Leading Sydney Anglicans fear Federal plans to make sweeping changes to the tax and welfare system will hurt society's most vulnerable and undermine ministry to women and children.
Member of the Diocesan Women's Ministry Team, Lesley Ramsay says the Budget handed down Tuesday night will drain ministry resources provided by single mothers from local congregations.
“Only yesterday I was talking to one of the single mothers in my congregation who has a school-aged child and does a lot of ministry in our congregation,” Mrs Ramsay says.
“She is worried because it means she is going to have to give up a lot of her ministry.”
Scripture teaching, women's Bible studies and pastoral visiting are among the ministries most likely to be affected.
In an effort to move Australians from "welfare into work', the Federal Government's 2005-2006 Budget introduces financial penalties to drive single mothers and disability pensioners into the workforce.
Under the new measures, single parents receiving the Parenting Payment are expected to work for a minimum of 15 hours per week once their youngest child turns six and commences school.
ANGLICARE CEO, Peter Kell, says he is grateful for any government initiative to move people off welfare to work.
But he believes the government's approach may create more victims of the system.
"Our research shows that sole parents and those on disabilities pensions are some of the most marginalised people in our society," he says.
"More than 40 per cent of people who came to ANGLICARE looking for financial assistance last winter were single parents with children."
Mr Kell believes breaking cycles of chronic dependence on welfare is a worthy goal, but he questions the methods being employed.
"Any attempt to encourage and empower people to become functioning, contributing members of society should be underpinned with adequate financial support," he says.
According to Mr Kell, the 84,000 extra child-care places are a welcomed step in removing barriers to employment. However it is still only one part of a much larger issue.
“The majority of our clients would like to work but face barriers to employment. In addition to childcare, the availability of transport, and the lack of skills needed for employment are key areas of concern.”
Mrs Ramsay warns the changes will also adversely affect social relations between a single mother and her children.
"If this woman gets a job, she can't tell an employer she needs to take school holidays off. She has no other family around so she will have to put her child not only into before and after school care, but holiday care as well,” she says.
"It will affect Christians who have ministry in local congregations, and those with a sense of responsibility to their children and don't want to have to put them into child care."
