Welfare Reform
Thanks to an ageing population, Australia is facing a budget black hole. We must cut social spending to plug the gap and more Australians need to move from welfare into work, tax expert Greg Smith told this week’s Tax Forum.
But as the media and welfare lobby were quick to point out, unemployment is relatively low by world standards. The dole is already lean and mean, leaving little room for cuts.
Instead, reforms should focus on a much more intractable issue: Disability Support Pension.
Continue reading "We must crack down on the Disability Support Pension" »
So after stalling on climate change, pushing boatpeople offshore and declaring billions in cuts to maintain a budget surplus at all costs, the Prime Minister has now announced a crackdown on welfare recipients.
The last discernible difference between Julia Gillard and John Howard has now finally been extinguished.
Of course I exaggerate: There are in fact two major differences between Gillard and Howard. 1) Howard actually believed in what he was doing; and 2) Under Howard we would have actually had an emissions trading scheme by now.
Continue reading "The Leader of Oz: No heart, no brain, no courage" »
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penis enlargement says:
Just right points?I would be aware that as anyone who in reality doesnt write on blogs a lot (in fact, this can be my first submit), I dont assume the time period lurker is very turning into to a non-posting reader. Its no longer your fault in the least ,… Read more »
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Joel says:
Whilst I agree with most of what you say, Joe, it appears that your articles comment section is filled with fools who would rather use a real problem as cheap political ammo to further the cause of their preferred party. It seems to me the problems with Australian government are… Read more »
Carl Thompson is a 21-year-old with cerebral palsy and scoliosis who is undertaking honours in marketing. He writes for ABC’s Ramp Up, DiVine Victoria and blogs here.
We in Australia always follow the English. This makes sense, I suppose, from a historical viewpoint as many of us are descendants of convicts from the mother country.
We share many cultural similarities; most TV broadcast in Australia on the ABC is British. We both sensibly drive on the left hand side of the road, and the beautiful game of cricket is the national sport in both countries.
We have a penchant for chips (not fries), kebabs and curries, as do the English. And finally, our political systems and structures are also quite similar - we even share the same Queen.
Continue reading "I’m not a dole bludger, I just want to work" »
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Fly Benkhalek says:
Hi Carl, I’m in agreement with you. I’m out of work for mental disability due to migraines, and other disabilities; however, it is outrageous the way government is attempting to treat its disabled and elderly. It’s been two years in U.S. since people with pensions or social security has gotten… Read more »
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Ana says:
However, Carl has spent many years studying and working towards the ‘job that he wants’ - as does every other single student at university… Why is it OK for Carl to spend the same amount of money in HECS fees and do the exact same amount of work whilst dealing… Read more »
“GET a job!” It was the response to a protester from Prime Minister Paul Keating during his ill-fated 1996 election campaign that epitomised the “dole bludger” tag.
The nation’s unemployment rate had spiked during his previous term and many school leavers were seen as aimless, finding it easier to rely on government welfare than to look for paid work.
More than a decade on, the jobless figures have done an about-turn. In some areas there are more jobs than willing workers. But it seems the legendary dole bludger is alive and well.
Continue reading "Yep, most people still really hate dole bludgers" »
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Tammy says:
I agree with Jade, it isnt hard to look for work I was on unemployment for 3 months but during that time I joined an employment agencies and got into a study course which I completed the course in 10 weeks and got myself a job. the majority of unemployed… Read more »
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Bowhunter says:
As far as I’m concerned welfare is my compensation for having to live in a capitalist society, and for having to put up with fools like Jade! Take welfare away and I’ll just kill the rich and take what they have. Read more »
There’s no way taxpayers should be supporting fit young people to lounge around for years on the dole, smoking joints and listening to Pink Floyd.
And no one wants their hard-earned being spent on a wannabe writer who houseshares with other ‘creatives’ living the dream while we eke out a meagre office-bound existence, soothed only by Friday night drinks and dreams of what might have been.
And we’ll be damned if we pay tax after levy after carbon price while someone who has ‘self esteem’ issues can’t get out of bed before lunch.
Continue reading "Abbott’s new era of work for the proles" »
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Cynic says:
whats really ironic is that it was the Liberals who gave the youngsters a ‘youth allowance’ thereby making welfare seem normal, is it any wonder that they then go on the dole? Abbott also needs to understand disabilities a little better, a lot of people on disability pensions would love… Read more »
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john says:
You know “Conviction Kitchen” is a TV program ? It’s not real you know… ALL employees of licensed venues must pass a police check BY LAW. Please stop talking out of your backside. Read more »
There’s the Business Council, a deaf guy, a guy with autism, and a quadriplegic at a café filled with people with disabilities. The Government walks into the room with a fresh homemade apple pie cut into twelve pieces, the scent making everyone salivate with desire.
So the Business Council takes eleven slices, leans down to the guy in the wheelchair and says “Watch out, that bloke with autism wants a piece of your pie”.
The deaf guy, of course, doesn’t hear, so he licks the crumbs off the floor, because that’s all that’s left, while the Productivity Commission walks in, full of enthusiasm and ready to get baking the best pie ever.
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Nell says:
I pay tax and my tax pays for early childhood services, educating Australian children, educating Australian adults, provided family income support, medical services, hospitalisation, in home aged care, centrebased aged care, centrelink payments for the able and the strong, public housing, immigration, refugees, infastructure, transport and then to top it… Read more »
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Michael says:
Lauren, your brother should be elligib le for priority public and afforable housing. depending on the state and territory where he lives he would only be paying 25% of his income on rent - most probably less rent than the rooming house. I was in the same situation on a… Read more »
The Productivity Commission has released its draft report on a National Disability Insurance Scheme. The Commission has found that the current system is “underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient, and gives people with a disability little choice and no certainty of access to appropriate supports.”
The draft report recommends a new Scheme, funded directly out of consolidated revenue, or the use of a tax levy as a “second-best option.”
The Commission will continue to examine the proposal in coming months and issue a final report in July. The draft is an important contribution to the national discussion about disability, especially for around 360,000 people with severe lifetime disability. It deserves close attention, predicated on a belief that comprehensive assistance for those people who require lifetime care and support for catastrophic injuries is an important national objective. Having seen my parents-in-law cope with a son disabled from birth, I know first-hand the emotional, financial and family challenges involved.
Continue reading "Disability services need more than another empty promise" »
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Tasvocal says:
If you had any idea of Malcolm Schyvens’ background and his committment to supporting people with disabilites you would not make such scandalous and defamatory comments!! His question clearly was seeking a public comittment from BOTH parties to this important suggested reform for people with disabilities and not in scoring… Read more »
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St. Michael says:
LOL that the mailbot at Liberal Party HQ can’t keep its webpage addresses straight. Read more »
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