Role of Federal Government in Australia in a Social Policy Development between the Years 1901-1972 - Essay Example

Running Headers: The role of the state (Federal Government) in Australia in a social policy development between the years 1901-1972 Name: Course: Instructor’s Name: Institution: Date: Introduction Australian system of government was established in the liberal democratic tradition. Founded on the values of the rule of law, religious tolerance, association and freedom of speech, Australian government practices and institutions reflect North America and British models but at the same time, they are distinctively Australian. The Commonwealth of Australia is one of the oldest democracies internationally and was established in 1901 when the earlier British colonies decided to federate. The Australian initial federal government adopted the democratic principles and practices that helped in shaping the pre-federation colonial parliament for example women’s suffrage and one man one vote (Jonathan, and Bellamy, 2007). The Australian colonies had inherited an electoral tradition from Britain that incorporated limited public and plural voting and franchise. Abuses including intimidation and bribery of voters inspired electoral alteration. Australia pioneered reforms that strengthened the electoral practices of current democracies (Dalton, et al, 1996). This discussion focuses on the role of state (federal government) in a social policy development between the years 1901 and 1972 in Australia. The paper also describes the going back and forward between liberal government and labor government and social policy changes, no changes and regress. Social policy development Social policy in western democratic states was premised on values of parity of opportunities, rights and needs, justice, difference and citizenship and diversity. In Australia, welfare policy reforms for instance, welfare to work was largely criticized for disadvantaging further welfare recipients such as single parent’s families. The notion of social inclusion and exclusion that forms key policy proposals of new labor governments in Britain and Australia has been condemned also for being ambiguous and rhetorical and the subjectivities and experiences for persons labeled homeless (Jamrozik, 2005). Policy changes from a welfare state to a workfare state and perceptions of dynamic citizenship presuppose that all citizens will grab each opportunity independent, be competitive hardworking, self responsible, and morally sovereign individuals. Homeless citizens who are incapable of accessing the resources needed for full participation in the community are termed as excluded citizens and are supposed to be lacking in these qualities of citizenship (Dalton, et al, 1996). Role of federal government in a social policy development between the years 1901-1972 The Australian federal government played major roles between the years 1901 and 1972 to ensure social policy development in terms of equality of opportunities, justice, diversity, rights and needs and citizenship for all individuals in the country (Dalton, et al, 1996). In Australia, the effects for the welfare state were dramatic. A central aspect of the post welfare state is the use of social policy as an instrument of support for the free market economic policy rather than the mitigation of the immoderations of disparity that was created by the market (Jamrozik, 2005). With the affiliated frequency of negative attitudes to those mainly underprivileged by the alteration in social policy, the criterion of undeserving and deserving also became a significant component in practice (Carson, et al 2003). Since 1901, the federal government imposed social security system that was funded through taxation and have been in effect up to date and covers all citizens. Men and women aged 65 and 61.5 years and over respectively and who are Australian citizens or those who have lived in the country for not less than 10 years continuously were paid old age pensions (Jonathan, and Bellamy, 2007). The continuous residence obligation can be relinquished for persons who have been residents for several shorter periods. In addition, Australian residents aged 16 years and over and who had become permanently blind or entirely incapacitated and who had lived in the country for not less than five years were paid disability pensions (Carson, et al 2003). There was also provision of widows’ pensions. The workers compensation covered the employed individuals while the government provided unemployment assistance to persons aged 20 to 65 years of age. Adolescences aged sixteen to twenty years were entitled for the youths training allowance and it’s administered by the Department of employment, Education and Training. The government also since 1908 ensures that citizens are provided with maternity and work linked sickness, and medical benefits. Statistics shows that, social security expenditures went from roughly nothing to fairly over four per cent of Gross Domestic Product for the period of the first thirty years of federation and they went up by approximately another four percentage points in the course of the 1970s (Peter, and Diana, 1992). In Australia, social work followed its advancement in the United Kingdom and the United States and was influenced by