Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

That was not what Ms Macklin was suggesting at all, I am sure. Ms Macklin was indicating, which I think all senators in this place know, that there has been serious concern and evidence over many years that payment of welfare to families does not necessarily improve the conditions and the lot of that family, particularly their children, and that the payment system does not necessarily result in the sort of care and support that we expect it to provide. That is not true of everybody. Not all people receiving income support from the Commonwealth are reliant on alcohol and drugs or are serious gamblers. But it is the case—and all the state welfare agencies will tell you—that there are large numbers of children who are in families on welfare support and who are not getting the care and support they need. They are not attending school often enough, they are not getting fed properly and they are often not living in safe environments. This government is trying to ensure that those kids get a much better chance, and it is trying to find new ways of ensuring that the support that taxpayers provide, through the Commonwealth government, goes to those kids and helps those families have a lifestyle that gives those kids an opportunity in life.

It is true that we have identified in a large number of families who are dependent on welfare or income support measures issues of alcohol and drug abuse and gambling that have resulted in serious damage to those family units. This measure is a serious attempt to try and tackle that problem—a problem that the previous government was very much aware of and was trying to confront. I would urge all senators to treat this measure as a very serious attempt to deal with a very serious problem. (Time expired)