Budget 2023-24 Open Thread

Kirsdarke Policy Analysis, Political Observation

I thought it might be best to create an open thread to discuss the Federal Labor Albanese/Chalmers Government’s first budget. It’ll be aired live on TV (and relevant online TV streams) at 7:30pm AEST, 7:00pm ACST and 5:30pm AWST tonight on 9 May.

Feel free to post your thoughts about it and other matters.

614 thoughts on “Budget 2023-24 Open Thread”

  1. Is Morrison still in Italy?

    If so, when the Royal Commission report was made public, it would have been about 3am in Italy. Did he wait up to have a read? Guilty conscience?

    If his lawyer has had time to issue a long statement, it probably means they knew what to expect and had it written out long ago, before he scuttled off to hide from scrutiny.

  3. One thing I have learned in recent years is :-

    Never, ever visit a small or even medium sized town in the English countryside, your chances of survival are slim to none at all!

  4. Good morning Dawn Patrollers. Not surprisingly, it’s a bit of a robodebt romp today.

    In a deep dive into it, Catherine Holmes’ report, Laura Tingle says that the Robodebt Royal Commission exposed welfare bashing as a meanness at the heart of our politics. It is clear that Tingle is very impressed by the Commissioner.
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-08/robodebt-royal-commission-political-populism-policy-culture/102575450
    Peter Hartcher says the “rotten robo-debt ruse bestows a damning epitaph for the Morrison government. (Almost as strong a statement as that from the Greens!)
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/rotten-robo-debt-ruse-bestows-damning-epitaph-for-morrison-government-20230706-p5dmcd.html
    The SMH editorial says that it is time for the robo-debt ministers to be called to account for the debacle. It says the royal commission’s report into the scheme has comprehensively stripped away any veneer of credibility that those responsible for the scheme may have attempted to convey in defence of their actions.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/time-for-robo-debt-ministers-to-be-called-to-account-for-debacle-20230707-p5dmn6.html
    Rick Morton, who tireless reported on the royal commission gives us his view on the findings and recommendations. He lists the names of those the commissioner found to have lied – Scott Morrison. Kathryn Campbell. Alan Tudge. Stuart Robert. Malisa Golightly. Annette Musolino. Serena Wilson. Jonathan Hutson. Mark Withnell. Paul McBride. Emma Kate McGuirk. Karen Harfield. Jason McNamara. Craig Storen.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2023/07/06/robo-debt-breaking-news
    Given the opposition is clearly in a state of denial over the report of the robodebt royal commission, it has obviously learnt nothing from past mistakes and would, if re-elected, presumably not hesitate to repeat them, opines the editorial in The Canberra Times.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8262295/coalition-robodebt-hubris-defies-belief/?cs=27763
    Ninefax describes how Scott Morrison has vehemently rejected adverse findings made against him by the robo-debt royal commission, which recommended unidentified individuals be referred for potential criminal or civil action over the illegal welfare crackdown. (The forever-tarnished slob needs to come home to face the music!)
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/robo-debt-report-recommends-criminal-and-civil-prosecutions-20230706-p5dm71.html
    After the Robodebt royal commission report, Mark Kenny wonders if the Liberals will be brave enough to do something with Scott Morrison.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8262127/when-will-liberals-act-against-their-former-leader/?cs=14329
    The ‘horror story’ of Robodebt ‘monster’ is a shameful saga of cascading failures, writes Michael Pascoe who begins his contribution with, “When Scott Morrison gets around to disputing the Robodebt Royal Commission’s findings about his crucial role in the scandal – the disaster, the obscenity, the potential crime – remember this: The commission’s findings fit Mr Morrison’s modus operandi.”
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/07/08/michael-pascoe-robodebt-morrison-horror-story/
    The royal commission’s final report lays bare how ministers and officials frustrated honest questioning and used friendly media to spread misleading information, writes Lenore Taylor, a lone voice on this matter.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2023/jul/08/all-governments-try-to-manage-stories-but-with-robodebt-it-became-a-stubborn-refusal-to-admit-the-truth
    The Conversation tells us how Twitter activists pushed a government scandal from hashtags to a royal commission.
