The Government-appointed Welfare Working Group released its final report on February 22, offering 43 recommendations aimed at decreasing long-term welfare dependency.
The primary focus was on tweaking the “signals” that the welfare system sends.
According to the Group, the current system encourages a culture of dependency, trapping individuals and families in poverty, keeping society from benefitting from what they could be contributing, and costing the Government more money than it can afford.
The Group’s Report said a better system would make people realise that work is valuable and more importantly, that for most people welfare is temporary, and that support will always be there for those who need it long-term.
There is potential in the particulars of the Working Group’s recommendations.
For example, the recognition that communities, the not-for-profit and private sectors are capable of providing effective, tailored and innovative support to beneficiaries who wish to return to work is worth exploring.
Similarly, the call for improvements in other connected areas like education and health, and the call that the welfare system be regularly evaluated against measurable outcome goals are wise suggestions that should be heeded.
But there is also an undercurrent evident throughout the Report that gives pause. Though Working Group repeatedly reminds the reader that a majority of beneficiaries use welfare temporarily as a way to get back on their feet after a personal crisis, many of their recommendations are focused primarily on making sure that people do not remain on benefits for long.
Publicity Campaign
One recommendation is that the Government starts a publicity campaign to make people less tolerant of welfare fraud and abuse.
This has the potential to inadvertently stigmatise and demean all beneficiaries in the attempt to stop a few from abusing the system.
This emphasis seems out of place and runs the risk of accidentally increasing the hardship of people in genuine need.
Many recommendations in the Report deserve attention. The goals that it tries to focus on are good ones and it is important that the recommendations be carefully considered to ensure that they do achieve what is intended.
Our Reporter adds:
The Welfare Working Group found that reducing the number of people unable to work because of sickness pointed to the need to address areas within the health system where there were long-standing deficiencies in services.
“Gaps in mental health, rehabilitation services and managed care services create costs, which inevitably show up in the welfare system, not to mention costs to individuals in terms of their well-being.
“Engagement in paid employment by previous offenders is a key strategy to reduce recidivism,” it said.
The Group believes that a stable economic policy and policies that support employment growth are critical, and will provide a platform for employers to play their part.
“There are strong examples of private sector leadership working with vulnerable groups to reduce barriers to employment which can be learnt from and built on,” the Report said.
Welfare Working Group
Some findings
· Recognition of the value and importance of paid work to social and economic well-being
· Provision of financial support to people not in employment when no other income is available
· Fostering strong social outcomes including improved physical and mental health
· Respect for the dignity of people
· Promotion of reciprocal obligations and accountability
· Promotion of personal responsibility
· Efficiency and freedom from misuse
· Affordability and sustainability
· Practicality; ability to implement at low risk of unintended consequences
· Priority areas for attention include education and health.
· The number of people leaving school without the skills or aptitude to find or sustain employment is a major concern
· Reducing teen births is a high priority
