The Turnbull government is on the verge of overhauling the welfare system after negotiating with the Senate crossbench over the long summer break.
The Senate is expected to this week consider a planned overhaul of Australia’s welfare system, designed to simplify payments and change the jobseeker compliance regime.
The proposed changes include a major overhaul of compliance measures, including a demerit-point system for people who persistently dodge job-seeking obligations.
Drug testing of welfare recipients has been dumped from the bill, and the vast bulk of remaining measures are expected to pass with the crucial backing of the Nick Xenophon Team.
Community organisations fear these changes, among others, could further punish vulnerable people as well as dependent family members of welfare recipients.
