EXCLUSIVE: Rishworth acknowledges budget fell short for some

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth says budget “can’t be everything to everyone” but she feels the balance is right, in an exclusive sit down with Pro Bono News.

Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth has signalled that she will continue to work across her diverse portfolio to get outcomes for those who need it, while also pointing to “wasteful spending by the previous government”.

The budget included funding for several key areas within the social services portfolio — although in some areas, advocates say the government hasn’t gone far enough.

The minister cited funding for frontline domestic violence workers and crisis accommodation, funding for the government’s planned autism strategy and for making change rooms accessible as some of the budget’s financial achievements.

She also pointed to investment in the government’s paid parental leave scheme.

“I do feel there was a good balance of delivering on our election commitments, as well as being able to make progress in areas that need attention,” she said.

“Of course, it can’t be everything to everyone. We are in a pretty constrained fiscal environment.”

JobSeeker vs tax cuts

The controversial stage three tax cuts remained on the table after the budget, angering many in the social sector.

At the same time, the budget did not include a raise in the rate of welfare payments such as JobSeeker.

The minister pointed to September’s indexation increase to welfare rates, but said she recognised “that’s not the full extent of what people are calling for” and that it is “still difficult to live” on JobSeeker.

Rishworth reiterated that the government’s policy on the JobSeeker rate hasn’t changed.

“I’ll be continuing to look across my portfolio on how we can best support people,” she said.

“In terms of the JobSeeker rate, we’ve been very clear that we will look at that rate in line with each budget cycle.”

She said the government had introduced some cost of living relief in the budget through funding for things like childcare and medicine, but cautioned that further spending may have simply contributed to pushing up inflation.

NDIS links to DES

Late last week, Rishworth announced a trial to link NDIS participants with disability employment service (DES) providers, aimed at helping people get into work.

Some disability advocates were critical of the decision, likening it to a shadow mutual obligations regime.

But Rishworth told Pro Bono News that that’s not the case.

“There has been some significant misunderstanding that somehow people on the NDIS would be forced on to the disability employment system. What the announcement was saying was at the moment, people on the NDIS that may not have mutual obligation requirements are not even given the chance to get on the disability employment services, not even able to use a disability employment service,” she said. 

“This is about people that want to use it, that don’t actually have access to it now, being able to access it.”

Rishworth said she had already taken action earlier this year to eliminate poorly performing DES’ from the system.

See more: DES sector gets shakeup in wake of Royal Commission

“I’m not saying the disability employment service system is a set and forget. I want to see high quality and good outcomes, so I’ll continue to work on that progress of reform. There are some not for profit, great providers out there that are doing good things. There’s also some that do need to lift their game, no doubt about it. I’m pretty committed to that,” she said.

Family violence

Last month’s budget included funding for the government’s National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032.

However, there were concerns that the funding was not enough to make a dent in Australia’s shameful domestic violence problem.

Rishworth said the recent budget had invested “a record $1.7 billion” covering frontline workers, housing and accommodation. She said work would continue in this area between federal, state and territory governments.

The focus, she said, would be on ensuring that the funding was “going to the most effective programs… that make a difference”.

“It is a joint responsibility. The Commonwealth has put in a record investment of $1.7 billion. The states… need to continue to invest in these support services, but not just support services. We need to make investments across all four domains: prevention, early intervention, response, and healing and recovery. And that’s what I want to work [on] with my state and territory colleagues going forward,” she said.

Meanwhile, a tailored national plan for First Nations communities is still in the works, but there is no date yet for the reveal.

The minister said this plan is being led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves, and is currently under consultation.

“Making progress”

Rishworth said she loves working across the social services portfolio and said she is committed to delivering in its major areas: families and communities, early years, the national autism strategy, the national disability strategy and greater inclusion for people with disability beyond just the NDIS.

“It is a pretty diverse portfolio,” she said.

“There’s quite a few areas we want to see progress and action on, and I’ll keep working across all those different areas and all those different sectors to ensure that we are making progress.”