E&OE TRANSCRIPT
Topic: Extending the financial safety net for single parents
LAURA JAYES, HOST: Minister Amanda Rishworth. Thanks so much for your time. This is a correction, is it not, from the Gillard era?
MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, AMANDA RISHWORTH: What this is, is a recognition that single parents do have a lot to juggle and that the evidence shows that they do need that financial security. If we go back, it was John Howard that made the change to the single parenting payment to have parents come off when their child turns eight. The Gillard Government did grandfather that and change it for more parents. This is an important recognition that governments in the past have got it wrong and that we are making sure that parents, when their youngest child turns 14, has the higher rate of single parenting payment to give them that security and to recognise that they are balancing caring as well as working responsibilities.
LAURA JAYES: Is the Gillard Government one of those governments that got it wrong though, Amanda?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I think the evidence is now very clear that parenting doesn't stop at eight. It was a strong recommendation made by the Women's Economic Equality Task Force and so the Prime Minister, along with this Government, is taking action to put in better support for single principal carers and I'm very pleased that we're able to provide that extra support. There has been increasing research to support this and I'm glad that we are using the evidence to deliver.
LAURA JAYES: Well, parenting doesn't stop at 14 either, some parents might argue it actually gets harder at that age. So, what is the reason that that is the cut off there?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, parenting doesn't stop. It never stops. 30, 40 year olds are still being parented probably by their parents. I certainly get that parenting and I'm expecting to give that parenting as well to my children. But look, the role does evolve and so as a child goes off to high school and potentially can take on more time away from parents, those parents are able to take on more job seeking and more working opportunities and the payment is certainly designed to do that. There is still mutual obligations attached with the parenting payment, but also importantly, there's generous taper rates so that single parents can do more work. Parenting does evolve and so this is payment is trying to move along with that evolution.
LAURA JAYES: Okay, I was just trying to get down to 14 though. What is the thinking behind it? Is that 14 year olds can sometimes have a part-time job, can get their own dinner a little bit more self-sufficient. Is that what the thinking is?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Obviously 14 year olds are settled into high school, they're becoming more independent, which does allow a parent to do more work. I would note that as part of the broader social security system, there is still a higher rate of payment that sole parents will get when their children, their youngest child is between 14 and 16. There is a higher rate that you get with dependent children. But this is about recognising that the role of parenting does evolve and that there is more opportunity to take on more hours and more work.
LAURA JAYES: Okay, we've seen this morning a total cost of living package. The headline, it's $14.6 billion in the budget. Jim Chalmers, Katy Gallagher say it's not going to be inflationary. We know there is going to be a Jobseeker increase. It's not going to be 40 per cent. What is it going to be and how much and is it included in this package?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: You’re going to have to wait for all the details in the Budget. All the details will be revealed and there's not many sleeps to go now. But of course, the cost of living package has been responsible, it's been targeted. As the Treasurer and the Finance Minister have said. They've looked at this very carefully to look at how we can provide responsible costs of living….
LAURA JAYES: [interrupts] is Jobseeker lumped in under this headline? Can you give us that?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: As I said, you're going to have to wait for the Budget. All the numbers will be there for you.
LAURA JAYES: [interrupts] …Nothing, that’s disappointing.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: … we've said we're going to take a very careful approach with this Budget. Parenting payment and the increase to that which does support those sole parents as part of that cost of living relief. Obviously, there's energy as part of that cost of living relief, support with energy bills. And not many sleeps to go now, Laura, until you'll be able to see all those numbers in the budget,
LAURA JAYES: Just one sleep. Amanda Rishworth, welcome back to the show. Thanks so much.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Thank you.