Changed circumstances !

When the clock ticked past midnight on New Year's eve, the 84,000 single parents in Australia receiving the Single Parent Benefit found that their circumstances had changed drastically.   This benefit now ceases automatically when their youngest child reaches eight years old - and the recipient is forced to apply for the " Newstart " allowance.

Basically, " Newstart " is the name now applied to " the Dole ".   What social security is saying is that single parents with an eight year old  are required to go out and get a job, but firstly they will need to make an application and be accepted into Newstart - and then all the conditions that apply will have to be met.

As a job seeker, they will be required to attend interviews and there will be job search requirements that they need to report on a regular basis.  Failure to attend may see even this sustenance withdraws for a period of time as a penalty.   There will be job seeking help, but this will come with conditions that must be scrupulously met.

The sticking point for many is that Newstart pays just $35 a day, much less than the former single parent allowance. Single parents will be expected to dress decently for job interviews, pay fares to get to and from interview sites - and still pay rent and put food on the table to support their family from a sharply reduced income.

The welfare agencies are bracing for an increase in the numbers seeking help.  It seems certain that a decrease of income exceeding a hundred dollars a week will tip many family units over the financial edge.   The Dole has remained unchanged over many years, despite inflation and sharp increases in rents and municipal charges and social workers have regularly claimed that it represents poverty to those delivered into it's clutches.    It was never meant to be generous - but now it is being applied to an ever widening  circle of unfortunates.

The other factor is the limited number of jobs available to those with time limitations.   Finding a job with hours that prevent a child returning from school to an empty house is daunting and it is a fact of life that those who have not participated in the work force for several years usually find their work skills are now lacking.   In many cases, previous work accreditation requires an expensive refresher course before that person can renew such employment - and that is at the worker's expense.

What is surprising is that this rather brutal change of direction has been implemented by a socialist government.   It is very much a matter of " throwing people in to the deep end " to simply curtail a long standing benefit and replace it with conditions that few will be able to immediately meet - and to do that with a disastrous income drop.

Such a change would normally come with " cushion " conditions.   Perhaps an interim period when the education system was used to deliver new skills to enhance employment prospects.    Perhaps a graded benefit reduction over a six month period to ease the benefit recipient back into the workforce.

This change will be imposed unfairly on those from a non English speaking background and those without any work skills who have just emerged from a failed marriage.   They seem destined to be condemned to a life of utter poverty and in some cases may end up homeless people, living rough on the streets with their children.

The government expects these measures to save Treasury $ 728 million.   It would not be unreasonable to think that some of this saving should be diverted to helping the cash strapped welfare agencies provide a little sustenance to get distressed people over the worst of the transition period.

We live in difficult economic times, but Australia has always been a nation that believes in a " fair go ".   We seem to be heading into thinking that is more applicable to the " third world " states that benefit from our generous overseas aid budget !