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0 pointse1g12y ago0 comments

An Australian here - there is absolutely no universal basic income in Australia.

We have a nurturing social safety net and it provides some minimal payments for those who are experiencing hardship. These payments are temporary and a meant to help individuals survive while they get up on their feet again. The selection criteria is quite forgiving because the system is setup to err on the side of overpayments rather than risking people in genuine need to go homeless. Therefore, there are a small group people who take advantage of the system, but it is not designed to be anything like a universal basic income.

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5 comments · 1 top-level

1stop12y ago· 4 in thread

I think you misunderstand australian system. It is identical to a universal basic income, but it has been built with efficiency in mind (much like ALL of Australia's welfare systems).

A basic income of ~$10k/year is provided to everyone (who needs it, i.e the unemployed). Depending on what kind of other needs (rent, children, school, etc) other benefits are available as well. It is not temporary, and you can live on it for your whole life if 10k/year is enough for you.

It was designed EXACTLY to be like a universal basic income, it has only (in the last 15 years) been eroded to a "temporary unemployment" scheme in peoples minds.

So you may be an Australian, but you seem to lack the knowledge of your own welfare system.

Tell me, if it isn't a universal basic income, then who is not 'eligible' for it? (Excluding people who already earn more than the basic income of course).

dragonwriter12y ago

> Tell me, if it isn't a universal basic income, then who is not 'eligible' for it? (Excluding people who already earn more than the basic income of course).

A UBI means everyone gets it, regardless of their other income. What you describe sounds is a means-tested minimum income support, not an unconditional basic income. UBI proponents oppose income-based means-testing for a number of reasons, including both additional administrative complexity and the fact that income-based means-testing reduces the incentive to productive work by creating an range in which additional outside income has reduced or no impact on total income, whereas with UBI no such range exists.

1stop12y ago

So everyone earning at least 10k isn't ubi, because the government isn't supplying it to everyone, you'd prefer a tax and redistribution? (Because that's easier to administer).

Australia's productivity is evidence that "reduced incentive to work" is FUD not fact.

dantheman12y ago

UBI is that everyone gets it, it's not unemployment money. It's every person (with the caveat that maybe only people over 18 or whatever) will get the money.

1stop12y ago

Oh true Scotsman, I get it.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

5 comments · 1 top-level

1stop12y ago· 4 in thread

I think you misunderstand australian system. It is identical to a universal basic income, but it has been built with efficiency in mind (much like ALL of Australia's welfare systems).

It was designed EXACTLY to be like a universal basic income, it has only (in the last 15 years) been eroded to a "temporary unemployment" scheme in peoples minds.

So you may be an Australian, but you seem to lack the knowledge of your own welfare system.

Tell me, if it isn't a universal basic income, then who is not 'eligible' for it? (Excluding people who already earn more than the basic income of course).

dragonwriter12y ago

> Tell me, if it isn't a universal basic income, then who is not 'eligible' for it? (Excluding people who already earn more than the basic income of course).

1stop12y ago

So everyone earning at least 10k isn't ubi, because the government isn't supplying it to everyone, you'd prefer a tax and redistribution? (Because that's easier to administer).

Australia's productivity is evidence that "reduced incentive to work" is FUD not fact.

dantheman12y ago

UBI is that everyone gets it, it's not unemployment money. It's every person (with the caveat that maybe only people over 18 or whatever) will get the money.

1stop12y ago

Oh true Scotsman, I get it.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse