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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Pru Goward seeks extension of NSW public housing income management policy | Pru Goward seeks extension of NSW public housing income management policy |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Plans | Plans |
| by the New South Wales government to extend its income management | by the New South Wales government to extend its income management |
| policy for public housing tenants have alarmed welfare advocates who say | policy for public housing tenants have alarmed welfare advocates who say |
| evaluations of the trial have not been released. | evaluations of the trial have not been released. |
| Family | Family |
| and community services minister Pru Goward is asking the federal social services | and community services minister Pru Goward is asking the federal social services |
| minister, Kevin Andrews, to expand the income management trial, saying it | minister, Kevin Andrews, to expand the income management trial, saying it |
| has helped tenants repay debts and avoid homelessness. | has helped tenants repay debts and avoid homelessness. |
| In a statement she described the trial in Bankstown as “successful” although it is not due to finish until June. | |
| The chief executive | The chief executive |
| of the Australian Council of Social Service (Acoss), Cassandra Goldie, | of the Australian Council of Social Service (Acoss), Cassandra Goldie, |
| said she had asked for an evaluation of the trial to be released, and said the | said she had asked for an evaluation of the trial to be released, and said the |
| impact on tenants and the community had not been properly | impact on tenants and the community had not been properly |
| examined. | examined. |
| “I’m quite worried about it,” she said. “This | “I’m quite worried about it,” she said. “This |
| is a lot of money being taken out of people’s already limited incomes | is a lot of money being taken out of people’s already limited incomes |
| and we have no idea what the impact of this trial has been because the | and we have no idea what the impact of this trial has been because the |
| government will not release it.” | government will not release it.” |
| The scheme automatically takes money out of public | The scheme automatically takes money out of public |
| housing tenants' income so they can pay rent and pay off debt they | housing tenants' income so they can pay rent and pay off debt they |
| have accumulated. | have accumulated. |
| Goward | Goward |
| said 49 people in Bankstown had been referred to the trial since August | said 49 people in Bankstown had been referred to the trial since August |
| and more than 60% of them had significantly reduced or cleared their | and more than 60% of them had significantly reduced or cleared their |
| debts. | debts. |
| “Sadly, rent arrears can very quickly lead to homelessness,” she said. | “Sadly, rent arrears can very quickly lead to homelessness,” she said. |
| “By | “By |
| working proactively with the Commonwealth to expand the income | working proactively with the Commonwealth to expand the income |
| management trial, we can help more public housing tenants get back in | management trial, we can help more public housing tenants get back in |
| control of their lives and provide a stable, safe home for their family | control of their lives and provide a stable, safe home for their family |
| while meeting their obligations to the NSW taxpayer.” | while meeting their obligations to the NSW taxpayer.” |
| Goward | Goward |
| pointed to Mount | pointed to Mount |
| Druitt, which has a total amassed debt of public housing tenants of $387,295, as one area that could benefit from an | Druitt, which has a total amassed debt of public housing tenants of $387,295, as one area that could benefit from an |
| income management scheme. | income management scheme. |
| In a submission to the federal government on income management, Acoss called the policy “inappropriate” and said it could not be introduced with the necessary levels of protection. | In a submission to the federal government on income management, Acoss called the policy “inappropriate” and said it could not be introduced with the necessary levels of protection. |
| “Overall | “Overall |
| Acoss is strongly opposed to measures that remove discretion from very | Acoss is strongly opposed to measures that remove discretion from very |
| low-income households over the use of very limited resources to meet | low-income households over the use of very limited resources to meet |
| their needs,” the submission said. | their needs,” the submission said. |
| “This leaves such households — particularly those with children — at significant risk. Faced with such constrained choices, children may be forced to go without essential opportunities, the ability to take up employment opportunities may be lost, or it may be impossible to pay for other essentials such as heating or electricity which may then be cut off.” | “This leaves such households — particularly those with children — at significant risk. Faced with such constrained choices, children may be forced to go without essential opportunities, the ability to take up employment opportunities may be lost, or it may be impossible to pay for other essentials such as heating or electricity which may then be cut off.” |
| Goldie said income management took away the choice of people who lived in public housing to | Goldie said income management took away the choice of people who lived in public housing to |
| decide on their spending priorities, be | decide on their spending priorities, be |
| it food, school supplies or medical expenses. | it food, school supplies or medical expenses. |
| She said the policy could lead to higher rates of poverty for public housing tenants. | She said the policy could lead to higher rates of poverty for public housing tenants. |
| Goldie | Goldie |
| said that as well as there being no evaluation of the Bankstown trial | |
| available, there was no comprehensive data on the factors that made public housing | available, there was no comprehensive data on the factors that made public housing |
| tenants leave their accommodation and become homeless. | tenants leave their accommodation and become homeless. |
| • This article was amended on 3 February 2014. An earlier version said the trial was taking place in Blacktown |