Scott Morrison to be the Mr Muscle of reforms

the Australian

December 22, 2014 12:00AM

The man who is credited with stopping the boats and delivering a hard-line immigration policy has been given the role of social ser­vices minister in a move that has sent shock waves through the welfare, childcare and family services sector.

Mr Morrison said yesterday he would devote himself to getting people off welfare and into work.

The welfare sector is viewing the appointment of the Immigration Minister as a sign the government will pursue draconian policies, particularly in reducing the amount spent on welfare.

The Prime Minister has decided his most difficult but crucial policies needed the cut-through messaging of Mr Morrison, but sources in the government questioned the decision, saying Mr Morrison lacks the ability to show a “softer” side.

Mr Abbott hopes Mr Morrison’s formidable political skills will land a package of reforms and ­secure their path through a difficult Senate.

Mr Morrison will have to respond to the Productivity Commission’s report on childcare, which has yet to be released, and tone down the promised paid parental leave scheme identified as one government barnacle.

He will also be required to respond to the forthcoming review by Patrick McClure that backs radically reduced and tightened welfare payments.

And he will have to resurrect the government’s policy to deprive people under 30 of the Newstart payment.

The reform promised in the budget has failed to get through the Senate.

Mr Morrison’s new portfolio places him at the helm of one of the largest areas of government expenditure, responsible for crafting the government’s revamped PPL and childcare scheme.

Mr Abbott said Mr Morrison’s new role would see him responsible for crafting a “holistic families package which will be such an important part of our political and economic agenda in the first half of next year”.

Mr Morrison issued a statement saying the Australian people can expect him to apply the same energy, commitment and leadership in this new role “as I have in immigration and border protection”.

Maree O’Halloran, president of the National Welfare Rights Network, said she hoped he would have the same position as the previous minister Kevin Andrews and commit to grandfathering disabil­ity support pension recipients.

“We will work with whichever minister is in the position. But the McClure report is about to be released and we are very concerned about people who are disabled on the disability support pension do not lose payments,” she said.

Labor’s families spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said Mr Abbott had finally admitted his government’s record on family payments and pensions had been an utter failure.

The Greens said the appointment of Mr Morrison showed the government’s clear intent to ­pursue hard-line policies that would weaken the nation’s social safety net.