As far as I can make out, it was "already" a requirement that single parents sought employment after their children turned 8.

The crowning achievement of the Gillard government in pushing parents onto Newstart has been the opportunity to rip a chunk of their financial support off them and their children....all the other criteria were set in place under the Parenting Payment.

The only thing that has really changed is the amount of money they receive.

I agree with the others that it's a societal thing.

(Strangely enough, it was the Clinton administration in the US who implemented a similar austerity on single parents...but then apparently "Its the economy, stupid."

I wonder how long it will take to see more "families" living on the streets or in their cars?

And is that really what we, as an affluent society, want to see?

l think its relevant to point out that contrary to what was claimed earlier the article does pit mothers against fathers. The author makes a number of comments to set that up.

The link to the vile site of definitions for 'deadbeat dad' being one but she also makes a number of other comments to set up that conflict
'This is also why single parents - and here I am referring specifically to mothers - find it harder to work than partnered parents' - as a father who is a single parent and who works in an industry that does not generally allow for part time work I don't see that the issue is specifically mothers.

'Women balancing very low incomes, complex and often contradictory time demands, employer prejudices, irresponsible, abusive and absent ex-partners, sole responsibility for child care, and inflexible work schedules' and men don't face those same issues.

'What is mentioned less is that this is a women's human rights issue because it essentially makes it very difficult to leave a marriage (or be left or never marry in the first place) if you are a woman with children.' and the all to frequent loss of time with children, punative property settlements and child support formulas don't make it difficult for men to leave a relationship gone bad if they have children?

I agree that whats being done by the government appears to be handled poorly, that its not easy balancing single parenting and full time work and with a range of other concerns raised in the article.

I don't accept that its all as one sided as the author suggests nor do I agree that its the responsibility of others to pay for individial preferences.

Society can do better in facilitating better options for all parents, options for that have been discussed before on OLO and may be due for a revisit.

R0bert

Thanks Runner... Another "classic" observation as usual! Society does have a way of consuming itself, I am sure you would agree: The natural progression of humanity is to "devolve" to war, with consequential death and destruction! Humans a very unforgiving of intrusions into the staus-quo straight-jacket.

So many issues, so many points of view… one of the comments that stood out included:

* “Poverty doesn't breed criminals, criminals create poverty”; and

Yet you then state:

“if he can't get nice things of his own he'll try to steal from the good kid”.

Can you please explain how one is not representative of the other?

Obviously this law doesn’t go far enough. It requires a sunset clause.

After 3 years on parenting payment aid should be terminated, & the child surrendered for adoption. This would obviously be in the best interest of the child, as the parent, in 3 years, has proved they are incapable of providing a good roll model for the child.

The payment should not be available to students, who already have access to higher than new start payments in Austudy. Austudy should not be available to single parents, as the fact they CHOSE to study, rather than put their best efforts into supporting their child, shows where their interests are.

Rather than bitching, these ladies should go down on their knees & give thanks that Ozzie men have been gentle enough to allow themselves to be exploited by conniving women for so long.

<<After 3 years on parenting payment aid should be terminated, & the child surrendered for adoption.>>

Already missing the stolen generation?

Should children then have nightmares for 3 years of being taken away from their family?
As a child I would prefer to starve to death and stay with my parents, poor as they are.
Better still, I would find a job myself to help my family rather than being torn apart from them.
Even offering my body to paedophiles would be a better option.

How wonderful, Hasbeen, you are going to find many children hanging or jumping from roofs or deliberately throwing themselves under cars and trains.

<<as the parent, in 3 years, has proved they are incapable of providing a good roll model for the child.>>

They may be wonderful loving parents, teaching their children about those things that really matter in life - such as love, kindness, independent thinking, purity, spirituality and seeking God, rather than about making $$'s, but all you care is how to indoctrinate children into becoming part of your "work-force" when they grow, so that you can keep your economy growing forever. Shame!