Fed: Mutual obligation expansion flagged in welfare report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2000
Fed: Mutual obligation expansion flagged in welfare report

A report has recommended all welfare recipients of working age, including sole parents
and the disabled, be made to take part in a community activity or lose their benefits.

The sweeping reforms are contained in a report by the government-appointed welfare
reform group, chaired by Mission Australia chief PATRICK MCCLURE.

The report outlines the most radical overhaul of the $50 billion social security net
since its inception.

It recommends easing welfare dependence with cash rewards for accepting jobs, tax credits
to lower work disincentive and loans to help the unemployed start businesses or undertake
training.

But the paper also floats tougher hurdles for welfare support targeting sole parents,
the older jobless and people on disability pensions.

Outlining the recommendations, Mr MCCLURE called on the government to balance the positives
against any temptation to take the punitive, cost-cutting route alone.

He says the reform plan is a broad and long-term vision of a participation support
system that will take Australia into the 21st century.

And Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has promised the government will not take a razor to
social security when it responds to the report later this year.

AAP RTV rft/mfh/wz/jn/nf/dmc

KEYWORD: WELFARE (CANBERRA)

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