    https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-robodebt-how-twitter-activists-pushed-a-government-scandal-from-hashtags-to-a-royal-commission-209131
    The robodebt scheme was passed like a hot potato up the line of Coalition ministers – but who will be held responsible, wonders Paul Karp.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/08/the-robodebt-scheme-was-passed-like-a-hot-potato-up-the-line-of-coalition-ministers-but-who-will-be-held-responsible
    Consulting firm PwC has decided to repay in full the nearly $1 million had received to evaluate the robo-debt scheme in a move welcomed by Government Services Minister Bill Shorten. (Surely the authorisation of this payment for incomplete work should pique the interest of the NACC.)
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/pwc-repaying-almost-1-million-in-robo-debt-consulting-fees-20230707-p5dmkr.html
    The robo-debt royal commission rejected the oral evidence of a PwC partner who testified he could not recall if the firm was preparing a report about the scheme for the Department of Human Services. Royal commissioner Catherine Holmes said she instead accepted the evidence of three other PwC personnel who all said they believed the firm was preparing a report for Human Services. She also accepted the revised evidence of the first partner who admitted it was “likely” Human Services knew a report was being prepared.
    https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/robo-debt-royal-commission-rejects-oral-evidence-of-pwc-partner-20230707-p5dmir
    Christopher Knaus opines that robodebt’s dark legacy will linger long after the royal commission report.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/08/it-was-so-shocking-why-robodebts-dark-legacy-will-linger-long-after-royal-commission-report
    Karen Barlow tells us how Catherine Holmes did not hold back in her criticism of the ministers involved in Robodebt.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8261578/the-robodebt-royal-commissioner-spares-no-ego-it-is-not-deserved/?cs=14329
    According to David Crowe, Robodebt was rotten from the start, and Morrison, Tudge and Porter are forever shamed by it.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/rotten-from-the-start-morrison-tudge-and-porter-are-forever-shamed-by-robo-debt-20230706-p5dm75.html
    Simon Benson reckons that the Robodebt royal commission report into the scheme offers long-lasting pain for a Coalition with nothing to gain. He says that for Bill Shorten the report is a vindication of his pursuit, which the Coalition continued to dismiss as a political stunt.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/robodebt-royal-commission-scheme-offers-longlasting-pain-for-a-coalition-with-nothing-to-gain/news-story/ff1d65c26754a79c53f5ff76be9f6a5a?amp
    Tony Wright opines that the Robo-debt commissioner searched for compassion but found nothing there. He says it seems Morrison has been now reduced to little more than a costly inconvenience.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/robo-debt-commissioner-searches-for-compassion-finds-nothing-there-20230706-p5dm76.html
    Matthew Knott lays out the damning findings for the robo-debt public servant now in new $900k job, Namely Kathryn Harris.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/she-failed-to-act-damning-findings-for-robo-debt-public-servant-now-in-new-900k-job-20230707-p5dmhf.html
    The ABC and the Liberal party face the same existential threat – they must reinvent themselves to survive, writes Trent Zimmermann.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/07/the-abc-and-the-liberal-party-face-the-same-existential-treat-they-must-reinvent-themselves-to-survive
    John Hewson has a lot to say about the “rudderless Coalition”. He writes that the opposition leader’s negativity, blame game and general lack of policy substance has already taken a toll on his party, as evidenced by the recent Aston byelection.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2023/07/08/rudderless-coalition
    Is it possible for the Coalition to lose 35 seats? Yes, it is, says John Lord.
    https://theaimn.com/is-it-possible-for-the-coalition-to-lose-35-seats-yes-it-is/
    Karen Middleton writes that Barnaby Joyce is unfazed by polling showing he’s a serious liability in key Liberal electorates, as more reports surface of an internal revolt against Littleproud.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2023/07/08/barnaby-joyce-after-the-leadership-again
    Karen Middleton writes that a re-examination of a joint parliamentary committee meeting six years ago, in which Stuart Robert was acting chair, has led to further queries around the then minister’s engagement with Synergy 360 and its associates. Bases on this, robodebt could be the least of Brother Stewie’s problems.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2023/07/07/new-details-stuart-robert-and-synergy-360
