‘I’m not interested in just more reviews’: Anne Hollonds on the struggle to protect Australia’s children

The Australian government announced a major change to a policy that impacts child welfare last week. From 1 January, unemployment benefits will drop by $100 a week.

The reduction of the coronavirus supplement was not described as a child welfare policy by either the government or the media. But to the new national children’s commissioner, Anne Hollonds, the link was obvious.

“Of course it is about kids,” Hollonds says. “We know that the financial circumstances of a family have an impact on the wellbeing of children,” she says. “And the stress experienced by parents because of their economic insecurity and trying to put food on the table every day … that affects the wellbeing of children. Living with stressed-out parents, having insecure housing, all of that affects children.”