Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2013 15:29:44 GMT 7
Sept 27, 2013 5:26:45 GMT 7 @frugle said:
Some article in the Australian newspaper today, Kevin Andrews announcing a Dramatic reform of the welfare system for Single parents and others , don't know if it affects us on DSP, if anyone can get the artice and post it here it would be goodWelfare reform a priority
September 30, 2013 12:00AM
OF the numerous government reviews under way, Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews' review of all welfare payments is one of the most important. Mr Andrews' stated goal - a more efficient system that moves recipients into work - is ideal. But it will take political will to achieve, a quality often lacking on both sides of Australian politics in winding back welfare.
In government, Labor extended an unpopular move, begun by the Howard government, to shift single parents, mainly mothers, from more generous parenting payments to the regular dole, Newstart Allowance, when their youngest child turned eight. The change was the subject of controversy and lobbying.
Mr Andrews is understood to favour a more generous income test for parents on Newstart. It is worth considering as part of the review. But he needs to be cautious about winding back the few hard-won reforms achieved in recent years.
The review must also question why the Disability Support Pension is being paid to 824,082 Australians - one in every 15 people in the labour force - at a cost of about $15 billion a year. And it should investigate why psychological problems have become the main reason for granting the DSP. If Australia's structural deficit is to be reversed, increasing resources allocated to the needs of an ageing population and the disability insurance scheme funded properly, the existing welfare system needs to be streamlined and scaled down as much as possible. Duplication between the commonwealth and states, and duplication between government and the not-for-profit sector must be eliminated. Given its expertise, there could also be scope for increasing partnerships between the government and the not-for-profit sector for delivering welfare services.
The most effective programs - wherever they are found - need to be emulated. For example, while homelessness has been an almost intractable problem in recent years, a pilot Mission Australia program in Victoria, funded through philanthropy, has achieved a 97 per cent success rate in helping homeless men off the streets and into stable housing for a year. The program provides homeless people with immediate access to long-term, sustainable accommodation and ongoing support. It deserves to be copied elsewhere.
www.news.com.au/breaking-news/welfare-reform-a-priority/story-e6frfkp9-1226729537278