    Helen Haines has a bit of a (justified) gloat at the eventual operation of a decent NACC.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2023/07/07/national-anti-corruption-commission-about-vigilance
    In a very worthwhile contribution, Paul Bongiorno looks at how the NACC has kicked off. The body’s commissioner has received much praise so far.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2023/07/07/whos-the-naccery
    Paul Kelly says that Labor is entering the danger zone as business groups voice concerns over contradictory economic positions.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/labor-enters-the-danger-zone-as-business-groups-voice-concerns-over-contradictory-economic-positions/news-story/7c392c153a3e648f7d5c89d8887673f1?amp
    This week’s spinoff of PwC’s government services to private equity buyers leaves doubts about the effectiveness of the consultancy’s purge, and how the industry might be reshaped, writes Mike Seccombe.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2023/07/08/pwcs-phoenix-operation-draws-criticism
    With an economy on its knees, Karen Maley explains why more rate pain is on the way.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/not-an-economy-on-its-knees-brace-for-more-rate-pain-20230706-p5dm47
    Soaring agent fees and stamp duties are preventing an increasing number of homeowners from moving, according to new research from investment bank Jarden, and this reduction of stock is fuelling more rises in house prices, writes Michaal Read.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/house-prices-to-rise-as-stamp-duty-forces-owners-to-stay-put-jarden-20230707-p5dmhh
    Michaela Whitbourn tells us about the five key reasons why Berejiklian thought the ICAC should back off.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/five-key-reasons-why-berejiklian-thought-the-icac-should-back-off-20230704-p5dllr.html
    After almost 50 years of remarkable underachievement, the SA state Liberals are at risk of plunging to even lower depths. Paul Starick explains why, calling the a bunch of long-term losers in the process.
    https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/nick-mcbrides-defection-leaves-sa-liberals-with-nearhistoric-low-numbers-in-parliament/news-story/13c794a617f94f6eeaddc66f5f1abc9b
    FWIW here is dear old Gerard’s weekly whine at the ABC.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/commissars-cant-arrest-abcs-cultural-decline/news-story/121df58321acdce896278b39be1f67d1?amp
    Mathew Knott takes us inside the ‘nightmare’ cybersecurity scenario being war gamed by the government. It simulates Australia’s busiest airport being brought to a standstill by a crippling cyberattack and how would business, regulators and law enforcement would respond.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-nightmare-cybersecurity-scenario-being-war-gamed-by-government-20230703-p5dlbk.html
    A plan to build wind farms off the coast of Newcastle aims to provide jobs for displaced workers in the coal town – but first it must overcome resistance from the Department of Defence, writes Tom Morton.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environment/2023/07/07/defence-fights-plan-offshore-wind-farms
    The government’s reforms to raise dispensing limits on prescription drugs are aimed at making them more accessible and affordable – changes the Pharmacy Guild strongly opposes as a threat to their revenues explains Bianca Nogrady.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/health/2023/07/08/pharmacy-guilds-bid-block-prescriptions-reform
    Already popular overseas, the build-to-rent concept is taking hold in Australia, with a flood of projects in development and under construction. Major projects are under way in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/why-build-to-rent-could-be-the-best-fix-to-the-housing-crisis-20230707-p5dmj4.html
    Here’s Amanda Meade’s weekly media round-up.
    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jul/07/crikey-silence-guy-rundle-book-red-white-blown
    Less than 48 hours into the new financial year, two of Australia’s biggest listed food companies had either been sold to a foreign company or indicated it was headed that way, writes Jessica Lun who tells us how Australia’s biggest food producers keep getting gobbled up.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/bargain-hunt-will-australia-s-biggest-food-producers-keep-getting-gobbled-up-20230706-p5dmb9.html
    America doesn’t want Biden or Trump, but one of them will win in 2024, writes Bruce Wolpe.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/america-doesn-t-want-biden-or-trump-but-one-of-them-will-win-in-2024-20230706-p5dmcb.html

