From: NCSMC [ncsmc@ncsmc.org.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 4 October 2005 12:03 PM
To: Family Responsibilities
Subject: FW: Submission in response to discussion paper
Attachments: NATSEMwelfaretoworkFINAL.pdf; Sub to HRSCFHR - Balancing Work & Family.doc; NCSMC's Response to the Discussion Paper on Family Law Reform.doc; ncsmcflab05.doc
We emailed the following submission on Friday 30 Sep. Unfortunately, due to a typographical error in the email address it bounced. As such, I am resending and hope that it is not now too late for this to be considered.
Many thanks,
Jac Taylor
Executive Officer
National Council of Single Mothers and their Children Inc
Torrens Building
220 Victoria Square
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Tel: 08 8226 2505
Fax: 08 8226 2509
Mob: 0409 697 343
Email: jac@ncsmc.org.au
From: NCSMC [mailto:ncsmc@ncsmc.org.au]
Sent: Friday, 30 September 2005 4:51 PM
To: 'familyresponsibilites@humanrights.gov.au'
Subject: Submission in response to discussion paper
Please accept this as NCSMC’s submission to “Striking the Balance” discussion paper.
Unfortunately, due to severe time constraints, we are unable to submit a more comprehensive document. However, we would like to bring the Commonwealth’s Government’s proposed Welfare-to-Work policy to HREOC’s attention as we believe this will have highly significant and detrimental impacts on sole parents’ ability to balance work and family life. We also note that the Commonwealth’s plans regarding family law reform, child support and industrial relations have the potential to impact negatively on the lives of sole parent families and seek that HREOC also consider these in their deliberations.
Regarding to welfare to work, the following points are off particular concern:
- Payment cuts - sole parents who require income support after 1/7/06 and whose youngest child is 6+ will be placed on Newstart, a much lower allowance, with a much less generous income test, much higher claw back rate, less generous indexation, and no consideration for the number of children (for a comprehensive review see NATSEM paper attached);
- Compulsory requirement to seek/undertake at least 15 hours paid work per week, and undertake mutual obligation activity of 150 hours per 6 months each year;
- Removal of Pensioner Education Supplement, and requirement to transfer to Austudy (even lower payment than Newstart) for any sole parent wishing to undertake full time study;
- Lack of investment in education/training which will make it very difficult for sole parents to train for higher paid and more secure employment;
- Introduction of harsh compliance regime, which could see sole parents lose income support for 8 weeks.
- We believe these policies will increase family stress hugely, reduce children’s access to parents, and force sole parents to choose between meeting their children’s needs or meeting their income support “obligations” – all of which will be highly detrimental to family wellbeing.
We attach several documents which we ask to be considered as part of this submission. These include:
- NATSEM Report: “The Distributional Impact of Welfare-to-Work Reforms upon Sole Parents”
- Our submission to HRSCFHR “Balancing Work and Family” Inquiry – this highlights the impact of experiences of violence in women’s lives, in particular the transition from income support to paid work;
- Two submissions pertaining to family law reform: our response to the Commonwealth Government’s Discussion Paper, and our submission to HRSCLCA regarding the Family Law Amendment Bill – we believe the concerns we raise in these two documents highlight the complexities single mothers face, all of which have a bearing on finding any balance between paid work and family. For example, these reforms place far more restrictions/obligations on the lives of the residence parents, and give more rights (without corresponding responsibilities to non-residence parents).
Once again our apologies for not being able to provide a more substantial response. However, we would be delighted to be consulted further if required.
Many thanks,
Jac Taylor
Executive Officer
National Council of Single Mothers and their Children Inc
Torrens Building
220 Victoria Square
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Tel: 08 8226 2505
Fax: 08 8226 2509
Mob: 0409 697 343
Email: jac@ncsmc.org.au
