Never met anyone who didn't enjoy building or crafting products, in this era, the key to helping the poor is to encourage patience and local shopping.

Well, perhaps I've just had another screw loosen up on me, but I agree with Everald's list of the real waste of money that is going on, while our mongrel politicians attack the most vulunerable to cover their own shonky practices. I would add foreign aid to the list, along with NGOs, "charities" and quangos for retired politicians and judges. Throw in nannyisms about giving up smoking etc, too. It all comes back to a political class intent on feathering its own nest at public expense. To rip us off, the politicians have to licence their backers to rip us off, too.

We really do need to do something about our political trash before what used to be called 'extreme prejudice' becomes necessary

There is no fundemental right to an income you didn't work for if you have the physical ability to do so. Anyone capable of working should do so if they want to receive government support, which is tax payers support. For those who say there are no jobs, well, there is always plenty of help needed in places like nursing homes, child care centres, hospitals, local shires etc. hell, my little local town could use half a dozen people just picking up rubbish around town every day.
And forcing businesses who have run at a loss to pay tax is a sure fire way to drive small business out of the market, thus creating even more unemployment.
Take away the backpackers and people on 457 visas and there would be a lot more work available. The problem is, many Australians feel too entitled to have to do that work.
One way to save money and benefit society is to stop paying unemployable single women to have children, most of whom grow up to be non productive citizens anyway. Based on government statistics and studies, these children of uneducated single mothers are the bulk of our prisoners and recipients of welfare.
Instead of punishing hard working people lets try and convert multigenerational welfare recipients into productive members of the community.

Yes Everald, and with the exception of the claimed state sanctioned racism, not much here to disagree or take issue with. And that which you've highlighted, only possible, because legislators are invariably quarantined from the consequences of all their decisions! Imagine their wailing if their post politics pensions were limited to two multiples of the age pension? And if adequate for the folk who sacrificed to build this nation, more so, doubled for folk who've sold it down the river of no return, or wasted our finite funds simply to buy votes? Impossible dreams aside, the destiny of demography impacts us all! But particularly those asked by the rule makers to carry an ever increasing, massively unfair load!

And no not the indolent idle rich or those able to so structure their affairs to avoid tax or minimize it to just 15% of their taxable income? Then demand they receive non means tested public health, or their kids receive taxpayer funded education? As a right, given they also pay tax? Hopefully, occasionally? And bellow like wounded bulls if their "servants" don't leap to follow VIP instructions. And we know they're VIP's, given the size of their election donations?

Non essential state governments cost we taxpayers some 70 billion plus per and just for their right to exist! Moreover, nothing they do or are responsible for, couldn't be done better at significantly less cost, by a combination of direct funding coupled to regional autonomy! With the little left easily managed by efficient rationed councils and a downsized Fed! The "wasted" 70 billions per redirected into nation building infrastructure!

If management teaches just one thing? It teaches, there's always a better way! TBC.
Alan B.

A minor detail not mentioned in the article is that in 2015-16 Commonwealth spending on social security and welfare is budgeted at $158.6 billion or roughly 35 per cent of Australian government expenses by sector. This is projected to rise to $191.8 billion or 37.5 per cent of expenditures by 2019-20.

To argue that "the cost of welfare is not a major element among the issues that we face" is simply inconsistent with the facts, particularly given that Australia is running a roaring budget deficit to facilitate current levels of outlays. Furthermore, welfare spending is also on a strong upward trajectory because of our ageing population and increasing numbers on the Age Pension.

Re:
" Australia can finance basic income by scrapping Income Tax totally along with all its corrupt deductions and replacing it with a Revenue Tax which everyone will pay on all their earnings above the basic income even if they are operating at a loss. This will catch all the multi nationals before they syphon taxable funds offshore. "

Scrap income tax ?
Flat rate of tax (suggest a tax rate )paid by everybody , companies included. Perhaps you would set a fair tax rate of 50% ?

Remember that the bulk of government revenue is from personal income taxation.
The poor will always get the rough end of the stick from the government wanting to balance the budget on the backs of smokers, drinkers and drivers ... high excise taxes.

On top of welfare spending how are we Going to fund Defence, The NDIS , health, the NBN, education, etc etc.

Invest in Australia ?

You have got to be joking?