Learn from the mistakes of others

Family Services Minister Mal Brough is proposing that some welfare-dependent families could be forced to direct debit part of their income to pay for rent, electricity and food in a bid to help children.

The Minister says there are examples, especially in remote Indigenous communities, of parents wasting their welfare payments on drugs, cigarettes and alcohol while their children are in need.

He says up to 30 per cent of welfare payments could be compulsorily set aside.

Mr Brough has told Channel Nine it is not government policy but he wants to start a public debate about the proposal.

"We're not talking about the entire family benefits here or unemployment benefit but a portion of it," he said.

"That money being able to only be spent on things that will benefit the child - so things like cigarettes and alcohol would be excluded from the purchasing for these families.

"[That money] can go to a school tuckshop to ensure breakfast, morning tea and lunch are provided."

The Australian Democrats are backing calls for a wide-ranging debate on how best to help children, who are being inadequately looked after.

Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett says there is no doubt that many youngsters are being failed by their parents and society as a whole.

But he says it would be very dangerous to single out welfare recipients or Indigenous communities in trying to rectify the situation.

"Children are neglected from families black and white rich and poor country and city and if we're going to make a dramatic shift like this would be then it ought to be one where the community has a full understanding of what the consequences are."

Federal family Services Minster, Mal Brough, has floated a proposal to allow government to require parents, who are found to be failing to provide for their children, to have part of their welfare payment compulsorily quarantined so it is spent on rent, electricity and food for the children

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