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Support agencies say Coalition is rushing its overhaul of welfare system Support agencies say Coalition is rushing its overhaul of welfare system
(about 2 months later)
Community groups have raised concerns about the length of the consultation process on what could be the biggest overhaul of Australia’s welfare system in decades.Community groups have raised concerns about the length of the consultation process on what could be the biggest overhaul of Australia’s welfare system in decades.
The government released the interim report of the welfare review, A New System for Better Employment and Social Outcomes, on Sunday, starting a six-week consultation period which will culminate in a report complete with recommendations. The interim report looks at controlling what young people can spend their welfare money on through income management and moving thousands of disability support pension (DSP) recipients on to temporary payments.The government released the interim report of the welfare review, A New System for Better Employment and Social Outcomes, on Sunday, starting a six-week consultation period which will culminate in a report complete with recommendations. The interim report looks at controlling what young people can spend their welfare money on through income management and moving thousands of disability support pension (DSP) recipients on to temporary payments.
It also suggests streamlining welfare payments into four categories: age pension, child payment, a tiered working-age payment and the DSP. Labor and the Greens have claimed the report could be used as an excuse to make cuts to welfare but the community sector has welcomed it cautiously.It also suggests streamlining welfare payments into four categories: age pension, child payment, a tiered working-age payment and the DSP. Labor and the Greens have claimed the report could be used as an excuse to make cuts to welfare but the community sector has welcomed it cautiously.
The chief executive of Australian Council of Social Services, Cassandra Goldie, and the president of People with Disabilities, Craig Wallace, said in separate press conferences that six weeks was not long enough to consult on the 170-page report.The chief executive of Australian Council of Social Services, Cassandra Goldie, and the president of People with Disabilities, Craig Wallace, said in separate press conferences that six weeks was not long enough to consult on the 170-page report.
“Given that we already have some measures through the budget I would ask why the hurry to suddenly have to do this in six weeks? We seem to get bombshells dropped at weekends. It doesn't seem to be sort of a planned process, this one,” Wallace said.“Given that we already have some measures through the budget I would ask why the hurry to suddenly have to do this in six weeks? We seem to get bombshells dropped at weekends. It doesn't seem to be sort of a planned process, this one,” Wallace said.
“We would prefer to take a bit longer, given this is such a complex system, to do that consultation thoroughly and make sure we are working through all of the issues that need to be worked through. This is an opportunity to reset the debate.”“We would prefer to take a bit longer, given this is such a complex system, to do that consultation thoroughly and make sure we are working through all of the issues that need to be worked through. This is an opportunity to reset the debate.”
Wallace held up a copy of the Sunday Telegraph, which previewed the review’s findings with the front page headline Disabling Rorters, as an example of media coverage which has been “demonising” people with disabilities in the past few months.Wallace held up a copy of the Sunday Telegraph, which previewed the review’s findings with the front page headline Disabling Rorters, as an example of media coverage which has been “demonising” people with disabilities in the past few months.
“Headlines like this one talking about people with disabilities as rorters, bludgers, slackers, slouchers, that kind of language that we have seen over the past couple of months, reduces and trashes and destroys the brand of people with disabilities to employers. I say right here, we are not rorters, we are not slackers,” he said.“Headlines like this one talking about people with disabilities as rorters, bludgers, slackers, slouchers, that kind of language that we have seen over the past couple of months, reduces and trashes and destroys the brand of people with disabilities to employers. I say right here, we are not rorters, we are not slackers,” he said.
“... This media demonisation of people with disabilities is unhelpful and counterintuitive and it has to stop.”“... This media demonisation of people with disabilities is unhelpful and counterintuitive and it has to stop.”
Wallace welcomed the recognition by the social services minister, Kevin Andrews, that people with disabilities were not a homogenous group and there were different levels of need for each person – which Andrews has used as reason to put them on different payments.Wallace welcomed the recognition by the social services minister, Kevin Andrews, that people with disabilities were not a homogenous group and there were different levels of need for each person – which Andrews has used as reason to put them on different payments.
Wallace said people with psychosocial disabilities had been painted as “leaners” who needed to be moved off DSP, but the reality was someone who was fine one day may not be able to function properly the next day.Wallace said people with psychosocial disabilities had been painted as “leaners” who needed to be moved off DSP, but the reality was someone who was fine one day may not be able to function properly the next day.
The report is centred around four pillars – a simpler and sustainable income-support system; strengthening individual and family capability; engaging employers; building community capacity – and Wallace said the idea seemed sensible to him.The report is centred around four pillars – a simpler and sustainable income-support system; strengthening individual and family capability; engaging employers; building community capacity – and Wallace said the idea seemed sensible to him.
The president of the National Welfare Rights Network (NWRN), Maree O’Halloran, said the review needed to be separated from the government’s “cost-cutting” agenda.The president of the National Welfare Rights Network (NWRN), Maree O’Halloran, said the review needed to be separated from the government’s “cost-cutting” agenda.
