Son of single mother wins again!

IN BRIEF:

• The son of a single mother is re-elected as Prime Minister of Australia for a second term
• What the Albanese Government did for single mothers in their first term
• What single mothers are asking of the second term Albanese Government

When Anthony Albanese was first elected Prime Minister in 2022, running as the proud son of a single mother, it seemed like voters understood something we have always known: that growing up in a single mother family is no barrier to achieving dreams. When Albanese was re-elected at the weekend, running on a platform of kindness and the need to lift up the vulnerable in our community, it also felt like recognition that voters finally understand another thing we’ve always known: the only thing holding back children of single mothers is poverty.

On declaring victory on election night, the first thing the Prime Minister, and Minister Wong who introduced him, did was pay tribute to Indigenous Australians with an acknowledgement of country – a sharp rebuke of the Opposition’s announcement that welcome to country ceremonies are “overdone” and should be limited.

The declarations of Minister Wong and the Prime Minister were met with thunderous applause, which continued every time the Prime Minister mentioned kindness. Kindness? In a political speech? For single mothers it might feel like a soothing balm, but we have been let down by Governments before and besides, what does kindness mean? We don’t need fluffy kindness; we need muscular, courageous kindness, the kind that brings about systemic change.

What did the Albanese Government do for single mothers in their first term?

When Anthony Albanese was first elected PM, single mothers had high hopes. As a child of a single mother who grew up in public housing, surely he must understand the stigma and obstacles single mothers continue to face. In an article published in Pro Bono News, CSMC posed the question, could the tide finally now be turning for the largest cohort of Australian families living in poverty? 

Nothing was guaranteed, but in the Albanese Government’s first term, significant changes were made:

• Extending the cut off for the Parenting Payment Single payment from when the youngest child turned 8 to 14.
• End of mandatory participation in ParentsNext, and a commitment to co-design a better version with eligible parents of pre-school children and community advocates.
• Changes to Family Law, including amendments about how the Courts will make parenting orders in the best interests of a child. The last of these start on 10 June 2025 and will make significant changes to how the courts determine property settlements.
• Tax and budgetary changes, including an increase in paid maternity leave, stage three tax cuts, and energy relief payments.
• Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs’ inquiry into family violence orders.
• Investigation into Centrelink Targeted Compliance Framework.

What single mothers are asking of the second term Albanese Government

In the lead-up to the election, CSMC launched a campaign to send a strong message to politicians: We are single mothers and we vote. Our campaign platform outlined the key asks and allowed mums to add their own thoughts and concerns, and share their experiences.

We want to warmly and sincerely thank every single mum who took the time to write to their MPs. Replies from some politicians made it clear that politicians were indeed listening, and this was reflected in some late policy announcements.

At an event held at the QV Women’s Centre, Minister for Women Katy Gallagher announced that if re-elected, Labor will push to end financial abuse perpetrated by domestic and family violence abusers by reforming loopholes in the tax, social security and superannuation systems.

The Minister promised to introduce new laws which would stop perpetrators from accessing a victim’s superannuation, plus reforms to the tax and corporate systems to ensure victim survivors are not held responsible for debts which were created in their name.

Abusers would also be held liable for any social security debts which were incurred through coercion or financial abuse.

CSMC look forward to these policies being made into law as a matter of priority, and will continue to work to achieve our core advocacy asks that remain critical to the wellbeing of single mother families:

Fix child support

1. Tax avoidance to be stopped and penalised. 
2. Family tax benefit and child support to be de-linked so no debt is generated when child support comes in late. 
3. Where family violence is involved, the government must pay child support directly to the receiving parent and recover the amount due from the payer parent.  
4. Reassess the child support formula and in particular, the cost of children.

Housing

Establish a National Cabinet to ensure safe and secure housing for single mothers and their children throughout the family lifecycle. 

1. Government investment and legislation to deliver sufficient public, social and affordable housing for single mother families in all states and territories. 
2. Nationally consistent protections for renters – including limits on rent increases, longer tenancy agreements, and minimum living standards – and 50 per cent increase to Rent Assistance.  

Improve social security

1. All working-age payments to be raised to align with the age pension. 
2. Mutual obligations must be abolished as punitive and harmful to both women and children. 
   Work readiness programs must be voluntary. 
3. Implementation of government inquiry recommendations about child support, social security and taxation systems which can be weaponisation by family violence perpetrators to cause more harm.  

Family violence reform

1. Make Centrelink and related systems experiences more supportive for women and children leaving abuse and recovering. Prioritise housing support for renters and homeowners, assist women to study, and taper taxes for single parents earning less than $80,000.  
2. Monitor improvements to family law and family courts via key indicators of children’s wellbeing and safety and the lived experience of all parties.
3. Ensure all families fleeing violence have access to secure housing.

For over 55 years, CSMC has been a key partipant in campaigns that have seen some of the most significant advances for single mother families. We are a community of single mothers and together we are unstoppable. If you aren’t already, sign up to become a member and join the movement – membership is free for single mothers. Join here.