New Economic “Inclusion” Committee terms of reference reveal recipe for exclusion

Terms of reference for the committee secured by David Pocock was tabled in the senate on Wednesday

The Antipoverty Centre is disturbed but not surprised by the demoralising contents of the Interim Economic “Inclusion” Advisory Committee tabled in the senate during an estimates hearing on Wednesday. The committee is nothing more than another cog in the poverty machine.

Full text of the terms of reference, comments from Antipoverty Centre spokesperson Kristin O’Connell and crisis line information is included below.

This document validates the fears we’ve held from the moment this deal with David Pocock was announced, and we renew our call for civil society actors to boycott this farce.

This committee is just another exclusionary exercise designed only to put a fig leaf over the government’s insistence that millions of us be forced to endure a cost of living crisis in unnecessary, crushing poverty.

There is nothing new to be learned about the “adequacy” of income support payments. No amount of “reducing barriers and disincentives to work” will lead to economic inclusion in an economy that keeps millions of people unemployed by design – as the RBA has driven home to us this week.

The fastest and most effective thing the government can do to address physical and mental health crises, housing and cost of living crises, is ensure everyone who needs income support can get it and that every Centrelink payment is above the Henderson poverty line, which is currently $88 a day.

Quotes attributable to Antipoverty Centre spokesperson and DSP recipient Kristin O’Connell

This committee has no power. It has no people who are economically excluded. It has no credibility whatsoever.

No one who claims to value the voices and lives of people in poverty should associate themselves with this sham committee. If you support the exclusion of unemployed people you are contributing to our demonisation.

Any person who thinks the “sustainability” is a crucial question while we endure a welfare system that is killing people is rejecting the humanity of people who can’t afford to live.

We are sick and tired of endless inquiries, reports, consultations and advisory bodies that always reach the same conclusions but are too cowardly to insist on obvious solutions.

The government does not need new information or advice from so-called experts who know nothing about our lives. It knows what’s needed as well as we do: poor people need money.

And that’s why it can’t have the real experts in poverty on its committee – the prime minister needs an excuse to hide behind when he refuses to increase welfare payments to the poverty line in the federal budget.

It’s an easy choice for the politicians who leave us in poverty, but it’s a morally repugnant one.

There is no more important or effective thing the government can do in the May federal budget than lift every income support payment to at least the Henderson poverty line, and then do the work with unemployed advocates to build a truly safe safety net for the long-term.

Media contact: email media at antipovertycentre.org or call/message 0413 261 362 via Signal

Terms of Reference – Interim Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee

PURPOSE
The Government has committed to establishing an Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee before the end of 2022 to provide non-binding written advice on economic inclusion, including policy settings, systems and structures, and the adequacy, effectiveness and sustainability of income support payments ahead of every Budget.

MEMBERSHIP
The Committee will have up to 14 members, including a Chair, and will include social security academic experts, representatives from key relevant advocacy organisations, unions, business peak bodies, the philanthropic sector and economists.

The Prime Minister will appoint an interim Committee ahead of the introduction of legislation in 2023 for the establishment of a permanent Committee. Under legislation, members will be appointed by written instrument and hold office on a part-time basis for the period specified in the instrument, which must not exceed 3 years. Members are eligible for reappointment.

SCOPE
The Committee will consider and provide advice and proposals on:

a) Economic Inclusion including approaches to boostparticipation through policy settings, systems and structures, in the social security system and other government programs and policies.

b) The adequacy, effectiveness and sustainability of income support payments including options to boost economic inclusion and tackle disadvantage.

c) Options to reduce barriers and disincentives to work, including in relation to social security and employment services.

d) Options for tailored responses to address barriers to economic inclusion for long term unemployed and disadvantaged groups, including place-based approaches at the local level. e) The impact of economic inclusion policies on gender equality including consideration of work being undertaken by the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce.

f) The trends of inequality markers in Australia, and any other relevant advice.

The Committee’s report to Government should include supporting discussion and analysis. In providing advice on these matters, the Committee will have regard to the Government’s fiscal strategy, existing policies, and the long-term sustainability of the social security system.

The Committee’s report to Government should include supporting discussion and analysis. In providing advice on these matters, the Committee will have regard to the Government’s fiscal strategy, existing policies, and the long-term sustainability of the social security system.

TIMING
The Committee will meet at least every quarter, with the first meeting of the interim Committee in December 2022. The Committee will present its first report to Government prior to the 2023-24 Federal Budget and report on a yearly basis.

High level recommendations are to be released publicly (with the timing to be agreed between the Chair and Ministers), but must be no later than 14 days prior to each Budget being handed down.

To inform Government deliberations for Budget, the Committee’s advice would be required in February – March 2023.

ADMINISTRATION
Secretariat support for the Committee will be provided by the Department of Social Services (DSS).

DSS and other government departments, including the Treasury and the Department of Finance, will provide advice and information to the Committee.

Meeting agendas and papers will be shared at least 3 days before each meeting, and action items recorded and addressed at the next meeting.

These terms of reference can be downloaded via the parliament website.