Page 2135 - Week 10 - Thursday, 26 October 1989
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Community Services and Health. I ask this very seriously. Mr Berry, did you think, as I did, that there was something to learn there this morning, and is there any message to you and your department as a result?
MR BERRY: The function was, as I mentioned earlier, arranged by ACOSS and it was, I am sure, meant to demonstrate to politicians and other people from our city the difficulties which are faced by welfare recipients. The maze was symbolic of the difficulties that welfare recipients are forced to address when they find themselves in those circumstances. Some of us went there as observers and we were accompanied by minders who were allegedly in various poor circumstances. The young woman that I went with was abandoned with three children and ostensibly no money. She acted out the role very well.
First of all, we went to the ACT Administration, or a bench which was supposed to represent the ACT Administration. Then we went on through the various phases and ended up getting to the welfare queue, which was, of course, the longest. We were harassed by various people along the line to demonstrate and clarify the strain under which welfare recipients have to exist when they are placed in those circumstances.
Mr Jensen: And the staff as well.
MR BERRY: And the staff as well. I think that is an important point, Mr Jensen. The staff of welfare organisations are placed under a great deal of stress. As a first issue, I would like to make sure that there is some sort of statement from me at least which demonstrates our commitment to the staff who work in those areas, and work very hard and under very difficult circumstances. But I think it was most important for the politicians from this place and from the hill to see the difficulties under which welfare recipients have to function. I think that would be most important for our Liberal colleagues opposite and the Liberal and Country Party people from the hill, particularly in the light of their recent announcements on taxes.
Mrs Grassby: The National Party. They keep changing their name.
MR BERRY: They become so unpopular they have to. I think it would remind them of the stress and strain that regressive taxes will place on the Australian people. I saw Mr Humphries over there and I am sure that he is aware of the circumstances that were demonstrated. I am sure he is very concerned about the policies of the Federal coalition and what they are going to do - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Would the Minister please speak to the point?
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