E&OE TRANSCRIPT
Topics: Entrenched disadvantage, National Redress Scheme and Jobseeker
MATTHEW DORAN, HOST: Amanda Rishworth. Welcome back to Afternoon Briefing. You have announced that part of the Budget next Tuesday will be looking specifically at the issue of entrenched disadvantage in Australia. What are you looking at there? How are you trying to combat this this?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: What we've announced today is a new way of working with communities to really support them to achieve their goals. We know that there's some places in Australia where, despite the extra programmes, it just hasn't delivered the outcomes we need. What our package is really about is a new way of working with communities. To ensure that they are involved in the local decision-making, to understand that not one size fits all in communities and to provide them with the architecture and the empowerment to decide the programmes and the focus that will deliver the outcomes that they need in their community. In addition, we've announced a focus on partnering with philanthropic organisations. How do we get and align philanthropic money with the priorities of communities. How do we align government money with the priorities of these communities. It has already shown to deliver success. There are a number of places where this decision-making is already happening, in Logan, for example, there's been early results that show a reduction in premature births, particularly for Indigenous women in that community. This is an important package to shift the dial on how we work with communities to actually get the services, the programs, but most importantly, the outcomes we need.
MATTHEW DORAN: There might be some who look at an announcement like this and cynically say on face value it sounds a lot like more bureaucracies being pumped into the system. How would you respond to that?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I would completely disagree. I've been very lucky to see this working on the ground. What communities really value is getting feedback, data, information about what's happening in their communities that helps them with this decision-making. It is about empowering communities on the ground and it's about focusing less on ticking the boxes of bureaucracy and focusing more on outcome delivery. I think this is actually an exciting opportunity where not one person knows all and there's a top down approach. That a one size fit all approach doesn't occur, that we're actually working with communities on the ground. And as I said, there's a number of these programmes working where we're seeing really green shoots and we look forward to having better coordination and expanding these opportunities.
MATTHEW DORAN: What happens if these sort of programmes and the feedback that the government is getting suggests things like boosting social security payments? Is that something that you would consider?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: This isn't about advice. Of course there's many organisations on the ground that talk about social security, but this is about the types of programmes and policies that are required. For example, in one community, it was clear that there were a lot of services available, but the availability of services were not being taken up by the local community. So, there were parents missing out on important prenatal and postnatal programmes. So, it was about how do we fix that? How do we connect people up? And so there were community connectors employed to try and connect people up. So, that's a gap that was seen. There was evidence to show that there was a gap and that was implemented. So, that are the type of things that these communities are responding to and the types of things that we're seeing shift on the ground.
MATTHEW DORAN: Let's turn to some of the other issues in your portfolio, because you do have probably one of the largest calls on the Federal Budget in the social security portfolio, social services portfolio rather. There’s a lot of discussion about how things like Jobseeker will be treated in the Budget, the unemployment benefit there. As a matter of principle, do you think it's fair to ask Australians who are on the unemployed list to live on less than $50 a day at the moment, considering the inflationary pressures, the cost of living pressures right across the country?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Obviously there's a lot of speculation leading up to a Budget and of course, both the Treasurer and the Finance Minister have been very clear that our Budget has been crafted in a way to give as much support as responsible in terms of cost of living measures for those that particularly need it. There is a focus in our Budget and you'll see it come through. We've already announced support and relief on energy bills. That's been something that will flow through to this May Budget, but we'll be continuing to work through the lens of how we best support people who rely on the social security system as well as other cost of living pressures.
MATTHEW DORAN: Well, beyond the speculation, though, do you think, as a matter of principle, that unemployed Australians should be asked to live on $50 a day, less than $50 a day?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I've always said that it would be difficult to live on social security, particularly Jobseeker payments. It's not easy to live on income support. And of course, as we've always said, that where we can, we will look at how we support Australians doing it tough. That is a principle that we will continue to stand by that is why we did commit to energy bill relief, particularly for those that do rely on income support and that support flows through to this Budget. We will always be looking at how we can best support those Australians in need - and of course, it is difficult to live on Jobseeker. I've never suggested it hasn't been.
MATTHEW DORAN: You've also this week released a review into, or the Government's response into a review into the National Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. It seems like the overarching premise of your response is to try to make this an easier process to seek compensation from the Government and from the various bodies that are still there. However, it doesn't look like every advocacy group is actually on board there saying that this is more tinkering at the edges rather than putting through the wide-ranging reform that is needed to speed up and manage the operation of this scheme more effectively. Can you guarantee to victims and survivors out there who are still going through this redress process that they will be better looked after throughout this whole ordeal?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: The National Redress Scheme is an incredibly important Scheme and our government has responded now to the outstanding recommendations of the Second Year Review and that includes allowing people to add additional information when they're asking for a review of their claim. It involves prisoners being able to apply from prison, which was excluded in the past. We’ve now responded along with my state and territory colleagues to the final Second Year Review, but my focus, of course, also is on how we make this Scheme as effective and as efficient for people going through it. That it's trauma informed and doesn't re-traumatise people. Already in the last October Budget we provided additional funds to ensure that this Scheme had the administration that was fit for purpose. And I'll be continuing to monitor the Scheme and to make sure that claims are dealt with in a timely manner. In addition we have some wonderful services out there that support people going through the redress process and the evidence suggests that people have a smoother process when they do avail themselves of those trauma informed services. I'll be looking at making sure all parts of the Scheme do work together to deliver a better service and outcome for those going through the Scheme.
MATTHEW DORAN: Well, Amanda Rishworth, a busy weekend ahead for you before the Budget next week. Thank you for joining us on Afternoon Briefing this Friday.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Thank you.