Media Releases by Senator the Hon Anne Ruston
Delivering more immediate support to Australians impacted by bushfires
An extra $400 for each child that has qualified for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment in bushfire-hit towns and regions as well as more…
Delivering on improvements to Australia’s welfare system
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said changes to the welfare system that take place from 1 January 2020 would provide more support…
Cashless Debit Card support services for Bundaberg and Hervey Bay
The Morrison Government will deliver $547,000 during 2020 to two organisations providing support services for the Cashless Debit Card in the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay…
2019-20 Volunteer Grants round now open
The Morrison Government is backing volunteers in local communities with up to $10 million in funding to be shared across each of the country’s 151…
Next step to shape a new National Disability Strategy
The Morrison Government is leading formal discussions today with states and territories on developing a new National Disability Strategy at today’s Disability Reform Council meeting.…
New year indexation supports Australians in every stage of life
More than 1 million youth, student and carer payment recipients will receive an increase to their payments from 1 January 2020 when indexation takes effect.…
Morrison Government delivers on National Self-Exclusion Register
Legislation allowing the Morrison Government to establish an online National Self-Exclusion Register to help reduce harm from online wagering has passed Parliament. Minister for Families and Social Services Anne…
New initiatives to combat modern slavery
Today, the Government announces new initiatives to strengthen its response to modern slavery, enhance support for victims, and bolster implementation of the Modern Slavery Act.…
Celebrating Australians with disability
On the International Day of People with Disability 2019, Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston and Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme…
Increased support for Disability Royal Commission
The Morrison Government has today announced the organisations successful in securing funding for free and independent support services for people engaging with the Disability Royal…
Pilot project to improve Cashless Debit Card technology
The Morrison Government is introducing new technology to allow cash registers at pubs, clubs and independent grocers to automatically reject items banned by the Cashless…
Support for young people with mental illness to work
An independent evaluation of the Coalition’s Individual Placement and Support Trial has revealed encouraging results that a tailored approach can help improve job outcomes for…
Delivering on our historic commitment to improve the safety of women and children
A new Implementation Plan across all Australian jurisdictions released today will support the delivery of the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce…
National Self-Exclusion Register to help reduce harm from online wagering
The Morrison Government will move to legislate an online National Self-Exclusion Register that will allow people to ban themselves from all online wagering sites and…
National Redress Scheme continues to add more institutions
More than 550 sites have joined the National Redress Scheme driving down the number of applications on hold to the lowest level since the Scheme…
First Anniversary of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
The National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse has been inscribed on a vellum to ensure the voice of victims and…
Review of financial counselling services released
The Morrison Government is strengthening our commitment to supporting the financial counselling sector with the release of the Review of the Coordination and Funding for…
Participation in the National Redress Scheme continues to grow
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston today announced more than 300 additional sites including churches, schools and community groups are now covered by…
Delivering for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
More than 2000 Indigenous Australian families with children who need to live away from home to access secondary school will benefit from an extra $5900…
September quarter welfare indexation takes effect
More than 4.8 million Australians will receive an increase to their social security payments from 20 September when indexation takes effect. The base rates of…
New appointment to strengthen Disability Royal Commission
Statement on the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability following the signing of letters patent by his Excellency General…
Drug testing trials to help welfare recipients become job ready
The Morrison Government will introduce legislation to trial drug testing for new welfare recipients as part of our commitment to remove barriers to employment. Minister…
$48.5 million investment in innovative trials tackling disadvantage
The Morrison Government is testing innovative ways to assist Australians at-risk of long-term welfare reliance through projects funded under the final round of the Try,…
No Jab, No Pay boosting child immunisation rates
Almost 500 Australian children are being immunised each day under the Morrison Government’s strengthened No Jab, No Pay requirements. In 2018-19 the Government notified the…
Unprecedented support for Australia’s carers
The Morrison Government is introducing the single biggest reform in more than a decade to better support Australia’s 2.7 million carers. Minister for Families and…