Recently, with much media fanfare, Minister Christian Porter announced the ‘Australian Priority Investment Approach to Welfare’ using data to identify and target groups in the community most at risk of long term welfare dependency. While I am always wary of any use of the verb ‘target’ with this government, the principles around providing effective support to vulnerable people to ensure that they are able to break welfare dependence are sound.

Jenny Macklin has called for more information, as well as some reassurance that this is not another attempt to save expenditure packaged with social justice language. It was this government which latched on to the plan to make young people wait for rolling periods of six months without any support seemingly to make them more job ready and less reliant on welfare.

Remember the heartfelt statements that this proposal was based on the New Zealand model, carefully researched, and focussed on helping young, that is up to age 30, people into work. After a Senate inquiry and two estimates sessions, embarrassed public servants admitted that the links to the New Zealand policy were ‘tenuous’ and the decision was made by the government.

Again this week, Minister Porter extolled the New Zealand experience, as well as the first mention in over twelve months of the ‘Investment Approach to Welfare‘ which has been sitting on government shelves since 2014.

The new evidence-based approach should be welcomed, but attempts to target particular groups without real consultation across the community and no commitment to the wide range of support services which must be in place, and resourced, again risks a breakdown of real trust and a focus on punishment rather than support. Slogans about the best form of welfare being a job, have been trotted out for years, but still the critical links between support and a supply of available flexible and secure jobs are missing from the discussion.

The Minister particularly listed young carers as a ‘target’ group, and it is well known that the pressure on young people who are caring for family members is significant. I have been able to meet with many young carers over the last few years: National Carers have established a network, as well as a scholarship program to offer some support to young people balancing caring responsibilities, education and work. Perhaps the Minister could work with these impressive, focussed and articulate young carers to develop some policy direction?

Claire Moore, Senator for Queensland

The Senate has voted in favour of Labor’s motion to establish a Senate Inquiry to investigate serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect outlined in the Nauru files.

The Nauru files represents the largest leak of documents detailing the reporting of and responses to allegations of mistreatment of individuals residing in offshore detention centres and like many Australians, Labor was concerned by the contents of those reports.

Labor has made clear our commitment to offshore processing and regional resettlement, combined with the policy of turning back boats to ensure people smugglers are denied their trade in exploiting vulnerable people. We have also made clear our view that we have a special obligation to ensure those vulnerable people are not subjected to any further harm or violence.

As representatives, we have a responsibility to investigate serious claims about any mistreatment of asylum seekers in offshore processing centre.

The motion moved by Labor to establish a Senate Inquiry, outlines terms of reference including how notifications of self-harm are investigated, the factors that have contributed to abuse and self-harm where this is found to have occurred and the support services offered to those people.

Unaccompanied minors are some of the most vulnerable asylum seekers and the Inquiry will be asked to specifically give consideration to the role an independent children’s advocate could play in protecting the rights and interests of unaccompanied minors.

The Turnbull Government has failed to establish durable, third country resettlement arrangements to resolve the future of asylum seekers in offshore processing centres.

The Inquiry will investigate the Government’s attempts to negotiate third country resettlement of asylum seekers and refugees and any additional measures that could be implemented to expedite third country resettlement.

The motion to establish a Senate Inquiry was co-sponsored by the Australian Greens.

A Senate Inquiry is the most appropriate way to investigate serious claims of abuse and self-harm in offshore detention centres and importantly, the terms of reference set a deadline to report back to Parliament by the last sitting day in March 2017.

Shane Neumann MP, Shadow Minister for Immigration & Border Protection & Member for Blair & Murray Watt, Senator for Queensland