Clare Martin defies controversial income management
The new CEO of the Australian Council of Social Services or ACOSS is defying the Federal Government. Clare Martin, former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory says that although she’s still a member of the Labor Party she doesn’t agree with the Government’s policy of maintaining income management as part of the intervention. Initially introduced by the Howard Government, income management controls the way indigenous people can spend their welfare payments. Despite recommendation by a Government Review to drop the hard line, the Rudd Government says it’s not prepared to do so. Martin, who commenced her new role last month, said that Indigenous policy issues are still her core business. But what are the most imminent issues ACOSS needs to deal with?