I have waited for a government to find an answer to the dole.
It must come one day but in my view it will not be a one year limit.
That is about the way it is in America, we look after our own far better.
Once ,maybe still some find work in local government, not all but many could not get a job anywhere else.
Such jobs could be found or even made, if a return on the costs came back to the community.
Let us not get the idea all on the dole are bludgers, but some are.
We owe them nothing unless they actually contribute in return, not the current work for the dole.
In country villages that have twice the average unemployment rates you struggle to find some one to work for half an hour earning $50 to mow a lawn.
Yes some but not all are work shy.

We’ve got massive wealth flowing into this country from coal, iron ore and a host of other primary produce. There should be well and truly enough money to take care of all our social security, basic services and quality of life issues.

If we could just implement the necessary redistribution of wealth, we’d be right! But of course that would be totally politically untenable, as it would mean implementing tax regimes that offend practically all the rich and powerful people in the country…and outside the country in a host of multinational companies.

Despite our enormous national income, we are reduced to tinkering around the edges of social policy….compared to what could be achieved if power remained in the hands of our government.

Such is the criminalistic behaviour of successive governments, that have sold our national soul to powerful vested interests and then pandered to them just about every inch of the way, instead of upholding their duty of care to the community.

We need a much more socialistically-oriented government. But the vested-interest big-business powerbase would make sure that we don’t get it….even if there was any inclination from Rudd. Gravely, the dole, the pension, the state our health system, education, rural support, environmental health, etc, are all just going to rapidly slide downhill from this point on.

I reckon 2012 will be the year that the whole show falls apart and Australia becomes one giant Mad Max movie set.

StG “How about we cut the dole from 'unlimited' too say, 1 year of lifetime eligibility and funnel those funds into helping out the farming community and the elderly. Currently the suicide rate in rural communities is getting out of hand as is the quality of life for elderly.”

That is just an exercise of shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic.

Much better the government cut the dole but then taxed everyone less so farmers retained more of their farm profits and the approaching elderly could better finance their own old age.

Governments fix nothing.

Only individual people, acting with their own best interests at heart, do anything

"They've all had the chance to work towards a relatively comfortable retirement."

Superannuation was not made compulsory in this nation until the early nineties. There are many surviving elderly people who were lowly paid, but managed to successfully raise a family without any handouts.

They paid taxes all their lives but had little chance of saving much for their retirement. Of course some of the elderly were, no doubt, poor managers of finance but not more so than what we are witnessing in younger groups today where many appear to depend entirely on credit.

Hopefully they won't end their days in a government owned dog box.

I disagree that farmers need additional handouts. Suicide rates are not higher in that group. Farmers are generally a fortunate group in Australian society when it comes to grants here, relief there, tax breaks etc. The criteria for financial assistance is simpler for farmers than any other group and at least they can always get a feed.

And according to UNICEF, the youth suicide in Australia is the highest in the world.

According to one report, the highest at risk group for suicide are schizophrenics.

Most drug induced schizophrenics are heavily dependant on the dole.

I am acquainted with two decent families whose sons are schizophrenics - drug induced, off their heads and written off.

One, once a mining surveyor, the other, a builder who had attended the best private school in the state - wasted!

The drug culture in Australia requires further urgent attention. It's almost become acceptable!

Many of our youth have destroyed their livelihoods with this awful addiction. Many are alienated from their families. They are a huge drain on the public purse - a dole often supplemented by a life of crime.

Taxpayers are paying a heavy price in handouts for these young people.

There is an urgent need to get these addicts cleaned up and off the dole. What are the solutions? Bootcamps?

"New-start is a benefit for individuals who are able to be in the workforce but currently not working"

Sorry this is wrong, there are many casual workers on Newstart.

"New-start is a benefit for individuals who are able to be in the workforce but currently not working"

Sorry this is wrong, there are many casual workers on Newstart.

Posted by ruawake, Monday, 14 July 2008 4:48:55 PM

It's not wrong. Newstart IS a benefit for individuals who are able to be in the workforce but currently not working. There are also people on in who work casually. Your point?.

Why does anyone need to be on the dole for more than a year?. I never said everyone on the dole was bludging. Never said it, never implied it, you're just overly sensitive, examinator.

I also suggested more intensive help for people who are having trouble finding work. Whether that be psychological, or REAL job seeking assistance.

I've been on the dole, it has its place. There is no shame in needing assistance and people who cares for others, single parents, the disabled etc etc should be able to get into the workforce part time but still receive benefits. No issue with that, at all.

Why not limit lifetime entitlements to 1, 2, or 3 years when other who have LONG TERM financial issues struggle. There is no reason many on the dole can't work. Instead of getting all sensitive over it why not consider others instead of yourself?.

What's the reasons people stay on Newstart long term?, excluding carers etc...