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  5. Soaring agent fees and stamp duties are preventing an increasing number of homeowners from moving, according to new research from investment bank Jarden, and this reduction of stock is fuelling more rises in house prices, writes Michaal Read

    LOL, how many decades has it been now that they have been playing that song. Hey ho cut those fees and stamp duty and voila housing sorted.
    So peasant A sells to peasant B because fees are wonderfully low ,peasant A still needs a home, net gain of homes = 0 . Meanwhile peasant A has more money in their pocket and what odds that means prices will go up ? Hint, about 100% given it happens every time.
    Remember The Rodent’s 2 rounds of First Home Owner subsidies ? Golly gosh the surprise to all when on both occasions the cost of new homes mysteriously jumped up not long afterwards.

  8. It has been obvious for years that Labor were just as involved as the Coalition in this phoney “war” of which side could be the nastiest, just as the parties competed to see who could be the cruelest to those on social security although neither side would admit it.

    • The Liberal and Labor Competition on Cruelty reached new lows when Liberals hunted every Australian in receipt of working age income support payments raising ROBODEBTs (shown to be false) as a method of getting the Budget Back in Black

      Labor is still trying to claw back overpayments! Give it up Shorten and spend your efforts improving integrity of Centrelink* database

      Because Australians let asylum seekers rot in incarceration it was a small step to run ROBODEBT for 8 years. When Liberals get back into government they will dun Aged pensioners for false debts too

      * whatever Centrelink is called now
      1. the underlying database where all transactions reside was written in Cobol in 1970s run on IBM type mainframe
      2. Management use a SAP database to oversight, technically that sucks
      3. user interface systems,
      – CRM, which stores all phone calls
      – the App which recipients use to record their activities – must have modern smart phone & data

