The Greens have called on the Government to include income support recipients in COVID assistance packages.
 
“This package fails to acknowledge that people on income support need additional help as well, that they work too and have lost hours and would also have lost income. 
 
“Almost half of people on the JobSeeker payment have an illness or disability, meaning they will need to isolate and require extra services like grocery or medication delivery. How can they afford that living below the poverty line?  
 

Media Release

Senator Rachel Siewert - Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services

9 Feb 2015

The Australian Greens have tabled a dissenting report on the Broadcasting and Other Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2014 which highlights the detrimental effect the proposed changes will have on deaf and hearing impaired consumers of free-to-air and subscription TV services.

The Australian Greens say today's March in May #bustthebudget rally will send a clear message to the Abbott Government that their cruel budget will not be accepted by the Australian community.

"Tony Abbott is intent on taking opportunities away from West Australian students, job seekers, young people, people with disability and single parents," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said today.

The Australian Greens said today that single parents and job seekers have been badly let down by the Government in this year's federal budget.

"This is a disappointing budget for the vulnerable people that Labor claim they want to look after," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on families and community services said today.

"The lack of care being shown for vulnerable people is a blight on Labor's record in Government.

"The few piecemeal steps contained in the budget do not deliver the help needed for the most vulnerable Australians.

The Greens will move a Private Member's Bill when parliament resumes to help some of Australia's most vulnerable people, currently being ignored by the Government, by lifting the single rate of Newstart, Abstudy and the single living away from home Youth Allowance by $50 a week and indexing their growth the same way as the Aged Pension.

The Greens will vigorously defend a vision for Australia that sees us properly and fairly support each other and provide universal public health and education against Joe Hockey's vision of a dog-eat-dog world where short term profits are more important than people and planet.

"The big question I've been asking people since becoming Leader of the Greens last week is what kind of country do we want to live in?" Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.