I think it's an excellent idea. They should really implement this for both white and aboriginal people's funding.The following proposal is put forward:
That random drug testing for illegal drug use by long-term unemployed recipients of the Newstart Allowance (more than one year) be introduced. A positive test for illegal drug use would result in the person having to sign onto a rehabilitation program as a condition for continued receipt of the Newstart Allowance.
Thoughts?
Indeed. 16% of the population rely on welfare as their main source of income. Still a relatively low number if you ask me when one considers the context.1 in 6 rely working age people below retirement age rely on welfare payments.
Australia's welfare system is not mean but different and fairer - On Line Opinion - 17/9/2004
there's a discussion to be had about maximum voting age...Fuck the age pension. Get a job grandad. It's a disincentive to save and self-fund your retirement.
Unfortunately seniors are an organised and powerful voting group.
haha.there's a discussion to be had about maximum voting age...
Don't forget the 16 % only refers to people of working age. The % of people on the age pension is also pretty high. I think when the age pension first started there was something like 12 workers for every person receiving the age pension. Obviously that number is a lot lower and pie can't be sliced ever thinner. Of course then you have to factor in the ever increasing medical costs due to an aging population, increasing medical technology etc.Indeed. 16% of the population rely on welfare as their main source of income. Still a relatively low number if you ask me when one considers the context.
A comparison to what existed 40 years ago is futile. The composition of the labour market was vastly different, as was the composition of families. Single parent families have probably been the main cause for such an increase.
Government was unable to merely observe these societal shifts without adapting social welfare policy to such changing needs.
With these considerations in mind, 16% is not a high number. If it tips over 20%, then we should be looking to re-assess eligibility criteria.
I do believe that we should be doing more to provide incentive for individuals to reverse such dependency and seriously consider/seek employment, but the solution isn't drug testing.
Pretty much from what I can gather. You have to provide the address and phone number of where you applied (when I worked in retail, you I occasionally got asked my name when people dropped a resume in so they could put it in their little paper book thing), but it is not like Centrelink has the time to actually chase any of then up.More like, there needs to be a sex maximum amount of time you can be on the dole AND the reporting procedures for job seekers need to be more stringent.
As far as I know, all you have to do is say you've applied for job x,y,z but you didn't get the job.
The problem with this economy is that a whole lot of decent, hard working people with plently of skills and no drug addiction are going to end up on the dole because their position has been cut and they are struggling to find a job in this shortage of employment.It's exactly like slavery. The individual should be given maximum choice and liberty as to how they live their life. If they choose to not seek gainful employment, then we as a society deem it necessary to give them a basic pitance to prevent them from turning too feral. This is civilized.
I am aware of that, but this economic situation is only going to see increases in the unemployment levels and thus people who would not usually even have to think about claiming the dole having to swallow their pride and do it because that extra money will help raise their children. With this situation, not everyone on the dole will be a "dole bludger" and one of those people who goes into centrelink not wearing shoes. There are going to be professional people claiming it until things improve.What's that got to do with this economy? Unemployment happens. Fortunately we have a fairly civilized way of dealing with this, to ensure that people dont find themselves completely down and out. The degree to which you assist folks is a legitimate debate topic, but surely we all at least agree on a bare minimum survival wage? Surely we can then say that children shouldnt be disadvantaged/doomed to their parent's working failure, so there should be added provision for them? etc
It's exactly like slavery. The individual should be given maximum choice and liberty as to how they live their life. If they choose to not seek gainful employment, then we as a society deem it necessary to give them a basic pitance to prevent them from turning too feral. This is civilized.
I think that addicts would sooner drop out of the system than be forced into rehab practically against their will. This is not how we should run things. We should empower the individuals from below.
Clean livin
Respect for life
Respect for private property
Dignity in work
These, THESE are found in the Church. We're good at lifting people outta the gutter
Forcing vulnerable individuals to do stuff through such cold bureaucratic mechanisms will always backfire imo