Will the Labor brand receive a major boost from this budget? This is doubtful as its main claim is based on its expanded cash grants.
One of the contributing factors to levels of cynicism about political parties is the assumption that voters respond mainly to their hip-pocket nerve. Apart from the inherent s-xism of the metaphor, reducing politics to the level of supermarket catalogue bargains is unlikely to gain commitment or gratitude. Money comes and goes from bank accounts without exciting any serious appreciation, so depending on cash splashes may have a brief, but fleeting effects rather than reinforce any sense of party loyalty.
There were elements in the budget that should please some lost progressive Labor voters. These include cutbacks in Defence spending, reducing the ridiculous tax concessions for high-income super contributors, cutting extra deductions for golden handshakes and living-away-from-home expenses. The new money for dental care is also a belated plus. The reversal of the cut to company tax will be greeted with some relief by those who think taxes are too low, but, oddly, Labor is trying to “blame” the opposition!
On the plus side, there is promised expenditure on changes in aged services and the NDIS, both will hopefully improve bad services. However, both proposals also have are the Coalition backing, which is good for the schemes’ future but undermines the possibility of these being seen as clearly a big ALP plus.
However, not much else suggests a government that can claim greater fairness as a basic value. The $5 billion in cash payments will be welcomed and spent or saved, it may not stick on voters. There are some other problems in these as well. First, the most poverty-stricken income support groups on Newstart only get a measly $4 per week, which is ridiculous.
Secondly, a group of 100,000 sole parents will lose about $60 per week when they move to Newstart and some will also lose a further $62 education allowance. Offering extra funds for often unavailable child care services, particularly school-aged care is not helpful, and suitable jobs are often hard to find. Thirdly, some families lose payments for students over 18.
There are other problems because these new payments are tightly targeted, reducing so called middle-class welfare. This gets brownie points from most, but raises other issues for potential and actual two-income families. The lower earner often faces high, effective marginal tax rates, that they lose a high proportion of extra earnings. This loss, together with the costs of childcare and other work-related expenses, discourages their workforce participation, which the government wants.
Postponed Foreign Aid increases is a big commitment undermined, which annoys a wide range of people who are concerned by this evidence of meanness by one more affluent, developed nations. It is another example of the small mindedness that too often undermines the ethos of the Labor brand.
There are no big-ticket items that are clearly Labor driven for making a more civil and equitable society. The generous cash splash may undermine this idea further by reinforcing its belief in voter self interest, which militates against our potential for collective efforts for the common good.
Vote buying might work on me if anyone had ever offered to buy mine. I wouldn’t know. I’m in the age group that didn’t get first home owner’s grants, baby bonuses, child care assistance, Family Tax Benefit A, Family Tax Benefit B etc. etc. I also had a mortgage on which I paid between 13% and 17% interest for a large part of its existence. I had no superannuation as this was the province of banks, insurance companies and the public service and I worked in the construction sector which commonly regarded employees as disposable. What superannuation was available on a private level was so shonky that even the insurance companies have granted some concessions to the purchasers after they were revealed as being even shonkier than anyone could have guessed.
After all those years of not getting any kind of assistance for anything even over the five years that I was a working sole parent, I am now supposed to work until I drop and/or live on a minuscule amount of superannuation that may or may not even feed me when the day comes as I’ve only had any superannuation since it was introduced as a compulsory levy.
I’ve never claimed a single day of unemployment or had any dealings at all with government provided social services. I even earned too much in the year that the $900 stimulus payment happened even though I wasn’t working when the goodies were handed out. I even cared for an elderly relative for several months and didn’t work. I had no idea that I may have been eligible for a “carer’s payment” – I didn’t even know such things existed.
Doesn’t anyone else in my age group or my position vote?
This progressive Labor member is bi-polar literally and metaphorically so all week I’ve been aghast at the ignorance about what it is like to be unemployed, unemployable with or without kids, a mortgage, a car, new underwear…existing on $35.00 day, not able to access credit to purchase a high star rating fridge/freezer, often at the mercy of being evicted due to rental being sold(my friends family we forced to move 3 times in one year).
The issue of casualised workforce is huge for mainly female single parents, and in my region it is mainly in disabilities, aged and child care. You need very good, generous family supports to buy a car and run it, new clothes, phone, plus being there for your child. I wonder how much more homelessness we are going to be creating.
I have a feeling (which I know aren’t facts) that the ‘undeserving poor’ are ignored because it might save some voting for ALP – rather than going to Katter in Qld next election.
Compared to the above worker who has never needed a ‘safety net’ I’m your cradle to the grave needy person…always had lots of barriers to getting a job and keeping one including not dealing very well with very common bullies in the workplace.
I was wondering how the Disability pensioners who were transferred to New start are faring?
As a feminist it is hard to say but I depend on my good husband’s wage(negotiated by Union) to keep me off the dole/DSP. At least we were able to guide our daughters to economic independence.
