Welfare reform in the radical sixties

A Courier-Mail editorial argued the Commonwealth and States should cooperate quickly on a solution. The following year one letter to the editor suggested deserted wives should join a church, while 'Worried Sick Mother' said she had taken in children 'in a shocking state of health' for their lone invalid father who paid her $10 a fortnight. She had applied for a foster mother's allowance four months before, but 'all I received was a visit from a young student social worker'.

Breakthrough

The big change came on 2 May 1968 when Liberal Party Social Services Minister Bill Wentworth presented a Bill in Federal parliament 'To grant Financial Assistance to certain States in respect of benefits provided for Deserted Wives, and certain other Women, having the Custody, