Adequacy of Newstart and other welfare payments

In response to: Senate Inquiry

Submitted: September 2019

Summary: In partnership with our state counterparts, we submitted our calls for:

• an immediate $75 per week income to the single rate of allowances including Newstart
• an immediate 30% increase in Commonwealth Rent Assistance
• the establishment of an independent expert panel to set future rates for pensions and allowances
• the inclusion of a wage-based component in determining future indexation
• the regular review of rates by the independent expert panel 
• replacing Family Tax Benefit part B for single parents with a supplement that increases as children grow