ABSTRACT
The Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) provides that applicants who are in a legally recognisable ‘couple’ relationship are not entitled to as much income support as applicants whose relationship status is ‘single’. This chapter argues for removal of that distinction for parenting payment applicants. Women are statistically most likely to be primary carers and reliant upon social security and/or financial support from a partner. This Bill will support healthy relationships and place primary carers at less risk of financial abuse, removing the incentive to ‘police’ the intimate lives of recipients.
