Welfare dependence in Australia

An analysis of adult welfare dependency shows that 32 per cent of the Australian population aged 20+ are primarily dependent on a government benefit or pension. A further analysis shows that 41 per cent of children aged 0-15 are living in low income families defined as families in receipt of Additional Family Payments. This article offers some preliminary findings concerning the nature of these transfers and the spatial distribution of these welfare beneficiaries. It also explores some of the social and economic implications of this distribution