Migrants to wait longer for dole payments

Legislation forcing migrants to wait four years before they can access Newstart has cleared federal parliament after the major parties struck a deal.

Migrants will have to wait up to four years to access welfare payments like Newstart or concession cards after legislation cleared federal parliament.

The coalition government struck a deal with Labor to pass the bill on Monday night, drawing scorn from the Greens who opposed the move.

Under the major parties' deal, the wait for carer payments, parental leave pay, as well as dad and partner pay will be extended to two years.

The changes will result in a one year wait for a carer allowance and family tax benefit part A.

Wait times will not apply to single parent migrant families or those with one income earner.

Greens senator Rachel Siewert said Labor voted for the bill because it would allow them to bank $1.3 billion in savings if they win government at the next election.

"Let's make one thing clear, we had the numbers to block this - if Labor had bothered to even ask the Greens and the cross bench," Senator Siewert said.


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Source: AAP


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