Did You Know Tony Abbott Considered Axing Welfare to Under 30s?

The attack on youth welfare isn't a new frontier.

It's no secret that politicians are constantly trying to limit the amount of youth on welfare payments in order to save a few pennies for the budget. This, obviously, isn't always a bad thing, but there's a (dangerous) perception that the young people who do rely on welfare are "bludgers" who want to double-dip from their parents and the government. Tut tut.

Young people, of course, know this isn't the truth in the majority of cases, but that doesn't stop governments from considering damaging reform to the welfare system.

Exhibit A: Tony Abbott and his government. During his time in power, former PM Abbott and his government regularly made statements against young people at odds with reality. 

The ABC has now released a leaked document of a proposed crackdown on youth welfare, or "job snobs", that Abbott, then-treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann were pushing for in 2014.

The crackdown would have seen one of a few options pursued: 

• Removing welfare support for people under 30 entirely;
• Removing welfare support for people under 30 in areas of employment opportunities;
• Limiting welfare support for people under 30 who have a work history; or,
• Roll-out of an income basics card.

Studying while living out of your parents' home? Too bad. Losing your job suddenly at the age of 29 after being financially independent for more than five years? Tough luck. Have a young family under 30 with a low-paying job? Get a better job.

Thankfully, for most us who might've been granted welfare in our time, the then-Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews warned that the measures were too harsh.

"Young people in financial hardship could experience homelessness, be driven to crime and other antisocial behaviour, family breakdown and possible criminal flow-on resulting from removing the social security safety net," Mr Andrews wrote in a letter.

"It is not clear that there is a strong evidence base for this approach."

In a statement provided to the ABC, Abbott maintained that the proposals were an attempt to raise productivity in Australia.

"While I never comment on the deliberations of cabinet, the 2014 budget was an attempt to make serious structural reforms to lift our nation's productivity," Abbott explained.

While these proposals were never pushed into policy, similar crackdowns are still being passed through today. 

The Turnbull government pushed through a partnership with the retail industry that has seen youth on welfare placed on internships that pay as little as $4 an hour, while drug-testing will be rolled out for some on youth payments.

Photo: YouTube (ABC News)