We must be wary of generational welfare dependency
MEDIA RELEASE
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said there should be a two-year time limit on the Jobseeker (formerly Newstart) support payment to ensure Australia “breaks the cycle” of generational welfare dependency.
She says it’s even more important given the nation’s skyrocketing debt due to the Covid-19 shutdowns.
Under Senator Hanson’s plan, those under 50 who haven’t found a job within two years would have the payments suspended for one year. The timeframes would not apply to jobseekers over 50 who historically have more difficulty finding work.
“We have people who are third and fourth generation welfare recipients, who don’t try to find a job and are a drain on the taxpayer purse, and it’s just not good enough,” Senator Hanson said.
“And we have others who underdress for job interviews because they don’t want to work. They just want to tick the requirements for their payments and they’re quite happy to live in a share house, never working, bumming around, and living off our hardworking taxpayers.
“Welfare was only ever meant to be a support system between jobs, it was never meant to be a way of life, but too many Australians have made it a life choice to the detriment of the nation, our productivity and our economy.”
Senator Hanson noted there was no such “blank cheque” afforded Australia’s farmers, who are allowed support payments for “four years in each specified 10-year period”.
“Remember, our farmers are still working, many of them are working and going backwards financially, while they battle drought and rising production costs to put food on our tables; if anyone deserves support payments, they do.”
Senator Hanson said if it was good enough to put a time limit on support for struggling farmers, then it was reasonable to introduce similar measures for Jobseeker recipients.
“If you’re under 50, and you can’t find any sort of job in two years, then your payment should be suspended for one year, simple as that. You can reapply when the year is up,” Senator Hanson said.
“All the bleeding hearts who want us to happily throw around Government money like confetti are ignorant of our responsibility to maintain and strengthen the economy – especially after what the Covid-19 crisis has taught us.
“To keep handing over welfare money with no limitation is disrespectful to the taxpayers of this nation who are going out and working hard to pay for our welfare system.”
