NSW: ACOSS reaction to welfare reform =2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2000
NSW: ACOSS reaction to welfare reform =2

Mr Raper said harsh penalties for non-compliance under the existing mutual obligation
agreements should be reduced before the scheme was extended.

Mr Raper said ACOSS wanted less punishment and more investment in the welfare system.

"The government can commit to a four-year roads program and 10 years for defence," he said.

"What's good enough for roads should be good enough for long-term unemployed people
and we want to see that same level of commitment."

Mr Raper said there was little innovation in the report released today and he expected
more commitment at budget time in six months.

"We want the government to commit to a guarantee for all long-term jobless people to
give them employment assistance that they need and new programs and new types of assistance,
not just a bit more of the same," he said.

Concerns that Senator Newman would not be around to push the bill through parliament
should make no difference, Mr Raper said.

"I don't think the government can let welfare reform die at this stage," he said.

"We have a substantial problem here and it needs a substantial investment."

AAP jw/sb/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: WELFARE ACOSS 2 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

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