Does Australia rely too much on taxes on incomes?

Jonathan Bradshaw at the symposium on his legacy in Social Policy in the 21st century #York2025 @easp-spa-2025.bsky.social

The share of Australian households with income from government payments is at a 25 year low. Those with zero or less than 1% of their income from social security has increased from 41 to 58%.

Despite recent increases, Australia remains near the bottom of OECD advanced economic nations when it comes to the adequacy of out-of-work payments for the short-term unemployed.
johnmenadue.com/despite-rece...

But my "favourite" chart is this one - incomes boomed across the distribution in the years leading up to the Financial Crisis and inequality rose to a higher level. But between 2013 and 2019 income growth has been at historically low levels.

So I have a chapter in this on "Land of the 'Fair Go'? Democracy and Inequality". Given that the latest Hilda Report has just come out, I can update the chart on longer run-trends in inequality.

Same trends for lone parents:

A short thread on the adequacy of minimum income benefits in Australia vs the USA : Trends over time for a single person