Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

The government is mindful in this case, as I said in my summing-up contribution, to getting the balance right. Acknowledging some of the concerns raised by Senator Siewert, the government's intention is that the penalty provisions be utilised only as an absolute last resort and would indeed apply to only a very small element of the target population. This is what colours the government's mind when looking at the amendments proposed by the opposition. We certainly understand the point and highlight that compliance measures in relation to all income support arrangements are important but, on this occasion and with this particular targeted group, we think the provisions as they stand strike that right balance. In that respect, suggestions that this program is about token measures can, I think, be addressed simply by looking at all that has gone into the measures to ensure that these very young, vulnerable families—young women in particular—receive support, as I indicated, to highlight that being a teenager and having a young child is not the end of your education. This is a significant mind shift for many young girls contemplating a future along with a pregnancy.

Whilst we have been very concerned to ensure that the balance is right and that penalties are absolutely a last possible resort—and, Senator Bernardi, I am not sure if we are dealing with all of your amendments at the moment or a particular grouping of them—the government's view is that the balance in this bill is the best we can address for a targeted trial type arrangement, although we certainly will be mindful of the issues that you have raised when we are looking at how effectively that trial has worked.