Jenny Macklin
Families Minister Jenny Macklin has been challenged to
back up her claim she could live on $35 a day, after defending
cuts to single parents' benefits.
At a press conference held to explain the federal
government's changes to the Newstart allowance on Monday, Ms
Macklin was asked if she could survive on $35 a day - the new
rate of the benefit.
Ms Macklin responded, "I could", but the question and answer
were described as "inaudible" when her office released a
transcript of the press conference.
A tweet from Melbourne writer Marian Dalton challenged Ms
Macklin to back up the claim.
"A proposal - let Jenny Macklin commit to living on $35 a day
for a month, with no support or access to her assets," Ms
Dalton said.
A spokeswoman from Ms Macklin's office said the controversial
claim had not been intentionally omitted.
"The Minister's comments are a matter of public record. We
provide the best quality transcripts available to us to help
inform the media," the spokeswoman told Fairfax.
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