THE WELFARE REFORMS: DILEMMA

The Turnbull government is pushing ahead with major changes to childcare payments, migrant pensions and the dole, packaging a suite of reforms into a single omnibus bill. The Coalition wants to simplify the childcare system by consolidating multiple childcare payments into one means-tested payment. The bill is designed to save the government money - just over $5 billion dollars over the next four years. But it has also included sweeteners designed to win the support of the crossbench, including a $20 increase to fortnightly Family Tax Benefit payments and an increase in paid parental leave from 18 to 20 weeks per annum. Social Services Minister Christian Porter says he's hopeful the bill will make it through the Senate.