Turner Judy: Social Security Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Turner Judy: Social Security Amendment Bill — In Committee 
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JUDY TURNER (Deputy Leader—United Future) 
: 
 I want to take a brief call on Part 2 of the Social Security Amendment Bill and I particularly want to address the concerns that the Green member Sue Bradford raised because I am on the Social Services Committee obviously and heard the submissions and the concerns. 
I also met with several groups of concerned people in my office privately and listened very closely to their concerns. I agreed with them that if the work focus which is now being built into the principles of this Act was such that it meant that everybody was assumed to be able to work then I would be unhappy with that. But I have checked and rechecked very very carefully what is written and I do not believe that the work focus being introduced into the principles of the Act in any way disadvantages people for whom work is not a reality. 
The bill says very clearly in clause 23 that “people for whom work may not currently be an appropriate outcome should be assisted to plan for work in the future and develop employment-focus skills:”. This is talking about people like mums and dads on the domestic purposes benefit. This is about people who are currently committed to parenting their children but who see this as a season in their lives at a time when they require some support and who also see that in the middle of this season they are well able to start focusing on their futures and what employment may be round the corner for them. No one is saying that they must drop their kids immediately into day care and take any job that comes along; that is not what the principles state at all. 
Another thing that is stated in the principles is the acknowledgment that there are “people for whom work is not appropriate” and who “should be supported in accordance with this Act.” Therefore the work focus is a new provision that is layered into the legislation and focused on people who are already able to take up work should they be willing. Because of the type of benefit that these people are entitled to they are required to be willing and ready to take advantage of all the opportunities that Work and Income may put their way in order for them to become further work-ready to hone their skills towards achieving specific employment opportunities and to take advantage of all additional help that may come along. 
United Future welcomes the work focus being put into the principles. I think it is something that has been missing from this Act for a long long time and that has created a lot of angst for taxpayers who worry about benefit dependency and who worry that it is too easy to get a benefit and stay on it when one is well capable of employment. The new wording of the principles makes it really explicit that this department is focused on finding suitable work for all people who are capable of doing it. 
The other thing that I think is really important to note is that the work focus creates an understanding that there are people for whom work expectations are not appropriate but who actually have some dreams and ambitions. These people could never hold down a 40-hour-a-week job. It is beyond their capability because of the challenges they live with. But they would really love the chance—I have met a number of these people and they would just love the chance—to find some productive areas of employment that may take them an hour or two a week and for which there is some remuneration. I accept that where these people would like some employment even if it is on a limited basis Work and Income should try to facilitate that. 
A lot of people particularly those on disability benefits really would like to participate in the workforce at a level that is suited to the challenges they live with. A work focus requires the department rather than disregarding them because of the small amount of work they are capable of doing to actually take them seriously and look for opportunities. One of the things I have experienced with people in this category is that often they start out with a couple of hours’ work they kind of get their heads around it they organise their life around it and over time they surprise themselves that they can take on a few more hours—not because anyone is pressuring them or putting their benefit under threat but because they want and enjoy the contact and the reward that employment offers to them. 
I think that the member proposing the amendment Sue Bradford is well-intentioned in this regard but that she has really misunderstood the fact that there is nothing oppressive in the new wording in the principles of the Act. The wording really just makes sure that work focus is available to all those who are able to work under that focus and who want to.