I have worked and lived in both London and Melbourne in the past decades. Although both UK and Oz have similar sorts of benefits, they make it more complicated to apply for and continue to receive benefits in Oz. They put all the onus on the receiver and punish for any transgressions even if you are innocent of intent. Every part of your life is examined and you must show original documents to prove every single detail. Every thing is subject to a Means Test (what your income and assetts are).


I certainly preferred to work rather than apply for any benefits in either country. As my working life in UK was not a long one I receive 11.30 per week State Pension. I kept working until I returned to Oz for family reasons, and worked there. I can no longer work for health reasons, and have been trying to get a part Aged Pension in Oz. For every dollar that I earn from any source (including the UK pension of 11.30 pounds per week) I lose half of it from pension. My assets are looked at the same. I may only receive a very small pension but I will be covered for cheap medicine and medical treatment. The NHS is a favourite wipping boy but do you realise what it is worth to a family?

Families in Oz receive a similar benefit to Family Tax Credit, and have similar complaints regarding child care costs but can receive government assistance with part of this. So the arguments being put for staying at home or going back to work are similar. Housing costs here in Melbourne are very high as are rents. There is NO Council paying anyones rent and there is very very little public housing. There is a rent assistance for those whose only income is Disability or Aged Pension but the ceiling on benefit is set at about one quarter of market rents. I currently have my son and two teenage grandchildren living with me as his business is going to the wall....he is not eligible for any benefits at all.

I say all of this to show that the UK benefits system is not so different and in fact is more generous than most. Some people fall through the net (as i would if I claimed any sort of benefit in UK) and this is hard on them. I am sorry that parents of young children feel they must give up their care into the hands of strangers. It must be hard.