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.
