Big rise in numbers claiming the dole

THE number of Queenslanders receiving the dole for more than five years has more than doubled in half a decade, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

New figures show more than 22,000 Queenslanders have been on Newstart or Youth Allowance for more than five years, compared with 10,269 five years ago. Across the country, the number has risen from 62,853 to 116,682.

Bundaberg, where the Turnbull Government wants to roll out a cashless debit card but is being opposed by Labor and crossbench MPs, has the most – 750 on unemployment payments for over five years.

Cairns, Hervey Bay, Toowoomba, Gold Coast and Maryborough are also hot spots.

The skyrocketing number of long- term dole recipients comes as the number of working- age welfare recipients decreases, highlighting longterm unemployment and intergenerational welfare.

Taxpayers also continue to foot the welfare bill – $ 31.8 billion was spent last year on working- age welfare.

Social Services Minister Dan Tehan said the Turnbull Government would fight to roll out the cashless debit card.

“The evidence shows that children born to welfare- dependent parents are more likely to become welfare dependent themselves,” he said.

“In the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay region, 90 per cent of Newstart or Youth Allowance recipients under 25 had a parent who had received income support welfare at some point during the past 15 years.”

Opposition families and social services spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said the Government needed to create more jobs for young Australians.

“It is unacceptable that after more than two decades of uninterrupted economic growth there are communities around Australia that have missed out on the benefits of our growing economy,” Ms Macklin said.