traditions. In 1929, the federal government established the New South Wales Board of Social Study and Training and the Victorian Institute of Almoners in Melbourne (Jamrozik, 2005). There were approximately five training institute by 1939 where two were training hospitals whereas the other three were general schools. Social work began and was mainly focused on community settings and hospitals (Dalton, et al, 1996). From the 1950s, the government supported tertiary education through the expansion of universities especially with respect to technological and scientific advance, offering scholarships on merit basis at postgraduate and undergraduate levels and from the 1970s, it championed equal chance of access principles (Carson, et al 2003). Through the Commission of Inquiry and Poverty that was announced in 1972, the general economic growth revealed high poverty levels among various groups of people such as the old, more so those residing in rental accommodations, single parents, disabled people, indigenous persons and the immigrants (Peter, and Diana, 1992). At that time, ten to fifteen percent of the citizens lacked hospital and medical insurance in a system that offered negligible public support. In 1967, the government carried out a referendum that led to the inclusion of Australian Aborigines in the constitution as equal civilian to the other citizens (Jamrozik, 2005). The Australian federal government also played an important role in social policy about homelessness and housing though this program was not well coordinated (Jamrozik, 2005). This ensured provision of housing and accommodation to the less fortunate individuals and the homelessness. These included old persons, persons with disabilities among others. In order to better and increase efficiency in the provision of accommodation, the federal government in collaboration with the state governments established certain programs that were managed by state governments (Zufferey, et al, 2004). The federal system also had the responsibility of providing health care to all Australians. The government had established a countrywide health care system that provided general health care to all citizens. This system provided services to persons through a co -payment or free of charge and the services were offered by optometrists, or medical practitioners (Dalton, et al, 1996). Liberal Government The Liberal Government or the Liberal Party of Australia was and is still a political party in Australia that was established to replace the United Australia Party after the federal elections held in 1943. The liberal party contends with the labor party for political office. The Liberal Party of Australia was prior an advocate of economic liberalism and before the Howard government, the party was fairly domineering in its economic policies and as a result maintained high tariff levels in the country (Peter, and Diana, 1992). Currently, the liberal party has become a conservative party even though it constantly had a social liberal wing. Contemporary, during the reign of the Prime Minister Howard John, the party has moved to a further more socially conventional policy agenda (Jonathan and Bellamy, 2007). Labour government The Australian Labour Party was and still is a political party in Australia and has been the leading party of Commonwealth of Australia ever since the federal elections of 2007. It was established in 1891 by Labor Movement in Australia and is the oldest political party. The party won federal seats at the federal election held in 1901. The labor government (the Australian Labor Party) was elected in 1972 and it resulted to an increase in large scale social change and increased technical specialization (Peter, and Diana, 1992). The seeds of social modification were ready to germinate into enquires to welfare, health, poverty and participation. The issues of migrant came into fore front and they resulted into enquiry and report that recommended a policy of multiculturalism, a change in thinking from the former approach of assimilation. Community improvement programs were funded in social and health welfare, as well as the politically radical Australian Assistance Plan (Jonathan, and Bellamy, 2007). This plan was intended to link the central/federal government with the local society, evading state governments in an attempt aimed at efficiency, effectiveness and equality in the allocation of resources and participation. A countrywide community health program that required cooperation of state government in addition engaged social worker staffs. Community work, community development and social policy and planning attracted the social workers (Dalton, et al, 1996). The labor government has since 1901 enhanced the responsibilities of the federal governments and also has delivered reforms that are driven by the enduring labour values of compassion, fairness and responsibility to ensure social policy development (Jamrozik, 2005). The labor government engaged in the building of a more skilled workforce to guarantee the future of citizens. This it did through the provision of training to ensure the citizens obtains the required knowledge and understanding through the establishment of schools, provision of undergraduate and postgraduate education through scholarships for all Australian citizens. The