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Post by Banjo on Sept 5, 2013 10:42:39 GMT 7
NWRN Election 2013 Policy
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As the nation decides who will lead the 44th parliament, we also face major decisions about the role of government including the services that need to be provided and how the cost of those services will be met. For the National Welfare Rights Network (NWRN), the expected increase in the level of unemployment and the corresponding increase in the numbers of people living in poverty are two great challenges for the next government. Youth employment in particular will need a major focus and effort from government and community partners.
The NWRN is the peak community organisation in the area of social security law and public policy development.[1] We believe that social policy should be based upon sound research and implemented after broad consultation with the people and communities the policy is intended to benefit. The efficacy of the policy in practice should also be rigorously reviewed. The introduction of DisabilityCare is an excellent example of best practice policy development. Unfortunately, far too often we see social policy derived almost entirely from a “top down” approach to change including, by way of example, the introduction of compulsory income management.
The NWRN is concerned that to date social security issues have been largely overlooked by the major parties in the federal electoral campaign. We will assess the political parties’ social security and welfare policies against the checklist set out below. The checklist represents the policies which we believe should have the highest priority in the next parliament.
NWRN Election 2013 Checklist
1. Reducing poverty by:
· Increasing the single rate of Newstart Allowance and the independent rate of Youth Allowance by $50 per week, and indexing these payments to wages growth. subsidy scheme for young people;
2. Supporting entry to the labour market by:
· introducing an extensive wage subsidy scheme for young people;
· doubling the wage subsidy scheme for disadvantaged job seekers; and
· ending the churn of job seekers through the $5.4 billion employment services system by increasing employment outcomes to 12 months.
3. Securing adequate income support for people with disabilities by:
· maintaining at least the status quo on eligibility requirements for the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and linking any reform of the DSP to the review of the Impairment Tables which is set to occur in 2014.
4. Establishing income management on a voluntary basis only by:
· repealing the current legislation and ensuring that a truly voluntary approach delivers benefits to people on low incomes and the communities where they live.
5. Increasing rent assistance by:
· 30% and indexing it to increases in rents.
6. Increasing the government’s tax revenue base by:
· establishing a fairer and more progressive tax system to deliver needed public and social services, especially in the context of an ageing population.
7. Improving Centrelink services by:
· ensuring sufficient resources to enable staff to answer enquiries, undertake timely reviews of decisions and avoid overpayments.
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Post by blacktulipvampire on Sept 5, 2013 18:50:36 GMT 7
On welfare Rights web pages – note that only the ALP responded. ALP Response to the National Welfare Rights Network Supporting people with disabilities The Rudd Government is supporting people with disability. Our historic pension increases have delivered $207 more per fortnight for singles on the max rate of Disability Support Pension (DSP) and $236 more per fortnight for couples combined on the DSP max rate, since September 2009. Thanks to these reforms, a single Disability Support Pensioner on the maximum rate is more than $5,300 per year better off. These historic reforms also included a new indexation system for the DSP, ensuring that it goes up more quickly to better reflect the rising cost of living for people with disability. This includes our boost of $350 per year for singles on the DSP and $530 per year for DSP couples, through our Household Assistance Package. In keeping with the proposal by NWRN, Federal Labor’s policy is to maintain the current eligibility requirements for the Disability Support PensionThe full article can be found here:- www.welfarerights.org.au/sites/default/files/news/Response%20to%20the%20National%20Welfare%20Rights%20Network.pdfDespite only ALP responding, Welfare Rights have put up what appears to be their best guess, or info previously provided by other parties. Re the disability pension:- 3. Securing adequate income support for people with disabilities ALP: Maintain existing eligibility for the DSP, with review of new impairment tables in 2014. Coalition: New approach to the disability pension that distinguishes between disabilities that are likely to be permanent and those that are not. Greens: Will reverse changes which made it more difficult for people with disability to qualify for the DSP, costing $791 million over 2013-14 Budget forward estimates, starting 1 July 2014. Will remove the punitive measures which force people with disability onto Newstart Allowance for 18 months while they try and find work. www.welfarerights.org.au/news/2013/9/5/media-release-social-security-and-welfare-policies-election-checklist
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Post by blacktulipvampire on Sept 5, 2013 18:54:37 GMT 7
Were we always going to have a review of the impairment tables in 2014 ? ie when they were changed, was this built in to check how they were working,
OR
Is this what was suggested when Julia announced the election as:-
"a further tightening of the DSP provisions"
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Post by blacktulipvampire on Sept 5, 2013 19:17:57 GMT 7
Why did Welfare Rights even list eligibility requirements for the (DSP)
as a concern ? Do they know something we don't, or are they referring to Abbott's idea of 2 tiered DSP ?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2013 19:41:33 GMT 7
Why did Welfare Rights even list eligibility requirements for the (DSP) as a concern ? Do they know something we don't, or are they referring to Abbott's idea of 2 tiered DSP ? What exactly is this 2 tier Abbott idea? IS the second Tier a lower rate with mutal obligation and jobsearch. How do they decide whose on 1st Tier or Second Tier , will the assess everyone.
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Post by Banjo on Sept 5, 2013 19:44:43 GMT 7
More likely will grandfather those on the DSP before a certain time, then 2 tier new applicants.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2013 19:56:10 GMT 7
More likely will grandfather those on the DSP before a certain time, then 2 tier new applicants. Thanks, what year do you think the grandfather cut off date will be.
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Post by Banjo on Sept 5, 2013 20:26:57 GMT 7
No idea
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Post by fedup on Sept 5, 2013 21:32:04 GMT 7
Coalition: New approach to the disability pension that distinguishes between disabilities that are likely to be permanent and those that are not.
Hmmm
It already does does it not?
And based on what?
An ASSESSORS assumption?
Or MEDICAL FACT?
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