A single mothers group has blasted harsh new welfare rules, which require single parents to “verify” their relationship status in order to claim social security payments – claiming they are at odds with standards previously shown for politicians such as Barnaby Joyce and Julie Bishop.
Former Deputy PM Joyce came under fire when his affair with ex staffer Vikki Campion was exposed. He had previously denied they were in a relationship, after she moved from his office to that of his Nationals colleague Matt Canavan.
According to ministerial standards, the prime minister must approve the employment of any family members or partners in another frontbencher’s office, but Joyce argued that rule didn’t apply to him at the time, as they ‘weren’t a couple’.
Now, the National Council for Single Mothers and their Children has written to the prime minister, after a new policy was rolled out in January stating that those on the single-parent payment and a similar Newstart payment must have a “referee” to sign a legally binding form verifying they’re single.
Anyone found to be lying could face a 12-month jail sentence, The Guardian reports, and the group says it’s one rule for these welfare recipients, and another for politicians.
Terese Edwards, the council’s chief executive, reportedly slammed the tight rules in her letter, seen by the publication, claiming they allowed Centrelink to “police women’s relationship status” – and they belonged in the 1970s.
“We remain concerned for women who have left a violent partner and or women who require greater privacy as well as woman who do not have a ‘trusted third party’, noting that the third party cannot be a family member,” she reportedly added.
Meanwhile, Julie Bishop previously came under fire for her stance regarding her long-term boyfriend.
The Sydney Morning Herald exclusively reported earlier this year that Bishop has claimed $32,000 worth of family travel for her partner David Panton. This travel is funded by the taxpayer, yet Bishop suggested that she doesn’t need to inform the parliamentary register of the couple’s financial situation because he “is not her spouse”.
Because the couple don’t live together, they aren’t technically considered a de facto couple under the rules of the parliamentary register. Bishop has never listed Panton as a partner or spouse, so hasn’t ever declared any costs related to travel, hospitality of flights while he’s joined her on various trips around Australia and the world. She also hasn’t made any of her business or property details relating to Panton public.
Edwards accused the policy of showing “double standards” in her damning letter, and said while “low- income single mothers” are expected to abide by tighter rules, federal ministers can “self-determine” the classification of their own relationships.