Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I once again thank Senator Payman for her insightful question. The bill that passed the Senate yesterday expands eligibility for the higher rate of JobSeeker to include single recipients aged over 55 years who've been on income support for nine or more months. This is because we know older Australians face a number of additional barriers when they are looking for work. We're also increasing support for single parents by extending eligibility for the parenting payment, the single one, to parents with their youngest child aged under 14. I know it can be tough for single parents, who are overwhelmingly women, to balance caring responsibilities and full-time work, studying or looking for work. As a result of these Albanese government changes and the great work of the minister in this area, Minister Rishworth, more than 57,000 single parents will be better off. (Time expired.)