The Minister for Families, Jenny Macklin, has apologised for her New Year’s Day comment that she would be able to live on the daily Newstart allowance.
Appearing at today’s press conference called by Prime Minister Julia Gillard to announce the details of the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse, Macklin was asked about her comments.
Macklin said she could understand why people were angry and she was “very sorry”.
The minister’s original remarks were made on the same day the government moved 80,000 single parents from the parenting payment to the lower Newstart allowance. Some single parents are $100 worse off each week.
Earlier today, the former prime minister, Kevin Rudd, called on the government to “show a bit of heart and do more” to help those on the dole.
- Listen to Jenny Macklin’s remarks (1m)
