Omnibus Bill will make life harder for jobless Tasmanians

Today’s Omnibus Bill tabled in Federal Parliament will make life for the 16,000 jobless Tasmanians even more difficult.

“The instability of Tasmania’s labour market combined with the proposed changes to NewStart (which would see new entrants to the program receive less funds) will put even more financial pressure on the entire generation of Tasmanians currently looking for work,” CEO of TasCOSS Kym Goodes said.

“To gain work in our State, jobless Tasmanians must be willing to take what is on offer, no matter how short-term or low in hours, if they want to remain active in or gain work experience,” Ms Goodes said.

“If this Bill passes into law, Tasmanians who grasp short term opportunities will return to a lower payment of NewStart—an already demonstrably and shockingly inadequate payment for jobseekers.

“It is wrong that while those who qualify for NewStart will lose the Energy Supplement, people earning taxable amounts of annual income will maintain the benefits gained from carbon tax-related cuts.

“The NewStart Energy Supplement could be paid for many times over by withdrawing proposed Government tax cuts and cutting Capital Gains Tax and negative gearing concessions.

“The proposed changes undermine Australia’s safety net and will serve to entrench an underclass of jobless people across our State.

“We all have a right to undertake fulfilling work just as we all have a right to be caught by a safety net when we stumble.

“We urge Tasmania’s Federal representatives to oppose the Omnibus Bill in its current form.”

TasCOSS represents the State’s social service sector and advocates for the human rights of all Tasmanians.
Kym Goodes, CEO, TasCOSS