No doubt a carte blanche free for all approach to welfare is not sustainable and quite possibly counter productive to the greatest benefit of it's recipients but it's difficult to argue the Australian government's refusal to lift the Newstart unemployment payment in real terms in nearly 25 years leaving it well below the poverty line is not grossly inadequate, even cruel...
"The average Newstart recipient is left with just $17 a day after paying accommodation expenses, new research has shown. The Guardian.
The finding was one of the starkest to emerge from the Salvation Army's 2018 economic and social impact survey, to be released today, which examined the financial situation of 1,267 people accessing the charity’s services.
It has prompted the Salvation Army to join the call for Newstart to be lifted, which the Coalition failed to do in this month’s budget.
“It is simply inhumane that corporations and wealthy households are handed a tax cut, while the most disadvantaged and marginalised people in this country continue to be ignored,” Salvation Army major Paul Moulds said.
“It is widely acknowledged it will take a minimum increase of $75 a week just to ensure people can live on the poverty line – let alone above it.”"
"Earlier this month, the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, also called for an urgent increase in minimum wages and the Newstart Allowance.
In his annual pastoral letter for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker on May 1, Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv., chairman of the ACSJC, said the Newstart allowance had not increased in real terms since 1994.
“Australia is facing a wages crisis, and low-paid workers and their families who rely on the National Minimum Wage and the award safety net are in danger of falling into poverty.”
Bishop Long said.
“Building an economy that is inclusive and serves all is a key challenge of our times. For the common good, Australia needs a new consensus between government, business and workers to solve the current impasse of wage stagnation. The common good will not be served unless we ensure the greatest support to those most in need"
http://cathnews.com/cathnews/32122-newstart-recipients-left-with-17-a-day-after-expenses
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