Scummo: Forget unemployed, give oldies even more money

By Leith van Onselen

In recent times, a veritable conga-line of groups, representing a huge cross-section of society, have called for the federal government to lift Australia’s pathetically low Newstart Allowance for the unemployed (aka ‘Dole’), including:

• Deloitte Access Economics senior partner Chris Richardson;
• the Business Council of Australia;
• Former Treasury Secretary, Ken Henry;
• Professor Peter Saunders from UNSW;
• Former Liberal leader, John Hewson;
• Former Prime Minister, John Howard;
• Business lobbyist, Heather Ridout;
• independent senators Tim Storer and Derryn Hinch;
• The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS);
• The Salvation Army;
• South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS); and
• The Australian Greens.