Single Parents and their supporters will gather around the country on Saturday April 13 to call on the Federal Government to use the Federal Budget to address the harsh and paralysing impacts of Newstart for single parent families.
In Hobart the protest will take place at Parliament Lawns at 11am with speakers including Tony Reidy from TasCOSS, Cassy O’Connor and Peter Whish-Wilson from the Greens, Linda Seaborn from Socialist Alliance and NCSMC, and Maree Adams from the Single Parents Action Group.
The protest will highlight the impact that the recent Centrelink changes have had on single parents, in particular parents who are working or studying – “The Biggest Losers”.
Maree Adams, a single parent who is about to begin study said “I’m in a disastrous situation, and there’s people worse off than me. There’re some people who can’t get out the door. The only thing that’s stopping them is money. It’s not that they don’t want to work or study. They don’t even have $5 for the petrol”.
68% of single parents were in some form of paid employment prior to the Centrelink changes which came into effect on January 1. The cuts affect 84,000 single parents nationally, and the most disadvantaged from the changes are single parents who work or study. Those studying have lost the Education Supplement. Those working have their income reduced at a greater rate when they earn. All single parents affected by the changes are at least $130 per fortnight worse off.
Rally’s are also being held in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Newcastle, Adelaide and Perth.
Maree Adams from the Single Parents Action Group
