Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

Deeming Rates Keep Pace With Higher Returns

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today announced new deeming rates to apply to pension and allowance payments from 20 March…

Improvements to retirement income policy

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today welcomed the launch of the Government’s Statement “A more flexible and adaptable retirement income…

Interest Free Loan Schemes Continues

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today announced that the popular Centrepay ‘No Interest Loan Scheme’ (NILS) pilot had been extended…

Families’ $90-a-week payment missed by ACOSS

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

An ACOSS report into the cost of care for babies and young children has failed to include Government assistance to Australian families of an average…

Extra Centrelink Funding To Deal With Private Trusts

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

Centrelink will get an extra $7.8 million to assist it to deal with customers who have private trusts and companies claiming social security benefits. The…

Who’s Right? Mr Latham Or Mr Swan?

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, said the Opposition Leader Mark Latham is at odds with his Family and Community Services…

Labor called on to guarantee $800 family top-up payments

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, has called on the Labor Party to guarantee top-up payments, which deliver around $800 a…

Middle-aged working households hold wealth

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

Wealth in Australia is mainly held by middle-aged working people who are saving for their retirement, according to a new major survey on wealth and…

Howard Government’s record support for families

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

The Howard Government has supported and strengthened families with a record $19 billion of annual assistance to help families with the cost of raising their…

January Unemployment Benefit Claims Fall To 13-Year Low

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

Strong economic growth and job opportunities have resulted in a 5.5% fall in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the year to January…

Launch of Growing up in Australia study

Speech by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

E&OE Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you Professor Sanson for your introduction. It’s a pleasure to be here this morning to mark the beginning of the…

Increased support for jobseekers with a disability

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

The Australian Government will increase assistance for people who have a disability to participate in community life and paid work, the Minister for Family and…

Supporting and strengthening Australian families

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

The Howard Government has supported and strengthened families with a record $19 billion of annual assistance to help families with the cost of raising their…

Growing Up in Australia Study Launched

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

Ninety-six per cent of four-year-olds are read to by a family member at least once a week, preliminary findings of a new major study have…

Stamp Duty Relief To Boost Housing Affordability

Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today called on States and Territories to direct some of their windfall stamp duty gains…