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

I wish to inform the chamber that Senator Dodson will also co-sponsor this motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Steele-John and Dodson, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that new research from Monash University on the health of Disability Support Pension and Newstart Allowance Recipients found:

(i) Disability Support Pension recipients were 18.3 times more likely to rate their health as poor compared to wage earners,

(ii) more than two-thirds (69.1%) of Disability Support Pension recipients reported having mental or behavioural problems compared with 21% of wage earners,

(iii) only 19% of Disability Support Pension recipients reported having seen a psychologist in the preceding 12-month period, and

(iv) Disability Support Pension recipients were at 2 to 3 times the risk of visiting a hospital than wage earners; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

(i) investigate ways to improve the health status of people receiving Disability Support Pension,

(ii) deliver more targeted and effective health services that address the health needs of people on Disability Support Pension, and

(iii) make access to the income support system simpler and less stressful for disabled persons.

Question agreed to.