A new study on inequality analyzes the impact of fiscal policy, dramatically altering the standard view of rich and poor in America. It may also change how voters and candidates think about the issue.
Radio broadcaster Neil Mitchell told the Q&A audience that refugees are costing $100 million a year in welfare payments and have a 97% unemployment rate. Is that accurate?
Providing citizens with a basic income has shown signs of success in lifting people out of poverty, but more importantly the idea is transforming the way we think about inequality.
Might the lessons of Australia’s super-efficient welfare system offer a potential way forward for the development of a basic income – a universal, low but adequate payment?
The government has promised increased funding for services to gain community consent for its welfare card trials.
AAP/Dan Peled
How can it be determined whether any improvements that may occur as part of the 12-month “cashless debit card” trial are the result of the card or increased funding for services, or a mix of both?
The government has compromised on Family Tax Benefit measures from the 2014 budget that failed to pass the Senate.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The government’s revised Family Tax Benefit proposals will still have some significant negative impacts on low-income families, but they are not as regressive as the 2014 budget.
Scott Morrison claims that New Zealand provides Australia with a model for welfare reform.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The government faces pressure to means test benefits to stop richer elderly people claiming at the expense of their poorer peers.
Hands up. Iain Duncan Smith leads the Department for Work and Pensions, which fabricated testimonials in a leaflet praising benefits sanctions.
Reuters/Toby Melville
The government should follow the evidence-based advice before wasting more money on a new “trial” program that further infantilises mainly Indigenous welfare recipients and won’t work.
Australians are living and working longer, marrying later and earning more that past generations.
Hamed Masoumi/Flickr
Divorce rates are on the decline in Australia, people are marrying and having children later in life, and more of us live alone. Our experts respond to the new report on Australia’s welfare.
Many charities have no option but to operate on a hand-to-mouth basis.
PA/Anthony Devlin