Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

As I have indicated to the chamber, and as Senator Cash said earlier, the coalition believes that the best form of welfare is a job. The government wants a welfare system that supports the most vulnerable, that encourages those capable of work or capable of study to do so, that reduces intergenerational welfare dependency and that, more than anything, is sustainable into the future.

We have one of the best welfare transfer systems in the world. Australia targets a bigger share of its cash transfers to households in the bottom income quintile than any other OECD country. Calls to raise the rate of Newstart ignore the nature of the social security system, which is designed to target need. Over 99 per cent—can I underscore that: over 99 per cent—of Newstart recipients receive more than just the base rate of Newstart. This includes providing rent assistance to those in the private rental market and family tax benefits to those raising children. The combination of these supplementary payments often exceed—can I underline that: often exceed—the value of the Newstart payment itself.

As I said, the coalition believes that the best form of welfare is a job. One of the dividends of the good management of this government and the increase in the number of jobs in our economy is that 140,000 people have been taken off welfare. That is very important, because that's about 140,000 individuals or family units— (Time expired)