Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Dodson for his question because I can absolutely assure this chamber that getting people from welfare into a job is something that this government takes very, very seriously. It's the creation of those jobs that's important. But can I just say: Australia's comprehensive welfare system recognises that there are times when Australians are down on their luck. And we need to make sure that we have a safety net, not just for this generation but for future generations, to make sure that we're here to help them in their time of need, and not just when they find themselves in tough times but to make sure that the safety net is in place for as long as they need it, but it has to be sustainable. And we will continue to work on all of the components and all of the elements that are essential for a stronger Australia.