  13. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    Peter Dutton may have a potential comedy career after trying to chide Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese for seeking to make political gain from the Robodebt scandal, writes James Campbell.
    https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/campbell-dutton-attack-on-shorten-comes-with-large-dose-of-irony/news-story/381f74d20b2f07a3289751e5998b6e63
    Anthony Galloway reports that Kathryn Campbell went on leave from her $900,000 a year job with the Defence Department last week – a day before the robo-debt royal commission made damning findings against her. There are now doubts within Defence over whether Campbell will return from leave after the royal commission made a range of scathing findings including that she repeatedly failed to act when the scheme’s flaws and illegality became apparent.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/robo-debt-public-servant-on-leave-amid-doubts-over-whether-she-will-stay-in-900k-job-20230707-p5dmn4.html
    If ever there was an instance of such a hideous failing in government policy and its cowardly implementation by the public service, Australia’s cruel, inept and vicious Robodebt program would have to be one of them, writes Binoy Kampmark who lays out the Robodebt rogues gallery.
    https://theaimn.com/the-robodebt-rogues-gallery/
    Crossbench MPs have called on the senior public servant Kathryn Campbell to consider resigning after the robodebt royal commission, claiming it would be “an insult” to the victims if she retains her Aukus role, writes Daniel Hurst.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/09/kathryn-campbell-retaining-aukus-role-would-be-insult-to-robodebt-victims-crossbenchers-say
    Political philosopher Vafa Ghazavi says that we shouldn’t miss the deeper structural problems in the Australian welfare state that this royal commission has brought to light. More profoundly, though, we’ve been presented with a rare opportunity to disrupt punitive, stigmatising attitudes towards the poor.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/robo-debt-redemption-here-s-how-to-put-wellness-back-in-welfare-20230706-p5dmc8.html
    After the shameful revelations from the royal commission, we have to change the way we talk about social security, urges Darren O’Donovan.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/09/lets-be-clear-robodebt-was-ended-by-welfare-recipients-with-their-suffering
    Looking at where the Voice referendum is going, Mark Kenny says that what never entered his mind in these first months was the weird Trumpian inversion in which the “no” side has frontally attacked Voice advocates as racists whose secret goal is the creation of “apartheid” in Australia. Kenny can see a Brexit-like wave threatening the Voice.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8262664/a-brexit-like-wave-threatens-the-voice/?cs=14258
    Jenny Hocking writes that the Greens underestimated Albanese when they again voted with the Coalition and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation to defer debate on the government’s signature $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund Bill and says a double dissolution election over housing, if it occurs, could spell trouble for the party.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/senate-housing-stand-off-may-be-double-jeopardy-for-the-greens-20230707-p5dmg8.html
    Phil Coorey reports that Trade Minister Don Farrell interrupted an overseas holiday to fly to Brussels on Saturday night for talks to stitch up a free trade agreement with the European Union. Amid signs of a breakthrough in the stand-off over access to European markets for Australian agricultural products, Senator Farrell will hold what his office said were “crucial negotiations” with his EU counterparts tomorrow and Tuesday.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/minister-flies-to-brussels-amid-signs-of-eu-trade-deal-breakthrough-20230708-p5dmre
    The Reserve Bank of Australia has repeatedly raised interest rates to counter inflation while ignoring massive profits from big business. And so, those who can least afford it keep getting hit, says Evan Jones.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/rbas-heavy-duty-rate-rises-a-lethal-tactic-in-class-warfare,17689
    The Ashes has moved on from Lords, but the actions of both cricketing sides still hold gifts and lessons, writes Greg Barns. The response by English establishment to the dismissal by Australian wicket keeper Alex Carey in the second Ashes test is manna from heaven in bolstering the case for an Australian head of state, writes Greg Barns.
    https://michaelwest.com.au/bad-lords-behaviour-a-gift-to-the-republican-movement-a-troubling-test-of-fairness/
    “Cardinal George decided I was a potato. Yes, me and all the other talented committed women of the catholic church. My hope is that George Pell’s death spells the end of the misogyny, clericalism and conservatism within the Church and the fallen potatoes finally get a chance to lead a community with wisdom and kindness’, writes Barbara Kelly.
    https://johnmenadue.com/fallen-potatoes-the-failure-of-the-catholic-church/
    Australian women and newborns are being discharged from hospital in record time after childbirth, with almost half of mothers now sent home one day or less after having an uncomplicated vaginal birth. This compares with about one in four women a decade ago, according to new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data that has sparked concerns mothers and babies are being sent home too soon as hospitals seek to free up beds.
    https://www.theage.com.au/healthcare/hello-baby-and-goodbye-new-mums-pushed-out-of-hospital-within-hours-of-giving-birth-20230707-p5dmi6.html
    Amber Schultz outlines the horrors of strata title living and managing.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/frustrated-neighbours-debt-and-1m-budgets-high-stakes-for-volunteer-strata-committees-20230707-p5dmhx.html
    Staff at Randwick City Council are in revolt after they were ordered back to their workplace five days a week, as employers warn staff who stay away from the office are putting their jobs at risk as the economy worsens.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/disrespectful-and-out-of-step-council-staff-revolt-over-end-of-flexible-working-20230706-p5dm8d.html
    The smell of defeat hovers over Tory MPs, and Rishi Sunak is unable to dispel the odour, writes Andrew Rawnsley.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/08/smell-of-defeat-hangs-over-tory-mps-rishi-sunak-unable-to-dispel-odour

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  14. Political philosopher Vafa Ghazavi says that we shouldn’t miss the deeper structural problems in the Australian welfare state that this royal commission has brought to light. More profoundly, though, we’ve been presented with a rare opportunity to disrupt punitive, stigmatising attitudes towards the poor.

