Fed: Families face tough Xmas under Scrooge govt - Democrats

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2001
Fed: Families face tough Xmas under Scrooge govt - Democrats

Opposition parties say about 100,000 struggling families will be strapped for cash
over Christmas because of the government's Scrooge mentality.

Family Services Minister AMANDA VANSTONE has admitted thousands of families face Centrelink
debts because they underestimated their annual income for family payments and childcare
benefits.

But the debt notices will not go out until January or February, making it hard for
families to budget for Christmas.

Australian Democrats welfare spokesman ANDREW BARTLETT says it's unfair to make families
estimate their annual income in advance, down to the last dollar, and then penalise them
if they get it wrong.

Labor youth spokeswoman NICOLA ROXON says the government should tell families before
Christmas if they owe money.

But Senator VANSTONE says under the government's new system, around 300,000 families
will receive top-ups from overestimating their income of their payment for the first time.





The government has waived debts for households owing less than $1,000, leaving about
100,000 families with debts of more than $1,000 due to overpayment of benefits.

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