The 1980s saw an intensification of new forms of economic policy across the Western world. In Australia we referred to these reforms collectively as economic rationalism or neoliberalism. These reforms focused on efficiency, increased privatisation, deregulation, tax cuts and a less interventionist role for government. Thirty years down the track the outcomes of slavish observance of market orientated economic policies are hitting home.
Income policies of Australian governments over more than twenty years have been increasingly harsh on Social Security beneficiaries, particularly the long-term unemployed. In 1988 an unemployed single person with no children was paid $10,600 per year. In that same year pensioners were paid $11,250. The $650 annual difference represented a gap of approximately 6 per cent. Fast forward to 2010 and the Newstart Allowance for a single person with no children is $12,212 per year…
