Neo-liberalism and welfare conditionality in Australia: A critical analysis of the aims and outcomes of compulsory income management programs
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Neoliberal philosophy has inspired increasing welfare conditionality in Australia whereby income support payments are tied to proscribed activities and/or good behaviour. The toughest form of conditional welfare is arguably compulsory income management (CIM) which involves the quarantining of either 50 per cent (via the Basics Card) or 80 per cent (via the Cashless Debit Card) for spending on food, rent and other essential items. The stated intent of CIM is to reduce participation in what are deemed anti-social activities by precluding spending on alcohol and drugs, cigarettes, pornography and gambling. Based mainly on official government evaluations, this paper argues that CIM unfairly restricts and controls the individual choice and agency of participants in terms of exercising their democratic rights. It also concludes ironically that instead of enhancing personal responsibility and engagement with the labour market as proposed by government, the CIM program has almost certainly increased for many participants their long-term reliance on the income support system and associated services.
Author: Philip Mendes
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3207505647