For the last two weeks there has been a rumour on the NSW North Coast that the Rudd Government was contemplating a Centrelink shake up, and that this exercise wouldn't be a look at the agency itself but another free kick at those receiving pensions, benefits and allowances.
Today Minister for Human Services Joe Ludwig stated that he has ordered a crackdown on Centrelink fraud, the old Howard Government code phrase for 'let's see if we can make compliance conditions even harder for all welfare recipients'.
As "National Welfare Rights Network president Michael Raper said tax fraud was a bigger problem than welfare fraud.
"If they want to chase tax fraud, that's where the dollars are," he said. "There's some in social security but it's pretty tight and hard already. Less than half of 1 per cent of social security debt is fraud."
The Australian article today:
Tax fraud recovery had become a joke during the Howard era and most cases were not vigorously pursued because of legal costs. It was much easier to 'breach' welfare recipients for minor offences and run to the media with the few isolated instances of significant welfare fraud.
Senator Ludwig's statement is adding insult to injury here on the North Coast.
As contact with his office (and the offices of local members) clearly indicates that the Labor election promise to grant Disability Support pensioners the Utility Allowance is on the back burner and it is beginning to look as though the Rudd Government is hoping to delay implementing this promise during this fiscal year.
Apparently making the budgetary books look good may yet be considered more important than pensioners being able to meet their winter heating bills.
It had long been obvious that John Howard considered chronic illness or disability a moral weakness. It would be a great disappointment to many if Kevin Rudd was found to hold that same biased view.
