlined the findings of their latest report showing that those at the lowest end of the income spectrum are bearing the highest impact of the budget, and that the impacts differ regionally," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said today.

The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to abandon their cruel and reckless budget cuts to income support and social security, with new figures showing 2.5 million Australians, that is one in seven people, including one in six children, are living in poverty.