Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, Senator Ryan. On Friday, 28 October, The Australian had an article titled 'Welfare pays more than work.' The article claimed that a single parent with four children was able to earn more per year from income support payments than they could from a median full-time wage after tax. Analysis of the data showed that the figure for the working parent had not factored in the $30,910 in family tax benefits they would also receive. Did any member of the government, their staff or anyone from the Department of Social Services provide the so-called new government data mentioned in the article in The Australia? If so, what was the nature of the data provided?