Welfare to Work: why we're concerned

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October 2006

Welfare to Work: why we're concerned

We all need to be informed about the changes that affect our community, says the Ven. Dr Chris Jones, Vicar General and CEO Anglicare Tasmania.

It might surprise you to learn that community organisations such as Anglicare are feeling some concern about the new Welfare to Work changes. They fear that Welfare to Work could increase the numbers of people living in poverty in Australia.

The aim of the Welfare to Work changes is to move people off disability support payments and single parent support payments, into paid work. I acknowledge that paid work not only provides financial benefit, but also increases self-esteem and provides valuable opportunities for personal growth. However, the two groups of people most affected by these changes are people with disabilities, and single parents - two of our community's most vulnerable groups.

Australia's welfare system exists to provide a safety net for people in our community most at risk of financial hardship, such as those who have a limited capacity to work. Under the welfare to work changes, a single parent or a person with a disability could potentially have their income stopped for eight weeks if they can't, or don't, follow the new Centrelink guidelines.

I object to this: taking away a person's sole income is immoral.

Stopping a person's only income and forcing them to be dependent on family, friends and their community to meet their basic needs is inherently and morally wrong. It also places undue pressure on community services and parishes already stretched by increasing need, due to high petrol prices and interest rate rises.

Our mission at Anglicare is to seek an abundant life for all. Some people in our community need extra support to do this. The Australian Government argues that moving people off income support and into employment is the best form of welfare. However, I am concerned that Welfare to Work penalises and disempowers precisely those people to whom we should be providing extra support. Reducing the incomes of people already living close to the margins will not help them find work - it will make their lives harder. There is a very real possibility that housing, food and basic services will take priority over job seeking, and people who already feel vulnerable may be further demoralised.

It's important that we are all informed about this issue. If it doesn't directly affect us, then it will affect someone we know. And it definitely affects our wider community and the kind of society we are, and the kind of society that we want to be.

Bishop John Harrower is on study leave in the UK and returns in mid-October.

For further information on the Welfare to Work changes, Anglicare Tasmania has prepared an information sheet for Anglican parishes.
It's available on Anglicare's website,
or by calling Zoe Dale 6213 3563.

	The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search
	a healthy church...transformingLIFE
	Home About Contact us News Issues Parishes Prayer Calendar Youth Resources

				October 2006

		Welfare to Work: why we're concerned We all need to be informed about the changes that affect our community, says the Ven. Dr Chris Jones, Vicar General and CEO Anglicare Tasmania. It might surprise you to learn that community organisations such as Anglicare are feeling some concern about the new Welfare to Work changes. They fear that Welfare to Work could increase the numbers of people living in poverty in Australia. The aim of the Welfare to Work changes is to move people off disability support payments and single parent support payments, into paid work. I acknowledge that paid work not only provides financial benefit, but also increases self-esteem and provides valuable opportunities for personal growth. However, the two groups of people most affected by these changes are people with disabilities, and single parents - two of our community's most vulnerable groups. Australia's welfare system exists to provide a safety net for people in our community most at risk of financial hardship, such as those who have a limited capacity to work. Under the welfare to work changes, a single parent or a person with a disability could potentially have their income stopped for eight weeks if they can't, or don't, follow the new Centrelink guidelines. I object to this: taking away a person's sole income is immoral. Stopping a person's only income and forcing them to be dependent on family, friends and their community to meet their basic needs is inherently and morally wrong. It also places undue pressure on community services and parishes already stretched by increasing need, due to high petrol prices and interest rate rises. Our mission at Anglicare is to seek an abundant life for all. Some people in our community need extra support to do this. The Australian Government argues that moving people off income support and into employment is the best form of welfare. However, I am concerned that Welfare to Work penalises and disempowers precisely those people to whom we should be providing extra support. Reducing the incomes of people already living close to the margins will not help them find work - it will make their lives harder. There is a very real possibility that housing, food and basic services will take priority over job seeking, and people who already feel vulnerable may be further demoralised. It's important that we are all informed about this issue. If it doesn't directly affect us, then it will affect someone we know. And it definitely affects our wider community and the kind of society we are, and the kind of society that we want to be. Bishop John Harrower is on study leave in the UK and returns in mid-October. For further information on the Welfare to Work changes, Anglicare Tasmania has prepared an information sheet for Anglican parishes. It's available on Anglicare's website, or by calling Zoe Dale 6213 3563.