2nd October 2014
Labor is claiming a victory for itself and the people by forcing the government into what it labelled a “humiliating backdown”.
“This is your victory over Minister Andrews and Tony Abbott,” Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told parliament.
Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews preferred a more pragmatic explanation, saying repackaging the bills may be more attractive to Senate crossbenchers.
The government denies it has backed down on its welfare changes, arguing nothing has changed.
Measures reintroduced to the lower house maintain all its planned changes affecting the young unemployed, pensioners and families.
They include forcing young people to work for the dole, moving under 25s onto the lower Youth Allowance, families with children aged over six being cut off from the Family Tax Benefit B payment and raising the age pension eligibility to 70 by 2035.
Mr Shorten said the compromise had destroyed the credibility of the budget and the Prime Minister.
“This is the government defeated.”
Mr Andrews instead claimed a victory, saying with the support of Labor $2.7 billion worth of non-controversial welfare cuts would pass parliament.
“That’s actually success,” he said.
The government’s “principal position” was to stand by its changes but it will be open to “sensible talks” with crossbenchers over the coming days and weeks.
That may include making under-30s wait one month instead of six for the dole.
WELFARE CHANGES PASSED LOWER HOUSE WITH LABOR BACKING:
* Rename carbon tax compensation payment to energy supplement
* Freeze indexation for two years on asset value for all working-age payments
* Disability support pensioners under 35 to be reviewed for work ability
* Limit six-week overseas travel portability for student payments
* Include untaxed super in assessing access to Commonwealth Seniors Health card
* Only those earnings