The Brotherhood of St Laurence has given support to the Federal Opposition decision to quarantine welfare payments to 'bad parents' who neglect their children.
The Anglican welfare agency on Saturday has welcomed Kevin Rudd's recognition of the reciprocal obligations of parents and government, saying it was encouraging.
"Parents must do everything in their power to nurture their children and governments must do everything in their power to support parents in this. Our experience is that the vast majority of struggling parents honour their responsibilities and seize any opportunities given them to improve the care of their children," said Tony Nicholson, the Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
Mr Rudd is proposing that under a Labor government, he will introduce checks and quarantine payments to ensure children are being fed and given adequate shelter, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
He also said that parents who neglect their child could have up to 50 percent of their welfare payments being withheld by Centrelink.
Mr Nicholson raised an objection to Centrelink making the judgement of whether to quarantine welfare payment, saying that based on their long experience on working with families the decision should be given to the child protection authorities in each state.
However other Christian welfare agency has criticised the Federal Opposition welfare policy. John Falzon, the chief of St Vincent De Paul Society, told reporters that the policy was 'simplistic and short-sighted' which would not address the problem.
The Prime Minister has also unveiled his own welfare policy in Tasmania on the same day, saying that welfare payment will be 'managed' if children didn't regularly attend schools.