Implying that 80% of Australian income tax goes straight towards the welfare bill overlooks the fact that a large proportion of income taxpayers benefit from social security.
The policy solution to the ageing population laid out in the Intergenerational Report benefits the better-off in the future over the less well-off today.
Patrick McClure’s recently released review of Australia’s welfare system borrowed heavily from the reform agenda across the ditch.
AAP/Dave Hunt
The Intergenerational Report may actually be underestimating the scale of the budgetary challenges ahead.
Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten are united in condemning violence against women and children, but both overlook the young people who are victims too.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Responses to family violence by Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten and the terms of reference for Victoria’s royal commission fail to mention young people. Such a lack of recognition has dire consequences.
There’s no wall of welfare cash heading north of the border.
Kukhmar
The “vow” that the main UK party leaders made to boost the powers of the Scottish parliament in the days before the independence referendum started a sequence of events that will see welfare benefits vary…
Getting the right balance between short- and medium-term ‘fixes’ may well be the most significant challenge for Social Services Minister Scott Morrison.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Scott Morrison’s appointment as minister for social services in late December 2014 has been seen as an important step for the Abbott government as it moves towards its second budget. The tasks he faces…
By giving powers away to Scotland, the UK could yet gain.
Mangostock
The new powers that look set to be devolved to Scotland include major changes for disability policy. Until now, Holyrood’s involvement in this area has been restricted to the NHS and social care – and…
Federal contractors are among the working poor
Gary Cameron/Reuters
Fifty years ago, Lyndon Johnson spoke of war on poverty and pursuit of a great society. He talked about investing in education and employment and about eliminating social exclusion that comes with poverty…
Bianca Rodriguez, one of nation’s nearly 600,000 homeless at a Chicago underpass.
Andrew Nelles/Reuters
This year marks the 51st anniversary since Lyndon Johnson launched his War on Poverty and made poverty reduction the centerpiece of his Great Society domestic agenda. Whether we won this war, however…
To bolster women’s employment participation as Tony Abbott so desires, better funding for child care would be a good way to go.
AAP/Alan Porritt
Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed over the weekend that he will use the parliamentary summer break to review his paid parental leave (PPL) scheme, which has so far proven to be a large political liability…
Yes – cheap flights to Norway!
Pedro Ribeiro Simões
It’s no secret that the global population is ageing. We’re living longer than ever and are healthier until much later in life. But we’re still struggling to adapt to this changing demographic – and some…
Despite a fall in our rate of child poverty, there is reason to be concerned about recent changes and future trends in Australia.
AAP/Joe Castro
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has just released its latest report card on child well-being in 41 rich countries. In particular, the report looks at the effects of the economic crisis on children…
In office and in opposition, Gough Whitlam’s advocated for the Commonwealth Commission of Inquiry into Poverty.
AAP/Dean Lewins
Former prime minister Gough Whitlam, whose death at age 98 was announced on Tuesday, left significant legacies from his short time in office. Whatever their condition today, many of his government’s initiatives…
The Brazilian presidential election of 2014 has so far thrown up more surprises and plot twists than a telenovela. In the first round ballot on October 5 the left of centre incumbent, Dilma Rousseff of…
Welfare minister Lord Freud under fire for his comments on minimum wage for disabled people.
PA/PA Wire
Lord Freud’s comments that some disabled people were “not worth” paying the full minimum wage – that they are somehow worth less than others – have caused widespread offence. But by bringing the issue…