Single mothers need education, not welfare cuts

Unpopular Government cuts, introduced last year that have pushed more than 100,000 sole parents onto lower support payments, has left many families reeling with single mothers experiencing particular disadvantage. The government rationale for transferring sole parents whose children turn eight onto the lower Newstart allowance, is to encourage more back into the workforce. But if the government wants to help these families out of their precarious positions and low paid employment, we need to see long-term policies focused on improving access to education and training, not simply cuts to support payments.