Labor urged to bring forward single parenting payment changes or ‘have kids going hungry’

Greens senator says it is ‘heartless’ not to make an interim provision for 8,140 families until eligibility extends in September

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The Australian government is under pressure to bring forward the start date for one of its key welfare budget measures to prevent more than 8,000 single parents falling into further poverty during the waiting period.

Expanding the eligibility for the single parenting payment was one of Labor’s flagship announcements in this year’s budget. The payment currently expires when the youngest child of a single parent turns eight, with the parent moving on to jobseeker, which is worth $204 less per fortnight than the parenting payment.

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