Fed: Govt main problem with welfare report: Lees

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2000
Fed: Govt main problem with welfare report: Lees

CANBERRA, Aug 16 AAP - The Australian Democrats' is concerned about how the government
will interpret a welfare report to be released today, Democrats leader Meg Lees said today.

"The sound of some of the recommendations is certainly very positive.

"To actually assist people is a step in the right direction," Senator Lees told journalists.

"But how the government interprets the report I think is going to be one of the problems."

A government-appointed welfare reform group is today expected to outline a plan for
major changes to the $55-billion-a-year welfare net, which would involve more recipients
working for their payment.

On the cards are increased mutual-obligation hurdles for sole parents, the older unemployed
and people on disability pensions, in a move the opposition has dubbed "work for the pension".

Senator Lees said some young unemployed people were facing worse penalties for not
meeting job seeking requirements than they would for drink driving.

"Some young kids are getting, for the first breach, where they miss a letter or perhaps
don't keep diaries up to date, penalties worse than if they were drink driving," Senator
Lees told ABC radio.

"Their rate of payment is below the poverty line already.

"It's a disaster.

"They end up being forced out of their accommodation because they can't pay the rent,
and so it goes on."

Democrats deputy leader Natasha Stott Despoja said her party would welcome genuine
mutual obligation policies.

"(But) if this government plans to extend mutual obligation in a way that is punitive
and continues to be a one-way street, it won't have very much support from the Australian
Democrats," she said.

Senator Lees accused the coalition of making changes based on Budget bottom lines.

"We will support and indeed want to support welfare that actually assists people in
getting out into the workforce and out of poverty," she said.

"But we will not support a scheme that is simply putting so many hurdles in the way
people are inevitably going to trip up at some stage.

"We are not into simply the government's Budget bottom line. We want to see people
given a real chance."

Labor is also threatening to block increased sanctions in the Senate.

AAP jb/mfh/maur

KEYWORD: WELFARE DEMOCRATS LEAD

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