Fears government s migrant welfare bill will hit women hardest and prevent fleeing from domestic violence sbs.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sbs.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A Senate estimates enquiry has revealed the Social Services department spent $1.76 million in research from a private firm, which hasn’t published a report.
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The Prime Minister has defended the biggest single cost-cutting decision in the budget, which forces new migrants to wait four years before accessing most government welfare payments.
Mr Morrison on Wednesday told SBS News the policy was consistent with decisions the government had made in the past.
According to the budget papers the government will save $671 million over five years by applying the four-year Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period to anyone granted permanent residency in Australia from 1 January next year.
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The duration of the waiting period to receive welfare payments previously depended on a migrant’s situation and visa type, but the new measure brings most government subsidies and visa classes in line with the current four-year wait to access JobSeeker, Austudy, and youth allowance payments.
Low coronavirus numbers no reason not to get the vaccine29/04/2021|6min
Social Services Minister Anne Ruston says while Australia has been very lucky with low coronavirus numbers, Australians should not make that a reason for not getting the vaccine. Well I think it is very important that Australians understand that the vaccine rollout is tremendously important not only because of the protection it provides them from a health perspective - but also making sure we re able to open up our economy, she told Sky News host Chris Kenny. We have been extremely successful and I think every Australian should be enormously proud of the health and the economic and the social success of Australia in the face of what has been the most extraordinary world pandemic.