URGENT URGENT URGENT REQUEST FOR ENDORSEMENT OF WELFARE SUBMISSION Deadline cob Friday, 17th December PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY - WE ARE LOOKING FOR BOTH ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ENDORSE Response to Discussion Paper THE CHALLENGE OF WELFARE DEPENDENCY IN THE 21st CENTURY from WOMEN'S ELECTORAL LOBBY AUSTRALIA YWCA SOLE PARENTS UNION WETTANK TITLE: Constructing a 21st Century social support system Call began 15 December 1999 The briefing paper is below. The full submission is available on the web at - http://www.ozemail.com.au/~nwmc/welfare.htm#top2 ENDORSMENT OF SUBMISSION I, _____________________________________________ [name and position] of ____________________________________________ [organisation if applic] Address ____________________________________________________ State/Territory: ______________ P'code: ___________________ Phone _____________________________________ Fax _____________________________________ Email ___________________________________ Please check box as appropriate: [ ] endorse the WEL submission in response on endorse as (you may endorse in both capacities): [ ] an individual [ ] on behalf of my organisation Please email completed form by midday 17 December 1999 to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or fax to 02 6247 4669 (Women's Electoral Lobby Australia) Below is the working framework for the submission and the terms of reference for the inquiry. SUBMISSION TO WELFARE INQUIRY - working framework Introduction: The feminist perspectives, why gender matters. Summary of recommendations 1. A socially sustainable society The need for forms of income support to be seen as ongoing because there are people in the community who will not generate sufficient income, so this is not welfare dependency but the necessary support systems. Social and other capitals a new set of measures including issues of ethics, accountability etc. 2. The changing economic and technological pressures which affect paid work and unpaid work and gender relations insecure jobs * reduced public sector employment * more casualisation * etc 3. The effect of changing gender relations: * smaller families * more women in paid jobs * an aging population * more demands for unpaid work, 4. The changing roles of government services and payments * the last ten years of reductions of eligibility, targeting, service cuts etc * reductions in trust * the backlash against welfare * the tax reduction problems * social engineering by payments Scenarios * the possibilities of further change Section B The problems and solutions NB issues of difference will be incorporated in each issue, with separate sections on same sex, disability and indigenous needs. The particular groups/ overlapping and different needs for services, payments for each below Young women * In education * In Training * In paid work * With babies * in limbo Mothering and paid work =B7 Maternity leave * Young children * The school age child * Sole parenting * Caring for differently abled children Women with disabilities * Services * Child care * Aged care * Carer support Access to education and training * transport * location Geographic factors. * Housing * Transport Detailed recommendations Terms of Reference Reference Group on Welfare Reform "Community, business and government working together" 1. The Government wishes to provide ways of assisting people who are disadvantaged that strike a better balance between its ongoing commitment to maintain a strong safety net and its responsibility to develop policies and strategies allowing all Australians to participate fully in the workforce where they are able. In this context, the Government is concerned that there is an increasing reliance by Australians on welfare, with around 1 in 5 people of workforce age on income support payments. 2. Six principles have been identified in order to guide the reform required in this area: * Maintaining equity, simplicity, transparency and sustainability; * Establishing better incentives for people receiving social security payments, so that work, education and training are rewarded; * Creating greater opportunities for people to increase self-reliance and capacity-building, rather than merely providing a passive safety net; * Expecting people on income support to help themselves and contribute to society through increased social and economic participation in a framework of Mutual Obligation; * Providing choices and support for individuals and families with more tailored assistance that focuses on prevention and early intervention; and * Maintaining the Government's disciplined approach to fiscal policy. 3. To ensure a process of consultation with the community, the Government has established a Reference Group comprised of representatives from the community sector, business, academia and government. The Group will provide advice to enable the Government to develop a comprehensive Green Paper on welfare reform. 4. The Reference Group has the following terms of reference: a) Adopting the reform principles established by the Government, provide advice on: i. Options for change to income support arrangements aimed at preventing and reducing welfare dependency by those of workforce age; and ii. Other options relating to the provision of associated services, including employment, education and training, that would assist in preventing and reducing welfare dependency. b) In providing this advice, the Reference Group will give particular consideration to: i. the broader application of Mutual Obligation; ii. demographic changes; iii. sustainability of the current system; iv. the particular incentive effects associated with the design of social security payments for people of workforce age; and v. international best practice. c) In framing its advice the Reference Group will draw on community input and call for submissions from interest groups and the broader community. 5. An interim Report from the Reference Group will be provided to the Minister for Family and Community Services early in the year 2000, with the final draft to be provided to the Minister by 30 June 2000. ------------------------------------------------------------- WEL - Keeping faith with the women of Australia since 1972 ------------------------------------------------------------- WEL Australia is an independent organisation dedicated to creating a society where women's participation and potential are unrestricted, acknowledged and respected and where women and men share equally in society's responsibilities and rewards. ------------------------------------------------------------- wel-members email list - ARE YOU ON IT? - WEL members can join now through [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
