Cannington trial - wrong-headed: Greens

The punitive Cannington welfare trial, which involves suspending welfare payments to parents whose children play truant, and quarantining the income of those deemed 'at risk', is an old fashioned and wrong-headed approach to dealing with a serious problem according to the Australian Greens.

"We have no reason to believe this punitive scheme will succeed, and there are substantial risks that this will make life tougher for those already disadvantaged," said Senator Rachel Siewert in Perth today.

"While the Minister claims that it isn't only Aboriginal families who are being targeted, there is no hiding the fact that the majority likely to be caught up by this scheme are Nyoongar kids who have been abjectly failed by the WA school system," she said.

"Unless we are also addressing the underlying reasons why these kids hate going to school and providing them with positive opportunities to re-engage with education and have hope for their futures this scheme will only serve to exacerbate family problems and make life all the more difficult."

"We need to acknowledge our education system is still failing some kids and that this plays a key role in low performance and low rates of attendance."

"There is compelling international evidence where positive schemes that give disadvantaged families incentives to ensure kids get to school and succeed - like the Mexican 'Jovenes con Oportunidades' (youth with opportunities) scheme - produce much more dramatic and sustainable results," concluded Senator Siewert.

For more information or comment call Chris Twomey on 0419 914 424