labour government also supported families through life expected changes, provision of employment to the adults and other circumstances (Carson, et al 2003). As a result, this assist in bringing the gaps between the poor and the rich and ensured that parents were able to provide basic needs such as food, housing, education and medical care for their children. Through this, the government ensures that individual’s dignity is restored, as they are able to take responsibilities both for their families and for themselves (Jonathan, and Bellamy, 2007). The labor government also assisted in solving unemployment issues in the country. After the 1901 federation, most people faced unemployment problems and it was the responsibility of the labor government to ensure that all Australians had jobs or were self-employed. According to the Australian Association of workers, 2000, high unemployment rates can cause such social problems as crimes; if individuals lack high disposable income, they are likely to result in crimes therefore increasing insecurity levels in the economy; unemployment can also reduce workers life expectancy by seven years (Jamrozik, 2005). In order to solve these problems, and preserve existing jobs, the labor government imposed legal barriers to the outsiders who wanted jobs in Australia, immigration obstacles, and other trade barriers against foreign competition. In Australia, the 1945 White Paper on Full Employment in Australia established a government policy of full employment, which policy lasted until the 1970s. This was a technique to ensure full employment in the country. Equity is a people oriented and ethical concept with social dimensions. It focuses on fairness of processes and outcomes of decision making. Equity is assessed in terms of priority, parity, and justice. Justice is the first desirable quality of social institutions. In order to achieve equity, the government had the responsibility of integrating and balancing these criteria’s jointly with various economic policies. The government enhanced grass-roots participation and pluralism in decision-making and also empowered disadvantaged groups who are defined by ethnicity, gender and income (Zufferey, et al, 2004). Conclusion This paper has explored the responsibilities of federal government in Australia on social policy developments between the years 1901 and 1972, the liberal government and the labour government on social policy changes. The Australian central government has since the 1901 federation played significant roles to ensure the welfare of its people in terms of provision of housing, by proving accommodation to the homelessness and the less privileged (Zufferey, et al, 2004). During that time, social housing was not well coordinated, but the government tried to establish certain programs to ensure efficiency in housing. Through the establishment of training sectors, the government was responsible in building a well skilled workforce that guaranteed their future. The federal system also had the responsibility of providing health care to all Australians either free of charge or co- payment from the users. The government also imposed a social security system that is funded through taxation and was meant to help the less fortunate individuals such as the old, the disabled, the unemployed, and the sick. Solving unemployment problems and ensuring equity in terms of decision making and justice was another major responsibility of the federal government. Currently, many changes have taken place in Australia which has led to the improvements in the social policies and how these services are provided to the individuals. The government continues to deliver reforms that both respond to the current needs and anticipate and face future challenges (Jonathan, and Bellamy, 2007). References Australian association of social workers (2000) policies and procedures for establishing eligibility for membership of AASW. Barton, ACT, Australian Association of Social Workers. Carson, E., Fopp, R., and Parker, S. (2003) vulnerable in the city; a study of accommodation and other services for vulnerable adults in inner, Adelaide, Social Policy Research Group, university of south Australia. Dalton, T., Draper, M., Weeks, W. and Wiseman, J. (1996) Making Social Policy in Australia. Australia: Allen and Unwin. Erebus Consulting Partners (2005) National evaluation of the supported accommodation assistance program (SAAP: final report, commonwealth of Australia. Fopp, R. , Parker, S. with Hume, A., Talbot, C., Carson, E, and Quinn, C. (2004) Getting out and Staying out: pathways to independent living: Best Practice, Critical interventions and strategies for addressing homelessness in Australia: final report, Adelaide, university of south Australia and uniting care Wesley. Jamrozik, A. (2005) Social Policy in the Post Welfare state, 2e, Frenchs Forest: Pearson Longman Jonathan, A, B., Bellamy, J. A. (2007) Federalism and regionalism in Australia: new approaches, new institutions. Sydney: ANU E Press Peter, S., Diana, E. (1992) Social Policy in Australia: Proceedings of National Social Policy Conference. Sydney: University of New South Wales. Zufferey, C. and Kerr, L. (2004) Identity and Everyday Experiences of Homelessness: Some Implications for Social Work. Australian Social Work Read More