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

I must admit that I find that a bit offensive. I do not think anyone, Senator, would suggest that Ms Macklin is not serious about these issues, that she is not concerned about the families affected or that somehow she has this attitude that all persons who are on welfare have these problems. That is certainly not her attitude. She has been interested in this sort of public policy for all of her life. She is very concerned about families on welfare but she is also concerned about the broader community. What she is doing is highlighting the fact that the welfare system has not achieved the objectives that were set for it and that the straight payment of moneys to these families is not meeting the objectives we set. So we have to do something different. This is an attempt to do something different with those families to improve their lot. Other things need to be done as well, but it is in no way seeking to denigrate people on income support. (Time expired)