FEDERAL Community Services Minister Larry Anthony last week ordered Centrelink to review its treatment of some unemployed people after criticism by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).
ACOSS, an umbrella body for Church and community welfare groups, was joined in its criticism of ‘harsh’ treatment of unemployed people by Catholic Welfare Australia and the St Vincent de Paul Society.
An ACOSS study found that Centrelink had forced many jobless to rely on charities to survive after it had penalised almost 350,000 people without seeking explanations from them as to why they had failed to comply with their obligations.
The ACOSS report, Breaching the Safety Net, was released in Sydney last Monday. It blames requirements introduced since 1997 for the jump in the number of jobless after welfare payments have been docked for regulation breaches.
It said these people, faced with penalties of up to $1431, had been ‘flooding’ to charities to survive.
Catholic Welfare Australia (CWA) national director Toby O’Connor welcomed Mr Anthony’s commitment to a review.
‘CWA has long held concerns about the removal of income support from vulnerable citizens, most of whom already live well below the poverty line while receiving benefits,’ he said.
‘The practice of over-breaching has pushed the most vulnerable individuals and families further into poverty, while netting the Government around $250 million in ‘savings’ last financial year.’
In Queensland, where $58 million was clawed back from the jobless, the St Vincent de Paul Society said fines on genuine welfare recipients had taken a big toll on welfare agencies’ resources.
