zimbawawa said:
Cobretti2 said:
As an outsider living in AUS looking into the US, I don't think anyone here thinks that American welfare is great.
On the other hand look at Australia:
pf = per fortnight
Basic rates
• Single, no children $489.70 pf
• Single, with dependent child(ren) $529.80 pf
• Single, aged 60 or over, after nine continuous
months on payment $529.80 pf
• Partnered (each) $442.00 pf
• Single, principal carer of a dependent child (granted an
exemption for foster caring/home schooling/distance
education/large family) $648.50 pf
Key things:
1) you can be on welfare (we call it the dole) here for as long as it takes you to find a job. Most do not look for jobs as that call the welfare their paycheck.
2) All you need to prove is that you "tried" applying for jobs.
3) Aus use to give out a baby bonus ($5000 luimp payment per child born). So a lot of these people who have kids just so they could buy smokes or big screen TVs. Now (perhaps soon) it will be done as cupons for baby products.
4) Minimum wage in Australia is barely above those pf rates (after taxes). There is no incentive for these people to work as free money that is similar amount is better then working for it.
5) They get concession cards, so free or cheap medical, cheaper public transport etc..
Then there is out tax system which is another long story haha. Basically the harder you work to make something of your life, the more penalites in surchage taxes you get (like penalty for not having priavte health cover).
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Little effect on the gov books considering your country's booming mining industry
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Most Aussie do not mind helping someone that is in need, but sadly our dole system is exploited by generational families (3-4generations) who don't want to work. I feel sorry for the young kids as that is all they know, they are not given the opportunity to better there life due to family influences.
However, booms end. Then what will happen? Also a lot of the mining industry is owned by foreign partners, so major $$$ leaving the country.
Sadly our government takes this boom for granted and wastefully spends the money. It does not reinvest enough money into road and infastructure. Our capital cities public transport sytems have not expanded for decades. Sadly most people have to work in the CBD, but affordable houses (ones that cost less than $550,000-$600,000 for three bedroom family home) are out 30-40kms away from the CBD, where some areas have no public transport. Driving in is a nightmare and it costs a lot to park.
basically I am saying, the money could be spent better and crackdowns on those who exploit the system should happen. That way Australi can continue to develop. Instead of live life to the full at 200% pace till the money runs out.
