Date: 23 June 2010
Senator Trish Crossin is calling on Senator Nigel Scullion to clarify whether he supports his leader, following his contradictory positions on income management.
On Monday night, in the Senate, Senator Scullion voted in support of the Federal Government\'s Welfare Reform legislation.
The legislation expands income management across the NT to assist in changing passive welfare behaviour and ensure that more welfare is spent on essentials like food, clothing and rent.
Yet Senator Scullion came out today declaring that expanding welfare management is a waste of money, even though he voted in support of it.
Today\'s comments come in direct contradiction to the leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott, who just yesterday stood up in the House of Representatives and said, in support of the Prime Minister\'s answer to a question on the Welfare Management reforms:
"On indulgence - I rise to support the measure that went through the parliament last night and to thank opposition senators for facilitating its passage." (2.15pm, 22 June 2010, Hansard)
Senator Scullion is directly challenging his leader with his comments on income management.
This also shows that Senator Scullion is clearly not serious about changing behaviour and reducing passive welfare.