Labor must pause mutual obligations and raise Centrelink payments in response to fuel crisis
Labor must pause mutual obligations and raise Centrelink payments in response to fuel crisis | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Labor must pause mutual obligations and raise Centrelink payments in response to fuel crisis 2026-03-24 The Greens have called on Labor to immediately pause mutual obligations and raise the rate of all Centrelink payments above the poverty line in the May budget, as the global energy shock deepens and fuel costs soar.
In a letter to Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth, Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne said the current crisis demanded a similar response to the Covid pandemic, when the Morrison Government suspended mutual obligations and doubled welfare payments, lifting millions of people out of poverty and changing lives overnight.
Comments attributable to Greens Social Services spokesperson, Senator Penny Allman-Payne: “Albanese and Labor have thrown their full support behind Trump and Netanyahu’s war of aggression on Iran, which has plunged West Asia into turmoil and upended the global economy. “While all of us are now having to live with the predictable consequences of that, it’s people on low incomes and income support payments who will suffer the most from surging oil prices and the downstream impacts on groceries and other prices.
“With fuel going through the roof, many people trapped in the Targeted Compliance Framework will simply be unable to afford to drive to appointments or travel to Work for the Dole sites. Under Labor’s harmful regime, failure to complete these activities places their payments at risk. “Labor can’t endorse and provide material support for an unjust and illegal war, and then simply wash their hands of its inevitable consequences.
This is an emergency, and it deserves an emergency response. “Labor must immediately pause mutual obligation requirements for people on income support, and they must raise the rate of all Centrelink payments above the poverty line in the May budget.” Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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