21 October 2011   Download the PDF

Support for fair welfare

 

Anglicare Australia’s Executive Director Kasy Chambers today reported widespread support for a fairer welfare system.

 

“There is a lot of attention now being paid to the unfairness of our multi-speed economy.  People from all walks of life can see that the cost of living makes it impossible for people on very low incomes” Kasy Chambers said.

 

“That was a key finding of our 11th State of Family report, Staying Power, which was launched on Monday, at the start of Anti-Poverty Week.

 

“As QCOSS reported a few days later, it is the cost of essential goods and services that are increasing at the fastest rate. With rent, utilities and transport costs continuing to rise, Newstart and Youth allowances at $35 a day or less is costing people their health, their chance of employment, and their wellbeing.

 

“Our research has shown that Australians generally support a fairer system.

 

 “The results of national survey questions we commissioned from the Australia Institute in September were very consistent across age, gender, voting habit and income level:

 

• “55% of those surveyed believe welfare benefits should be set ‘to cover the cost of living’, while
• “62% believe benefits should be set by ‘an independent body, without interference from government’, just as the Remuneration Tribunal does for Members of Parliament.

 

“There are many ingredients that are needed for people to connect well into society, as Staying Power points out. But an adequate income and safe secure housing are basic.

 

“That is why Anglicare Australia, key national bodies such as ACOSS and the Welfare Rights Network, services such as St Vincent de Paul, and senior economists are all arguing for an increase in the Newstart allowance.

 

“The evidence we have is that Australian people across the board would support a fair system that could, impartially, ensure income support meets the true cost of living.

 

“There is no reason why there can’t be non-partisan political support for that as well” Ms Chambers said.

 

See below for survey questions and summary results, and link to full survey results and Staying Power report.

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National Survey questions on welfare payments

 

Questions and summary results

 

Anglicare Australia commissioned The Australia Institute to carry out this nationally representative online survey of 1,034 Australians in September 2011

 

The following questions are about welfare payments, such as the Newstart allowance, disability benefits and the age pension.

 

Q1.    In your view, should welfare payments be decided by…?

• Whichever government is in power -   25%
• An independent body, without interference from government -   62%
• Not sure -  12%

 

Q2.      In your view, should decisions about welfare payments be set…?

 

Please select the answer you think is most important.

• At a percentage of average wages -  25%
• At a percentage of the minimum wage -  17%
• To cover the cost of living -  55%
• To ensure the government balances the budget - 3%
• Not sure -  ---

Please follow these links on Anglicare Australia website to full survey results and Anglicare Australia’s 11th State of the Family Report Staying Power

 

MEDIA CONTACT Roland Manderson 0412241379

This statement represents the views of Anglicare Australia, as the national peak body of the Anglicare network.

It may not necessarily represent the views of the Anglican Church of Australia or the views of an individual member of the Anglicare Australia network.

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