WELFARE RECIPIENTS – GOVERNMENT POLICY – AUSTRALIA

Welfare crackdown tipped for frontline

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Original article by Rick Morton, Sarah Martin
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 26-Sep-16

The Australian Government is examining a range of options for welfare reform, including giving people who run approved unemployment programs the power to suspend the payments of participants who lack a valid reason for non-attendance. Meanwhile, the Nick Xenophon Team has yet to decide whether it will support the Government’s plan to impose a four-week waiting period before some people below the age of 25 are eligible to receive Newstart. The support of NXT may be crucial in passing the proposed reform.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, ONE NATION PARTY, BROTHERHOOD OF ST LAURENCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. CENTRELINK, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Rise for $38-a-day Newstart ruled out

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 4 : 21-Sep-16

It is estimated that about 770,000 people currently receive the Newstart payment, and the Australian Council of Social Service advocates increasing it by $A53 a week. However, Social Services Minister Christian Porter has rejected calls for an increase in Newstart, arguing that while the base payment is set at $A38 per day, the majority of recipients also receive other welfare payments. Porter has also defended the Budget measure which requires people to wait four weeks before being eligible to claim the Newstart allowance.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Families to wear cost of budget savings deal

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 14-Sep-16

The Australian Government will press ahead with $A6.3bn worth of savings measures after the Opposition agreed to support its proposed changes to family tax benefits. The Australian Labor Party will support 20 of the 24 savings initiatives that were included in the Government’s "omnibus" bill, with both sides of politics agreeing to some concessions. The Government has backed down on measures such as abolition of the clean energy supplement for welfare recipients.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY

Dole compromise to win budget deal

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 13-Sep-16

The Australian Government has backed down on a key measure in its "omnibus bill" to secure the Opposition’s support for the majority of its cost-saving initiatives. The Government is believed to have agreed to abandon its proposal to cease compensating welfare recipients for the impact of the carbon tax. Some Family Tax Benefit payments are also expected to be reduced as part of the compromise deal. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has noted in Parliament that the unemployed rate has fallen from 6.3 per cent to 5.7 per cent in the 12 months since he ousted Tony Abbott.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20)

Budget takes $10b welfare hit

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 2-Oct-14

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the Australian Government still aims to roll out cuts to welfare spending worth $A10bn. This is despite the Budget measures having been abandoned in a compromise deal struck with the Opposition. The Australian Labor Party will now vote for a bill that contains $A2.7bn worth of cuts, after negotiations were fruitful on 1 October 2014. Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann will also continue to hold talks with independent and minor party senators on getting more bills passed

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Abetz walks away from ’40 jobs’ idea

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 28-Aug-14

The Australian Government has conceded that its demands on jobseekers may not be practical. Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz said that there may be no purpose in getting people to apply for 40 jobs a month to retain the unemployment benefit. He admitted that it could be a burden to small businesses. There is speculation that other measures, such as the paid parental scheme, may be cut back

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA