The Australian Council of Trade Unions and Jobs Australia have labelled proposed changes to the Community Development Program as discriminatory towards First Australians.
CDP is a work for the dole scheme, which was implemented on July 1 by the Indigenous Affairs Minister and changes will require welfare recipients in remote areas to work 25 hours a week throughout the whole year to receive payments.
This is in contrast to other schemes elsewhere in Australia which requires recipients to work 15 hours a week for only six months in the year.
While according to the Human Rights Commission, up to 84 per cent of welfare recipients in remote communities are First Nations people, the ACTU and Jobs Australia say the scheme disproportionately affects our mob.
Furthermore the scheme would allow CDP providers to cut welfare payments if recipients fail to meet obligations, and would then have to appeal the decision.
Jobs Australia has raised concerns of staff being put in confronting positions and that it equates to giving the Indigenous Affairs Minister the authority to rewrite social security law.
Image: ABC
