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Family & Community

Family & Community

Working people are finding it increasingly difficult to balance work with family, care and community responsibilities. We are in danger of sacrificing our quality of life and becoming a less caring and friendly community.

The Greens are concerned with the happiness and well-being of all Australians, and are committed to introducing laws and policies that support balanced lives. We believe that accessible, affordable, high-quality childcare is essential for supporting family and community life.

Greens urge Mining Industry to wake up to threat of climate change

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 19th December 2008, 6:10pm
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Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam has urged the Chamber of Minerals and Energy to wake up to the imminent effects of climate change, and stop jeopardising the economic viability of their industry, as well as our future, at a Public Hearing Joint Standing Committee on Treaties into the Kyoto Protocol this morning.

“Its obvious to everyone that the ridiculously low 5 percent emissions target outlined Monday’s white paper will need to be revised. What will the mining industry do when it finds itself unprepared to operate within a carbon constrained global economy?” said Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam.

National Affordable Housing Agreement

Estimates Transcripts | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Wednesday 17th December 2008, 5:19pm
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Senator Ludlam asked:

Will the National Affordable Housing Agreement operate with an expiry date, like the current Commonwealth State Housing Agreement, or will it be a continuing agreement?

Answer:

The National Affordable Housing Agreement will be a continuing agreement, but will be reviewed every five years. It may be amended as necessary by the consensus of interested or affected jurisdictions.

 

Send us your stories on WA welfare trials

Income management trial for child protection

These trials started in the Cannington area and the Kimberley region on 24th November 2008.

This trial is not a blanket approach like the NT intervention that applies to everyone in the selected communities - instead a case manager from the WA Department for Child Protection can refer parents to Centrelink to have their payments income managed if they believe children are 'at risk.' This means Centrelink will income manage 70 percent of regular fortnightly payments and all of any advances and lump sum payments.

Income Suspension for Truancy

If the School Requirements (Truancy) Bill is passed then the income management trial for truancy is expected to commence in the Cannington area and the Northern Territory in 2009. Under this trial Centrelink would have the power to suspend income support payments for up to 13 weeks or more and even cancel those payments -- if the child of a family on income support is missing school, and the school reports them to Centrelink.

We would like to allow people affected by these trials to share their stories and put their personal accounts of the evidence about the ''real' impact of these trials on the record. Please send us your story using the form below.

  • Your privacy is assured
  • Your stories will only be used if you give permission
  • If requested, we can change names, locations and other details

First Home Buyers Grants Will Not Solve Western Australia’s Housing Problems

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 27th November 2008, 12:00am
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Greens Housing Spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam says the government’s boost to first home owners’ grants isn’t solving the housing crisis, as new figures show Western Australia having the second highest rate of Mortgage defaults in Australia.

“According to Fitch Ratings Western Australians are amongst those struggling the most to keep their homes. The first homebuyers grant encourages people to start a mortgage, but where are the housing affordability initiatives that help with mortgage stress.”

Financial crisis no excuse for homeless neglect: Greens

Newsflash | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Tuesday 25th November 2008, 8:41am
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Time for PM to act on homelessness: Greens

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Monday 24th November 2008, 2:42pm
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The Australian Greens Housing Spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam says the Prime Minister must take immediate action on homelessness after failing to deliver during his first twelve months in office.

The Senator issued the call after Australians for Ending Homelessness launched their five point plan in Canberra this morning and the federal government clocked up one year in office.

"Despite making homelessness a high-order priority when he took office a year ago, Mr Rudd hasn't delivered. We're still waiting for an increased investment in preventative measures, funding for support services, and for increased support for public housing. We're still waiting for a united and coordinated response across all areas of government so we can effectively address homelessness," said Senator Ludlam.

Homelessness high on COAG agenda: Plibersek

Newsflash | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Monday 24th November 2008, 12:00am
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Rental affordability bill passes; green opportunity missed

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Monday 24th November 2008, 12:00am
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"The Greens welcome the passage of the National Rental Affordability Scheme Bill and hope it will provide some overdue relief to renters, but we're disappointed that the government passed up an opportunity to green it up," Australian Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said.

Senator Ludlam moved to amend the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) this afternoon, but the amendments failed without government support.

The National Rental Affordability Scheme - Second Reading

Speech | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Monday 24th November 2008, 12:00am
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I concur with many of the concerns that were raised by Senator Payne around the way the scheme will actually function once it has been operating for a couple of years. We recognise that, as the government has put it, it is quite an adaptive policy and that it is intended to be changed according to the uptake-the rate at which the community sector or the private sector eventually decide to take on the scheme.

We will also be following this with a great deal of interest, as the successive rounds under the NRAS roll out, to assess whether it is actually meeting the demand. The demand has obviously reached appalling proportions.

Should the law recognise same-sex marriage?

Binary poll | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 18th November 2008, 12:00am
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