The Inquiry, chaired by WA Greens Senator Rachel Siewert, will hold public hearings in Rockingham today.

"The Inquiry has received clear evidence about the challenges presented by income inequality around Australia, and the submissions received from WA indicates that it is a problem here as well," Senator Siewert said today.

The Senate Inquiry into the extent of income inequality in Australia begins public hearings in Melbourne today. Senator Rachel Siewert, Chair of the Community Affairs References Committee and Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services moved for the inquiry due to growing public concerns about inequality and the Government's budget measures.

The Australian Greens today tabled a dissenting report to the Senate Inquiry into the Government's budget cuts to income support and social security, saying that the Majority Committee Report conclusion does not reflect the evidence the committee received.

The Senate Inquiry report into two omnibus Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bills was tabled today, with the Australian Greens dissenting report recommending the bills not be passed.

The Australian Greens have called on the Abbott Government to re-think its Work for the Dole changes, amid serious concerns about the policy.

"The Government is more interested in punishing job seekers than helping people into work, and their expansion of Work for the Dole is more evidence of that," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said today.

The Australian Greens said today that the Government is out of touch with the reality faced by jobseekers and is resorting to unproven work for the dole measures and tough compliance regimes.

"The Government is missing an important chance to really help jobseekers, they are taking a punitive approach when they should be investing in people to help find long term solutions to unemployment," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said today.

The Australian Greens said today the Government is likely to use the McClure Welfare Review to continue their ideological campaign against income support and social security using the excuse of simplification to justify cuts.

"I am deeply concerned that the Government are going to use this report to cut back on social security and income support, just as they have done in the Federal budget, a move that will increase inequality across the community" Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said today.

The Australian Greens said today that the Federal Budget would jeopardise Closing the Gap outcomes, with cuts to payments, the defunding of programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the GP Co-payment all combining to reduce access to essential supports and services and increase inequality.

The Australian Greens said today Government's has shown a lack of understanding of the community's dislike for their cruel budget cuts to social security by gagging debate on legislation in the Parliament.

"The Government are forcing their Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment 2014 Budget Measures 1 & 2 Bills through the House, minimising the opportunity for proper scrutiny and debate," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said today.