THE Senate has moved to overhaul the government's Centrelink penalty regime for job seekers who fail to meet welfare requirements. Labor's proposed regime won Senate support amid concerns the government regulations were too tough on people who breached welfare guidelines. But the government is adamant its regime will be in place and is likely to oppose the changes when the legislation returns to the House tonight. The government announced its Australians Working Together package in the last Budget, with tougher mutual obligation rules for job seekers. Family and Community Services Minister Amanda Vanstone said the government would not accept the Senate's breach amendments to the planned laws. "We do share the concern of other people in the community about the potential impact of breaching on vulnerable job seekers," she said. But under Labor, the equivalent 2002 breach penalty was up to $3,030, Senator Vanstone said. The government's maximum breach penalty reached a maximum $1,500. "We've done a tremendous amount in the last 18 months and we believe that should be given the opportunity to have more time in place and have a proper evaluation before we go even further," she said. John Cherry (AD, Qld) said the government should not be relying on breach money from unemployed people as part of its budget. Mark Bishop (ALP, WA) said Labor's amendments, which were passed by the Senate, were a moderate, considered change to the current outdated and punitive breaching regime. "They are not about going soft on compliance, on the contrary, the changes will increase a yield in compliance," he said. The bill was due for House debate later tonight before returning to the Senate sometime in the early hours of tomorrow, on the final sitting day of the year. Source www.news.com.au ###