Fed: Beazley said welfare reform a philosophy statement

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2000
Fed: Beazley said welfare reform a philosophy statement

CANBERRA, Dec 11 AAP - The federal government's welfare package would simply be a philosophical
statement with a few dollars thrown in, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said today.

The government will unveil its shake-up of the $55 billion social security net this
week, in response to the McClure report into welfare reform.

Return-to-work supplements are regarded as likely measures, along with a simplified
system of payments, bringing jobless benefits into line with pensions.

But Mr Beazley said most cabinet members were not serious about the issue.

"All the reporting I've seen so far suggests that basically what you're going to get
is more of a philosophical statement with some small dollars put around it," he told Melbourne
radio 3AW.

"I think there's a debate going on inside the cabinet between the small number of people
who actually think it's a serious issue, and those who just want to dismiss it and put
it off the agenda, effect a few more savings in the area and get on with the things that
really interest them.

"Generally speaking, those that they want to make a bit of a splash with, they do after
Christmas rather than before."

AAP jb/daw/was

KEYWORD: WELFARE BEAZLEY

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.