Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Minister, last night's budget left people in poverty. People who are struggling to survive on Centrelink poverty payments have criticised the budget for leaving them in dire straits, and they've been backed in by organisations like ACOSS, the Antipoverty Centre, the Tomorrow Movement and the National Union of Students. The Business Council of Australia said this morning that we have to lift JobSeeker to 90 per cent of the age pension over time. Your handpicked Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee recommended an increase in JobSeeker and other payments of more than six times than what the government delivered last night. When will you listen to this advice and raise the rate of JobSeeker and other income support payments to above the poverty line?