The Labor MP for Page Janelle Saffin reported by ABC North Coast Radio.
The federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, says she supports plans to have Centrelink to take a more compassionate approach when assessing whether people should lose their unemployment benefits.
The Government's move comes in response to complaints from welfare groups that the number of people who have had their benefits cut has doubled since mid-2007.
It is understood as many as 1,000 people are losing their benefits each week, with about a third of those becoming homeless.
Ms Saffin says she has already tried to implement the new policy at a local level.
"My office liases with the department, with Centrelink, and that's the relationship that we've been developing with them - saying 'hey can you have a closer look at this'," she said.
"Look more carefully - we do that here, we get to know people's circumstances and then we make the representation on that basis."
It is refreshing to have a local MP who recognises the realities of life on the NSW North Coast, which has some of the most disadvantaged local government areas in Australia.
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