CATHOLIC Social Services Australia says it would have been “immoral” to take part in the Federal Government’s new welfare to work financial case management scheme.
The Catholic Church’s peak national body for social services confirmed on August 17 that it had recommended to its 60 member agencies not to tender to run the Centrelink service.
Catholic Social Services Australia director Frank Quinlan said two Catholic agencies had signed up to the system, but had informed the Government they no longer believed it was right to do the work.
The St Vincent de Paul Society and the Anglican Church have also joined the Catholic Social Services Australia in refusing to participate in the case management service.
Under the scheme the Government pays charities $650 to manage each eligible unemployed person cut off from payments for eight weeks.
Charities assess the person’s essential expenses and notify Centrelink, which would pay the bills.
But the board of Catholic Social Services Australia decided it would be immoral to help the Government to police its new system.
Mr Quinlan said the eight-week penalty was too harsh.
