Looming cuts to expenditure and probable tax increases mean there will inevitably be winners and losers. But just how should these be chosen?
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The government is facing two options to tackle its budget deficit: significant cuts in government expenditures or increasing taxes to close the gap with spending.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has already…
The government policy which moves sole parents onto lower paid Newstart benefits once their children turn eight has caught the attention of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Flickr/Flickeringerbrad
Late last year, the United Nations' Human Rights Council expressed its concern that moves to push sole parents onto a lower paid income support may breach our responsibilities under a number of human rights…
Fairness test: the Federal government has targeted the earnings of single parents while supporting wealthy superannuants.
AAP
It says much about the degeneration of the Australian Labor Party that its priority and target for budget “savings” is poor single mums.
In order to save an estimated $723 million over four years, in…
The Federal Government claims Australia’s employment services are world class – but how effective are they really?
A new report from the OECD on Australia’s employment service system has prompted the Federal Government to claim that Australia is a “world leader in employment participation” and that Job Services Australia…
Sole parents face competition from other jobseekers for flexible jobs that enable them to care for their children.
AAP
It is universally agreed Newstart is inadequate, especially for the long-term support of individuals or families. The government says their solution is for recipients to get a job, but that is not easy…
Jenny Macklin has found herself in hot water over comments about the dole.
AAP/Alan Porritt
There seems little doubt that Families Minister Jenny Macklin’s office attempted to “fix up” her extraordinary faux pas last Tuesday – her claim that yes, she could live on the daily income of $35 received…
The ALP has passed a bill that will reduce the social security payments for single parents — most of whom are women.
Ed Yourdon\Flickr
There’s no doubt that last week’s stoush between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott over sexism and misogyny was extraordinary. But in spite of all the bluster, a comparison of each party’s policies might serve…
Single mothers such as Michelle Daly have high aspirations for their children. Reducing their payments won’t help achieve them.
AAP/Lukas Coch
New legislation was passed last week to move single parents off the parenting payment, and onto the Newstart Allowance once their youngest child turns eight. Advocates for this change suggest that the…
Worried about poverty: Michelle Daly and her son Liam were among those protesting this week about the Federal Government’s plans to transfer more single parents onto a lower paid Newstart Allowance.
AAP
Next week is anti-poverty week. But a new group of Australians have been preparing to be inducted into the halls of poverty.
Legislation was finalised to move around 100,000 single parents – mostly women…
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten has agreed to examine Newstart rates after ruling out a raise to the dole earlier this week.
AAP
Why do we have welfare policies that create unnecessary poverty?
Despite a multitude of reports, submissions, public pleas and other advocacy on the problems of Newstart (NSA) recipients, the government…
Policymakers should ensure that the safety net provides adequate income for daily needs as well as ensuring that people are positioned to quickly reintegrate into satisfactory paid employment.
freefotouk
In the late 1990s, American writer and activist Barbara Ehrenreich spent a year working in low end jobs in the United States documenting the pitifully low wages, the oppression, and barriers to upward…
The increased provisions for welfare spending are partially symbolic, but also lay the foundations for a more progressive tax and welfare system.
AAP
The Treasurer Wayne Swan has described the 2012 Budget yesterday as “a Labor budget to its bootstraps”, and commentators have variously seen it as “a big taxing, big spending budget, including a big increase…
For the majority of Newstart Allowance recipients, payments barely cover the cost of rent – let alone other living expenses.
AAP
Despite ongoing uncertainty about global economic conditions, prosperity in Australia remains both very high and relatively widespread. But there is one group in Australia who has not shared in our rising…
