Families in Crisis Need Support Not a Heavy Hand

Catholic Social Services Australia Executive Director, Frank Quinlan said today that food vouchers would do very little to overcome the poverty and neglect experienced by some Australian children.

Commenting on an article in this morning's Daily Telegraph, Mr Quinlan said if children are at risk because their parents or carers have an addiction or other problem, then the whole family needs help.

"Families in crisis need access to voluntary case-managed support services, not one-off, punitive measures like compulsory food and clothing vouchers", Mr Quinlan said.

"Children at risk must be the focus of the Government's efforts, and addressing the problem demands a coordinated, long term approach that involves service providers and all levels of government," Mr Quinlan said.

Mr Quinlan said the Government's responsibility lies in:

• providing better access to more comprehensive drug and alcohol and mental health services.
• providing access to daily support for basic life skills such as personal care, nutrition and financial management.
• addressing poverty traps through reform of the taxation and welfare system.

"Low income earners face very real poverty traps. Single parents and people with a disability face effective marginal tax rates of around 70 per cent as they move from welfare payments to work," Mr Quinlan said.

"Many people who need access to these specialised services are currently waiting up to twelve months in some areas for assistance through programs like the Personal Support Program.

"This program has demonstrated how successful personal support can be in helping people to cope with difficult and complex life circumstances.

"Far from being generous, welfare benefits are frequently being paid at levels that leave people in poverty. In many cases welfare payments do not provide for the basic requirements of family life.

"Short-term bandaid solutions only further stigmatise families in crisis and will do nothing to address the underlying problems caused by an unjust, inefficient and ineffective tax and welfare system," Mr Quinlan said.

Catholic Social Services Australia provides support to over one million Australians each year.

15 November 2006                                                                                                                   

CONTACT:        Judith Tokley 02 6285 1366 / 0408 824 306