Cherful - I've read payments will be switched to lesser Newstart allowance only if the Parenting payment recipient fails to meet participation requirements. It'd be grossly unfair otherwise if job availability was scarce and seeker unable to secure work.

Increased demand for childcare? Be interesting to see the model on which policy was based but since it affects only those whose youngest child is over 8yrs I can't envisage a huge hike. It'd be before/after school care predominately. Non-working Supporting Parents are already entitled/enthusiastic users of subsidised child care, at higher rate to working parents I'm told. Correct me if wrong. Info from Child Care workers

Has to be serious percieved benefit if government will risk alienating some typically Labor voters. Or are they seeking to placate the Faithful - especially lower income voters who resent welfare packages which compare to their minimal wages?

Personally I see longer term benefit in potential to break the welfare cycle - especially where families have been chronically welfare dependant for generations. A working adult in the household brings economic benefit first but is also an extremely important role model. In situations where children have been reared on welfare and parent/s before them, it's a lifestyle. This may mean poor motivation to work, lacklustre interest in career options and very limited work ethic example.

For Supporting Parents, joining the workforce will bring extra money into the household. With luck it will also bring increase in self esteem, ambition and skills leading to better things. In other words - the potential for GAIN is there for genuine people.

As for true "Bludgers", they may find themselves penalised - slightly. GOOD!

I'd like a restriction on children for whom payment could be claimed - based on number at the time of application, allowing additional payment for only 1 more child excepting multiple pregnancy. For instance a single woman who claimed for one child and continuing on benefits would get increase for a second child but not for any subsequent offspring. This plus FREE contraception. Bet it would alleviate some burdens - societal and economic!

divine msn

Why don't you pop into Queensland and do a speaking tour? I'm sure the 20,000 public servants facing the sack there in the near future (many of them single mums) would love to hear your views on inter-generational welfare dependency - especially as workforce ageism and the worsening economic climate ensure that many of them will never find employment again.

the underlying and specious assumption of this article is that market forces (jobs market) exists equally in all areas of the Australian demography, clearly it does not. But don't let this simple fact get in the way of attacking and targeting welfare recipients that the author obviously dislikes (for whatever reason)

As we go down the zero growth slope you will see more and more of
controversies like this.
There is going to be more demand and less funds available for welfare.
So, prepare for it personally and politically.

However the politicians of both parties are asleep.
The Greens are not but they believe it is all a magic pudding.