An independent commission should set the rate of Newstart to end the politicisation of welfare payment rates in Australia, according to a broad group of social service organisations, health groups and charities. Some organisations said the commission should provide advice to the government, while others called for an authority like the Fair Work Commission that would set welfare payment rates free from from political interference. Most welfare payments increase against these measures twice a year, although the former Labor government gave the age pension a one-off real terms increase in 2009 following a review. The former independent MP Cathy McGowan last year produced a bill for a social security commission after she backed calls from the Australian Council of Social Service. Scott Morrison has repeatedly said he has no plans to raise the rate of the payment, despite calls from some Coalition backbenchers.

Source: The Guardian October 01, 2019 07:18 UTC