    Indeed we shouldn’t miss the opportunity but we sure as hell will as it is entrenched within the ‘orthodoxy’ of both major parties. The only difference between the two is one still feels obliged to put some lipstick on the feral Hayek pig.
    Unfortunately for change it will probably take a massive and therefore disastrous economic downturn/disruption . One that causes the ‘comfy middle classes’ and their ‘investment property lifestyle’ to be smashed and so discover poor does not mean lazy. Even more unfortunately such a disruption would also, as JK Galbraith pointed out, be an opportunity for extreme politics be they left or right.
    For the Anglophone world at least I do nae see bright prospects. In US, UK, NZ, Australia the ‘left’ parties , supposedly labour orientated, almost simultaneously adopted what Galbraith called “piss on the poor’ economics. Clintons “New Democrats” , Tony Blah’s “New Labor” , NZ’s “Rogernomics” and Australia with Hawke+ Keating . When both major options promise more of the same shite people should not be surprised when ‘Trumps’ appear, someone promising the shake up the status quo a ‘wreck the joint’ disrupter . He should however be seen as a symptom rather than the disease . To do otherwise is to ensure more ‘Trumps’, or worse, will appear.

    What’s a Labor supporter meant to think when the left wing in the party stand up and defend and promote this sort of stuff ? Sweet music for the ‘2GB Demographic’ tho’ .
    .
    Gillard defends welfare cuts to mums
    .
    FAMILIES Minister Jenny Macklin has urged single parents whose benefits have been slashed from today to find a job
    .
    2 Jan 2013 — A CLAIM by Families Minister Jenny Macklin that she could survive on $35 a day under the new Newstart allowance has outraged single mothers.

    Albo the following year on his website..

    Friday, 1st August 2014

    Welfare Recipients Aren’t Bludgers, And They Deserve Respect From Joe Hockey The Guardian

    https://anthonyalbanese.com.au/welfare-recipients-arent-bludgers-and-they-deserve-respect-from-joe-hockey-opinion-the-guardian
    Respect and SFA else it seems.

    Albanese Government leaving JobSeeker destitute behind
    By Jennifer Wilson | 26 April 2023,

    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/albanese-government-leaving-jobseeker-destitute-behind,17451

  15. And the “caring” Labor government still refuses to increase Jobseeker, ignoring the pleas of those trying to survive on this pittance. This despite talk of budget surpluses and the pointless frittering away of new (not really – they are second hand) subs at a truly exorbitant cost.

  17. Damned right they should.

    She said politicians must lead the cultural change, given their unique position in the community.

    But what about economists too?

    Because economists are the ones who built the theoretical framework that has lent intellectual “credibility” to the idea that we need hundreds of thousands of people to be unemployed to keep inflation under control…………The new phenomenon of high unemployment was recast as the fault of workers for being too lazy, or of overly generous unemployment payments and minimum wages…………………in the 1980s and 1990s, the Hawke and Keating Labor governments, and the Howard Coalition government after them, began to make financial support for unemployed people increasingly conditional on certain behavioural obligations.

    A “new paternalism” had arrived in Canberra, on political winds from overseas.

    Not only did the new system require a higher level of unemployment than the post-war full employment days — there weren’t enough jobs to go around, by design — but unemployed people were also increasingly expected to prove their worthiness for unemployment assistance.

    And the reasons why unemployment payments could be suspended increased dramatically from the mid-90s.

    From that point on, the real value of Australia’s unemployment benefit was also left to rot by successive governments…………………….The era of inflation-targeting also coincided with a significant rise in underemployment, and a casualisation of the workforce…………… in 2021, economics professor Ross Garnaut sharply criticised the practice of using unemployment as a policy tool.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-09/robodebt-inflation-targeting-economists-and-unemployment/102575336

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