Media Releases by Senator the Hon Anne Ruston
Celebrating Carers during National Carers Week
National Carers Week 2021 is a time to recognise and celebrate Australia’s unpaid carers who provide care and support to a family member or friend.…
Transition to a COVID-19 National Plan approach to mutual obligation requirements
The Morrison Government today announced changes to mutual obligation requirements and COVID-19 restrictions to align with the National Plan to Transition Australia’s National COVID-19 response…
Grant round now open to support Cashless Debit Card participants become job ready
The Cashless Debit Card Support Services competitive grant opportunity is now open which will deliver on the first stage of the Morrison Government’s Job Ready…
Improving access to public buildings for Australians with a disability
The Morrison Government has today released the findings of its second review of the legislation which ensures Australians living with disability have equal and dignified…
Community Services Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué
Community Services Ministers (CSM) met via videoconference on 17 September 2021. Ministers discussed the draft of Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s…
September indexation delivers boost to pensions and allowances
More than 5 million Australians will benefit from a boost to their social security payments from 20 September to help them keep up with the…
Jehovah’s Witnesses now participating in the National Redress Scheme
Jehovah’s Witnesses has now joined the National Redress Scheme allowing survivors of this institution to have their applications progressed. In addition to the Jehovah’s Witnesses,…
National Summit sets priorities to end gendered violence in Australia
The National Summit on Women’s Safety has asked all Australians to confront the unacceptable scourge of family, domestic and sexual violence and provided meaningful and…
National Summit key step towards ending violence against women
The Morrison Government is hosting the National Summit on Women’s Safety on 6 and 7 September which is the culmination of extensive consultations to develop…
Community Services Ministers’ Meeting Communique
Community Services Ministers (CSM) met via videoconference on 27 August 2021. Ministers acknowledged the worsening COVID-19 situation across Australia, and thanked all Governments and the…
Creating a future free from sexual violence and harassment
The Morrison Government is committing more than $29 million to develop new primary prevention initiatives to address sexual violence and harassment across the nation. Under…
Australia to trial domestic violence deterrence program
The Morrison Government is committing $4.2 million to trial a new domestic violence deterrence program as part of our commitment to end violence against women…
Increased access to the National Redress Scheme for Indigenous Australians
Retta Dixon Home will now be covered by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse allowing survivors to have their applications progressed. Minister…
Paid Parental Leave Scheme amendment to support parents in lockdown
The Morrison Government is ensuring expectant parents in lockdown areas can access Paid Parental Leave when their newborn arrives through a temporary change to the…
Supporting Mildura children and families
The Morrison and Andrews Governments will each provide $2.6 million to support Mildura children and families to connect with local services and improve their health…
Caring for our carers
Carers across the country are now able to receive in-person advice and professional assistance to support their own wellbeing with a new free coaching service…
National Summit on Women’s Safety to go online
The Morrison Government today announced that the National Summit on Women’s Safety will be delivered virtually as a result of continued COVID-19 restrictions. The Summit…
Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in the NT, ACT and Metropolitan Melbourne
The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in the Greater Darwin and Katherine regions in the Northern Territory (NT)…
Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for regional New South Wales
The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in regional New South Wales after the announcement of a seven-day COVID-19…
Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in the ACT and far north NSW
The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in the Australian Capital Territory and far north New South Wales after…
Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in Metropolitan Melbourne and Dubbo NSW
The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in Metropolitan Melbourne and the Dubbo Local Government Area after the Victorian…
Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in the Tamworth and Northern Rivers LGAs of NSW
The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in the Tamworth and Northern Rivers districts of New South Wales after…
Social Services funding boost towards Closing the Gap
The Morrison Government is investing $98 million in a series of innovative new programs to prevent vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families falling through…
Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for New South Wales job seekers and participants in Armidale Regional area
The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in the Armidale Regional Local Government Area after the New South Wales…
Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in the Cairns and Yarrabah Local Government Areas
The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in the Cairns and Yarrabah Local Government Areas after the Queensland Government…