Did someone mention our survival and well-being depends on the Environment?
http://www.woman-in-labor-politics.blogspot.com.au
I’m 67 and in receipt of a single aged pension. Prior to that I received a disability support pension due to my having contracted? RSI as part of my work requirements, of which I knew nothing about prior to, although my employer (NSW govt, Education Dept.) did. Teachers Aides were the second highest group of public servants with this crippling, painful and disabling condition. 28 years later, I still live with chronic pain every day, and often acute days as well. I was a temporary employee, and so the Dept wasn’t obligated to find light duties, even though I requested them on many occasions. I’d worked for ten years. Superannuation had not long been an option to the many people working in schools, either as TA or Clerical Assistants.
Earlier in my working life, I had to leave my job as a Telephonist with the then PMG the day I got married. In fact, it was to be about 10 years until married women could remain at work in many govt jobs.
As a woman living in an abusive relationship, and with three kids, there were no financial options to assist women in my position. child endowment was so miserly that it wasn’t really worth collecting, and occupations available to women, plus finding accommodation as a sole parent was almost impossible.
I’ve been involved in advocating social, financial and relationship equality for over 40 years, and am currently on the board of a women’s health centre, which heightens my awareness of the struggles and still inequality for women and kids. I’m most pleased to see and take part in the many programs that assist women and kids who’ve been abused or still are. It gladdens my heart to know that there are financial, legal and emotional support outlets for women in need, and I have no issue with govts, State and Federal spending money on these essential community based organisations and the many mainly women who work in them. Sometimes I get quite emotional when new programs are commencing, and marvel at how far we’ve come, but sadly, still have a way to go.
I applaud the Fed Govt for the increase in the pension to single pensioners, who were deemed the most impoverished people in the community. (Inquiry 2008??) I’d like it to be increased even further, but not at the expense of others in the community such as carers and people on Newstart! Being an older woman I can manage OK and as I sew most of my own clothes, household items etc, plus presents and goodies for grand kids, I’m OK. I also live in public housing of which I’m most grateful!
I’ve NEVER voted for the Coalition in my life, and don’t intend to. My principles are totally opposite to their conservative views, particularly when it comes to women and people on low to medium incomes. While there are areas where I disgree totally with a (sadly) somewhat conservative ALP, I still applaud them for many of the innovative policies that they’ve implemented or are in process, such as the National Disability Scheme, the Aged and Dental Care, and am most excited about the NBN and can’t wait to see all the possibilities as they develop! I think in years to come, it will be lauded as a great addition to many areas of our lives – some of which we have no idea of.
so, yes I vote and I vote for progressive parties that show a responsiblity for our quality of life, biodiversity and protecting our planet for the future, rather than just abusing it for profit now! I excitedly await the arrival of my first great grandchild in a few weeks, and hope her future is bright with more opportunities and encouragement women of my generation were denied. I feel proud that in a small way I’ve advocated for these positive changes, and will continue to do so!
And now, I must stop typing as my arms are ‘falling off’?
Liz – I should hope you’d receive a pension and the assistance you need – that’s what the government is supposed to do – look after the common weal. Those who need it. Life just isn’t kind to everyone. I’m angry that anyone born before 1958 (the end of the baby-boom) is treated as though we don’t exist on one hand, while complaining that there will be a massive bill for following “Generations” to support us on the other. It is not the over 55s that get handouts – anyone born after the war did it on their own or did without.
No-one in Australia should have to struggle for housing, education, health care or food. We live in a wealthy country. I’m tired of hearing the constant drumbeat of how awful “dole-bludgers” are and how much is wasted on anything related to welfare, how expensive health care is, how expensive old age pensioners are – there is no end to it. And it’s all a lie if there is billions of dollars available for funding private health, private education, private child-care and $3,000+ subsidies to “families” with six figure incomes.
There is nothing especially advantageous in being a baby-boomer and I’m a little tired of being told that there is. I’m told I’m going to be expensive in my old age as though my taxes didn’t get used to support the generations that came before me and those that needed help when I didn’t. That’s what life is about – looking after society, not selling it to the highest bidder and buying votes with handouts to the comfortable.
G-dammit, I haven’t cost them a cent yet. There is no end to the funding available for “families” with far more advantages than my generation ever had. I will need a pension to support me when I become eligible and it had better be available for me and others of my generation who have put so much into society. We paid far higher rates of income tax during our working lives than anyone under 40 has ever paid. Even those lucky enough to be able to provide for their retirement out of their own funds are severely disadvantaged by the low interest rates that appear to be untouchable in case they affect the mortgage belt.
I want to know why my entire generation seems to be invisible.
Welfare: does buying votes really work? I hope not because it will confirm Australian voters are as dopy as Labor politicians perceive them to be ! Edward James who is aware of the damage healthquesting done to Department of Education Employees