Australia: Will Basic Income Have a Second Coming?

Abstract

Australia has had a federal social security system since the inception of the 1908 age and disability pensions legislation in 1910. From then until the late 1980s, the system became more comprehensive and generous. It was and still is a categorical and means-tested system paid from the Commonwealth government’s general tax revenue. It provides assistance to older Australians; to families with children; to people when they are sick, unemployed, experiencing a disability or illness; and to those enrolled in some education programs. The Commonwealth system runs alongside private superannuation, commercial unemployed and sickness insurance, and a war veteran’s benefit system.KeywordsAsylum SeekerSickness BenefitLabor PartyBasic IncomePoverty InquiryThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.