Sequestration of welfare payments deals only with symptoms...

Br Shane Wood has responded cautiously to suggestions from Hon. Mal Brough that part of welfare payments need to be kept aside to ensure that they are applied appropriately, particularly to the welfare of dependent children.

‘While there are no doubt children who are suffering as a result of the impoverished circumstances that their parents find them selves in, the Minister’s proposal is not going to assist those parents to escape the predicaments that they are in. It is a signal that the Government is returning to a dependency model in practice on the one hand whilst making speeches about the evils of welfare dependency on the other. They are in effect saying that poor people are not capable of dealing with their own situations and that they will do nothing to help them. They will not provide assistance to help people attain the management skills needed to become responsible parents; they will not restructure the tax and welfare systems to deal with the causes of poverty. Many commentators believe that the new Industrial Relations legislation will increase the numbers of working poor if not increase the numbers of unemployed,’ Br Wood said.

‘Catholic Social Services Australia has spoken about alternatives to this punishing and demoralizing suggestion, and organizations like this that are in touch with agencies on the ground that work with people every day who are trapped in a cycle of poverty ought to be listened to,’ Br Wood concluded.

Statement ends.

For further information please contact the Diocesan Office of Justice, Ecology and Peace: Br Shane Wood Ph 08 9192 1060 Fx 08 9192 2136