The Facts - How many will be robbed

Question:Senator Wong asked at Hansard page 49:
How many people who would previously have been on the DSP will be on enhanced Newstart under the Welfare Reform package?

Answer:
The estimated costs of the Welfare to Work package included, amongst other things, the impact of the following number of people who would have been on DSP, but will instead be on Newstart Allowance, as a result of the Welfare to Work package:

• 34,400 in 2006-07;
• 57,900 in 2007-08; and
• 75,700 in 2008-09.

These costing estimates include people who will be granted DSP between 11 May 2005 and 30 June 2006 and will be reviewed with some (those with 15-29 hours per week capacity) transferring to Newstart Allowance as a result of the review process.

These estimates represent annual average impacts for the relevant year, and have been rounded to the nearest 100.