Abbott adopts give-and-take approach

Tony Abbott has flagged a return to the welfare policies of the former Howard
government that resulted in jobseekers' benefits being cut if they failed to pass
"mutual obligation" tests.
The opposition leader made the call when announcing a number of incentives to help
the long-term unemployed into work.
Welfare recipients under 30 who find and keep a job for 12 months will receive
$2,500, Mr Abbott said on Tuesday.
If they stay in the position for two years they'll get $4,000.
Anyone on Newstart who relocates to the bush for work will receive $6,000, while the
employer who takes them on will be paid $2,500.
"This is a policy of incentives, it's not a policy of punishment," Mr Abbott told
reporters in Canberra.
But the Liberal leader wasn't about to become a soft touch.
Asked to outline his position on jobseekers who failed to turn up to interviews, Mr
Abbott said "there should be consequences for non-performance".
"Under the former government consequences could be the suspension of benefits until
compliance was resumed," he said.
"I'm not intending any significant changes to the kind of regime that was formerly
in place."
Welfare groups took that to mean a coalition government would reverse changes
introduced by Labor in mid-2009.
That view was supported by a coalition press release that outlined "how Labor has
failed" on employment participation.
It notes that "under Labor, mutual obligation has become a pale imitation of the
original scheme".
Further, the number of penalties for breaches has fallen from 32,000 in 2007/08 to
19,406 in 2008/09.
"Since July 2009 there has only been 13,779 penalties and only 7,257 involved the
most severe penalty of loss of benefit for eight weeks."
Last year, Labor reduced the number of eight-week penalties in play and gave
Centrelink staff greater scope to examine reasons for non-compliance.
The Welfare Rights Centre says the changes were positive because the former
coalition government's regime was "too extreme".
"It resulted in people being evicted from their homes because they couldn't pay
their rent," centre director Maree O'Halloran told AAP.
"The effect on our clients was clearly catastrophic."
Ms O'Halloran said penalising welfare recipients wasn't a sign of success.
"Having a lot of penalties means you've actually failed in that you haven't engaged
people."
Mr Abbott's cash incentives for jobseekers who find and keep a job were welcomed by
both the Welfare Rights Centre and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).
ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie says the cash will help young people who've
been out of work "pay off debts and bills".
But she said the sting in the tail of the relocation payment wasn't such a good idea.
Under Mr Abbott's proposal, if people who've moved to accept a job don't last half a
year they won't receive benefits for six months "unless reasonable grounds for job
separation can be demonstrated".
"The proposed penalty of six months without income support for those who move and
subsequently leave a job is far too harsh and will discourage people from taking up
relocation assistance," Dr Goldie said in a statement.
Last week, Prime Minister Julia Gillard promised a similar $6,000 relocation bonus
under a re-elected Labor government.
She also announced a tougher approach to those on the dole.
Benefits would be suspended if jobseekers missed an appointment with their
Centrelink officer. Missing a second meeting would see benefits cut with no
allowance for backpay.
Ms Gillard said the crackdown would drive home the message that "people who can work
should work".



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