Post by Banjo on Dec 23, 2013 16:00:29 GMT 7
Disability groups oppose tighter pension rules
Disability and welfare advocates have questioned the Abbott government's plans to tighten the disability support pension, arguing the Coalition is pulling the ''wrong levers'' to get more people off the pension and into jobs.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has confirmed the government is looking to cut costs around the disability support pension, which supports about 822,000 people a year at a cost of $15 billion.
''Right now we're looking right across government for opportunities to improve efficiencies, to reduce costs in a sensible fashion,'' Senator Cormann told Sky News.
Concerned about a 22 per cent rise in disability pensioners in the past decade, the Coalition wants to see more of them move into the workforce. ''Our view is, anyone who can work, should work,'' Senator Cormann said.
People with Disability Australia president Craig Wallace, who has not been consulted, agreed it was important to move into paid work but said more sustainable measures, focused on workplace cultures, job creation and personal support, were needed.
''We're pressing the wrong levers on this problem,'' he said.
Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie was concerned the government review was ''more about budget savings'' than support for people with disabilities.
''We haven't seen any detail,'' Dr Goldie said, adding she had not been consulted either.
Read more: www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/disability-groups-oppose-tighter-pension-rules-20131222-2zt16.html#ixzz2oHqP2ANW
Disability and welfare advocates have questioned the Abbott government's plans to tighten the disability support pension, arguing the Coalition is pulling the ''wrong levers'' to get more people off the pension and into jobs.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has confirmed the government is looking to cut costs around the disability support pension, which supports about 822,000 people a year at a cost of $15 billion.
''Right now we're looking right across government for opportunities to improve efficiencies, to reduce costs in a sensible fashion,'' Senator Cormann told Sky News.
Concerned about a 22 per cent rise in disability pensioners in the past decade, the Coalition wants to see more of them move into the workforce. ''Our view is, anyone who can work, should work,'' Senator Cormann said.
People with Disability Australia president Craig Wallace, who has not been consulted, agreed it was important to move into paid work but said more sustainable measures, focused on workplace cultures, job creation and personal support, were needed.
''We're pressing the wrong levers on this problem,'' he said.
Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie was concerned the government review was ''more about budget savings'' than support for people with disabilities.
''We haven't seen any detail,'' Dr Goldie said, adding she had not been consulted either.
Read more: www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/disability-groups-oppose-tighter-pension-rules-20131222-2zt16.html#ixzz2oHqP2ANW