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Saturday, 22 November 2008

Greens to block plans to punish parents of truant children

27/08/2008 2:05:00 PM.  | John Barrington

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Plans to dock welfare payments of parents whose children don't attend school are under threat, with the Greens vowing to block the legislation.

Education Minister Julia Gillard has introduced the controversial scheme into Parliament today, aiming to freeze welfare payments for up to three months, if parents allow their children to continually miss school.

But, the Greens have swiftly pledged to block the legislation in the Senate, with Leader Bob Brown saying it will only make conditions worse for struggling families.

“We’re going to have the family of the truant child slung into even greater poverty, and with inability to get itself well ordered.”

COMMENTS

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Good on you Bob Brown. Adolph Rudd and Eva Gillard should not be allowed to trample over people on welfare with this jack boot solution. The Coalition must not allow this through-it is grossly unfair.

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

 

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Yes in NSW we get threatened with fines and jail if we dont send our children to school. when i was sick and unable to get my daughter to school. this is what i was told. there are no school buses to her school. And as she is just out of zone and i am the one with the disabilty not her, the government is unable to help get her there. The schools response was for me to move her to another school. which would have meant her walking by herself (8yrs) accross a busy highway.

Posted by: Belinda Hummie, New lambton

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Bel, Fed Labor and State Labor don't communicate. In NSW we would get a fine AS WELL AS Rudd's measures? And these mongrels think they can run the country! You should have heard Swan in Question Time today.... a year 9 student would have a better understanding of economics than Swan!

Posted by: Gareth Benson, Blacktown

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

If there is a sole parent who is sick, there is no doubt that there are issues trying to get a child to school. I totally understand the difficulties. However, family payments are only threatened to be taken away from chronic truants, not parents who can't get their kids to school on the odd couple of days.

Posted by: Concerned Liberal, Minto

 

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Ahhh yes, & this is where my right wing side comes out. I personally don't have a problem with this - if you don't want to lose your payments, get your kids to school - its really simple. I manage to get my kids to school without a drama.

Posted by: Concerned Liberal, Minto

 

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

They were constantly upsetting my daughter instead of coming to me or ringing me. in the end a kind lady offered to help, and she is now getting up at 6am and going to the ladies place before school and going with her kids and the lady brings her home. how do other disabled parents cope? how do home schooled kids parents get around the fines? I never got fined as she didnt miss that much, we only got threatened. but that was tramatic enough

Posted by: Belinda Hummie, New lambton

 

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Belinda, I know I had phonecalls from the department many years ago, when i was ill for a while & had no way of getting the children to school...but they were great & tried to help. Often the schools can try & arrange a car pooling system. I know one lady who gets a taxi to take her young child to & from school each day. Our local daycare centre now has b4 school & after school services that include home pickup & delievery of kids. Homeschool parents have ED Dept permission to homeschool.

Posted by: Concerned Liberal, Minto

 

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

awwwwww belinda, you doin it agin an ya gonna say ya didn say you woz on disability agin aint ya. use the fines paper in ya toilet

Posted by: dweeb land, parents land

 

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

CL, I believe all children should be at school, but what happens to the working parents whose children are truants. Or are we sayin it is only people on welfare whose children wag school ? The Govt should be fining them ALL, and making sure the fines are paid. Why pick on one group, make them ALL go to school.

Posted by: susan lawe, gippsland

 

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

yeah Gareth, sometimes i wonder what is going on inside their heads during question time. It seems unfair that NSW would be hit with a double bunger. & cl when i am well and able to drive she gets to school fine. I just choose not to get behind the wheel of a car which could be seen as a deadly weapon, when one is on meds for pain. If I was to pay for a taxi to get her to school, she would have no food. even though, on somedays i have sent her to school in taxis. but it cant be done every day

Posted by: Belinda Hummie, New lambton

 

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

belinda - i totally understand, i don't have a disability, but i spent months extremely ill a nimber of years ago - I know its hard. My point is that in my experience the dept does understand, & their are options out there.

Posted by: Concerned Liberal, Minto

 

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

RETRACTION - ok my appologies to all - for some reason I thought they were blocking the family payments only. Clearly I didn't read this properly - its ALL payments. I realised my error when i was writing an explanation to Susan & was looking for a direct quote to show her that it would effect all parents getting family benefits. There is no way they can block all benefits - that is simply draconian, & as Susan says - unfair to welfare parents.

Posted by: Concerned Liberal, Minto

 

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

i may be disabled dweeb, doesnt mean i am on disability. I am on compensation. The school my daughter goes to was not very helpful in trying to help me find a solution. I would still have to get my daughter to before and after school care here and there arent any places anyway. Only one parent came forward, and she was unable to get any others to give her a hand. I pay her petrol money. but one can never repay her kindness to me.where the school did nothing, except threaten with fines

Posted by: Belinda Hummie, New lambton

 

Thursday, 28 August 2008

Good on The Greens for planning to block this legislation. The proposed legislation will have many unintended negative consequences. I hope that the Liberals also block the legislation.

Posted by: Peter Fisher, Sydney

 
 

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