New PM, same disregard for the disadvantaged.
Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson for Community Services has
today expressed great disappointment with the Prime Minister’s decision
to continue punitive income management measures in the Northern
Territory.
“Despite a change in leader, the Government is persisting with this
draconian approach to the most marginalised people in our society,”
Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“It is disappointing to hear the Prime Minister repeating the rhetoric
of Minister Jenny Macklin, making claims about income management that
are not supported by the evidence.
“Rather than simply rubber stamping the bad decisions made under Kevin
Rudd, the PM should be taking ownership of this issue herself. She needs
to apply close scrutiny to the income management claims made by Minister
Macklin.
“The Prime Minister should thoroughly review the so called evidence and
reflect on the huge amount of money that will be wasted with this flawed
approach. This money would be better invested in approaches that really
work.
“Minister Macklin’s claim that the introduction of indiscriminate
mandatory income management is ‘all about human dignity’ is nothing
short of hypocrisy, a look at the on-the-ground impacts of the policies
on Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory show that this is
anything but the case.
“The Prime Minister may be different, but the Government’s attitude to
marginalised and disadvantaged people around the country hasn’t
changed,” Senator Siewert concluded.
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