In 16 years of reading ACT media releases I have never once seen an MLA go their own party at Federal Level quite like new MLA Yvette Berry is getting stuck in to the Gillard Government:
Member for Ginninderra Yvette Berry MLA, is this evening calling on her Federal Labor colleagues to reconsider its decision to cut the single parent payment which took effect in January this year.
“I know a lot of single mums and dads in my electorate, especially around West Belconnen, who are struggling to make ends meet and I think the cut is having an unnecessary impact on family’s budgets” Ms Berry said.
The changes to the single parent payment mean that when a single parent’s child turns eight, they lose their entitlement to the payment. This amounts to a reduction of approximately $100 a week.
“While I understand that the Government needs to balance their spending, I do not believe that this should come at the expense of those who are doing it tough in our community.
“I hope when the Budget comes around that my Federal colleagues can find a way to restore this payment” Ms Berry concluded.