Forty years ago, only 3 per cent of working age adults depended on welfare. Today it is 17 per cent. There used to be 22 workers to support each person on welfare. Now there are five. This book asks how Australia lost its proud heritage of self-reliance, and what can be done to recover it.
We live in a society that is richer than ever before, so most people should be able to look after themselves with little help from Government. Yet the income support numbers have blown out, and ever-rising taxes are crippling those who are still working. Official unemployment has fallen below 6 per cent, but there are many more 'hidden unemployed' on the Disability Pension. Single parents who could be working are living on welfare for an average of 12 years.
Like any other addiction, kicking welfare dependency will not be easy, but the longer we leave it, the worse things will become.
