Catholic Welfare Australia - life no BBQ for low income earners

The Prime Minister described the debate over work family balance as “a BBQ stopper”. Today Catholic Welfare Australia will tell the Standing Committee for Family and Human Services that life is no BBQ for low skilled, casual and part-time employees, particularly in light of the Federal Government’s Workforce Participation Agenda.

Catholic Welfare Australia is appearing before the House of Representatives Standing Committee for Family and Human Services at 11:00am as part of the first day’s Public Hearing into the Inquiry into Balancing Family and Work, taking place today in the Jubilee Room, NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street in Sydney.

“We are particularly keen to see the Committee make specific recommendations regarding the poor families and low skilled, casual and part-time employees when it comes to returning to the paid workforce. They have specific pressures and obstacles confronting them and need solutions which are different to many other parents.” said Executive Director of Catholic Welfare Australia, Mr Frank Quinlan.

“Catholic Welfare Australia is very focused on ensuring that the family is fostered, nurtured, protected and properly cared for in a political and social environment which appears to ascribe more value to the economy than to people,” said Mr Quinlan.

“We also believe the Federal Government’s evolving Workforce Participation Agenda will place increased pressure to take up paid employment on people providing valuable service to society through unpaid work,” said Mr Quinlan.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to appear before the Committee and we look forward to being able to contribute to this very important Inquiry,” he concluded.

Media inquiries to: Mary Jamieson on 02) 6285 1366