“There are ideas in the McClure report worth pursuing and it might lead to a simpler welfare system, such as changes to family payments and payments for young people. The key question for NWRN is: are the proposals fair and will they assist people into sustainable employment?” she said.“There are ideas in the McClure report worth pursuing and it might lead to a simpler welfare system, such as changes to family payments and payments for young people. The key question for NWRN is: are the proposals fair and will they assist people into sustainable employment?” she said.
O’Halloran said any reform needed to increase the Newstart payment and she also criticised media coverage of the review.O’Halloran said any reform needed to increase the Newstart payment and she also criticised media coverage of the review.
“It is disappointing and shameful to start serious long-term review of welfare in the context of media headlines about ‘rorters’ and threats to cut the income support of people currently on the disability support pension,” she said.“It is disappointing and shameful to start serious long-term review of welfare in the context of media headlines about ‘rorters’ and threats to cut the income support of people currently on the disability support pension,” she said.
“We welcome the need to provide improved and more effective employment assistance, and expand on wage subsidies and training assistance. While big business clearly has a role to play, the report should make explicit that government has the critical role role as a major employer in the country.” “We welcome the need to provide improved and more effective employment assistance, and expand on wage subsidies and training assistance. While big business clearly has a role to play, the report should make explicit that government has the critical role role as a major employer in the country.”
With Acoss’s Goldie, O’Halloran said the government should reject attempts to expand income-management programs which limit what people can spend their benefits on.With Acoss’s Goldie, O’Halloran said the government should reject attempts to expand income-management programs which limit what people can spend their benefits on.
The prime minister, Tony Abbott, addressed the welfare system in his weekly YouTube message but did not directly comment on the welfare review’s interim report. Instead he mentioned other government programs, such as the work for the dole scheme.The prime minister, Tony Abbott, addressed the welfare system in his weekly YouTube message but did not directly comment on the welfare review’s interim report. Instead he mentioned other government programs, such as the work for the dole scheme.
“For nine months, this government has purposefully, methodically and effectively put in place our plan to build a strong and prosperous economy,” he said.“For nine months, this government has purposefully, methodically and effectively put in place our plan to build a strong and prosperous economy,” he said.
“This coming week marks the start of some important new policy initiatives. From 1 July, the new work for the dole program starts in 18 areas across our country. This program will cover the whole country by 1 July next year.“This coming week marks the start of some important new policy initiatives. From 1 July, the new work for the dole program starts in 18 areas across our country. This program will cover the whole country by 1 July next year.
“Unemployed people supported by the taxpayer should give something back to the community, while at the same time boosting their skills and self-confidence. That’s why work for the dole is so important ...“Unemployed people supported by the taxpayer should give something back to the community, while at the same time boosting their skills and self-confidence. That’s why work for the dole is so important ...
“All of the government’s policies are focused on getting more Australians into work – because the best form of welfare is a job.”“All of the government’s policies are focused on getting more Australians into work – because the best form of welfare is a job.”
The opposition spokeswoman on families and payments, Jenny Macklin, said the review must not be used to make cuts to the “most vulnerable Australians”.The opposition spokeswoman on families and payments, Jenny Macklin, said the review must not be used to make cuts to the “most vulnerable Australians”.
“While Labor is not against simplification of the welfare system, we will not support further cuts to vulnerable Australians from this cruel government,” she said.“While Labor is not against simplification of the welfare system, we will not support further cuts to vulnerable Australians from this cruel government,” she said.
“So far, we have seen nothing from Tony Abbott that indicates he wants to help people on income support. He just wants to hurt them. It is clear from this report that the government’s main goal is to shift people with disability on to a lower payment, and cut some people off from support entirely.”“So far, we have seen nothing from Tony Abbott that indicates he wants to help people on income support. He just wants to hurt them. It is clear from this report that the government’s main goal is to shift people with disability on to a lower payment, and cut some people off from support entirely.”
The Greens’ spokeswoman on family and community services, Rachel Siewert, said one of the pillars of the review should have been fairness.The Greens’ spokeswoman on family and community services, Rachel Siewert, said one of the pillars of the review should have been fairness.
“There are a number of proposals in this review that will have an impact on our most vulnerable, including people with disability and carers. The report lacks an understanding about peoples’ lives and their needs when it comes to employment, job services and income support,” she said.“There are a number of proposals in this review that will have an impact on our most vulnerable, including people with disability and carers. The report lacks an understanding about peoples’ lives and their needs when it comes to employment, job services and income support,” she said.
Siewert singled out income management as “expensive, punitive”, saying there was no evidence to prove its effectiveness. She also criticised the length of the consultation process.Siewert singled out income management as “expensive, punitive”, saying there was no evidence to prove its effectiveness. She also criticised the length of the consultation process.
"The Greens will closely examine this review and call on the government to allow for more than a short, six-week public consultation process. If the minister is genuine about wanting long-term reform, this whole process needs to be open to proper consultation, debate and discussion,” she said."The Greens will closely examine this review and call on the government to allow for more than a short, six-week public consultation process. If the minister is genuine about wanting long-term reform, this whole process needs to be open to proper consultation, debate and discussion,” she said.