Brotherhood supports income management legislation

26 February 2010

‘This legislation doesn't represent a radical departure from the Australian tradition of rights and responsibilities in welfare. Our historic analysis indicates that "conditionality" and the idea of behavioural change in response to social investment have been central to Australian policy since Federation’, said Executive Director Tony Nicholson speaking to the Brotherhood's submission to the Senate Inquiry into Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment.

The Brotherhood supports the proposed extension to income management with an appropriate balance of rights and obligations, as part of a thorough overhaul of the welfare system which aims to enhance each individual’s active economic and social participation. As a result, the Brotherhood states that any income management measures must be implemented in such a way that:

• people have the resources necessary to fulfill their obligations
• people have an effective voice in deciding the requirements affecting them
• the requirements are simple to undertake, easily understood, unobtrusive and not unduly burdensome.

Whilst acknowledging that the detail of implementation will be critical, the Brotherhood can see no reason why income management measures cannot meet these criteria.

‘We say that now is the right time to begin re-casting our system of rights and responsibilities in welfare in a way that reflects the realities of the modern economy and society.

We can't expect the Australian community to support necessary social investments if there are no obvious obligations on its recipients to adopt responsible behaviors. This legislation provides us with an historic opportunity to begin reforming welfare.’
        
View the Brotherhood’s submission to the Senate Inquiry into Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (PDF file, 238 KB).

For more information contact Johanna de Wever on (0414) 559 719 or (03) 9483 2487