Welfare shake up expected
Tomorrow John Howard is expected to present cabinet with a blueprint, which will shake up the welfare system in Australia. Its aim is to get people back into the workforce and to clamp down on the escalating welfare bill. The blueprint focuses on three categories, mature aged workers, disability support pensions and sole parents. Previous attempts to cut down on benefits were blocked by the Senate, which has been controlled by opposition parties. However, from the 1st of July the Government will be able to pass legislation in it’s own right. Is this weaning off welfare justified? Or are the 700 000 receiving benefits deserving? Ollie Abraham spoke to Andrew McCallum President of the Australian Council of Social Service about the latest proposals.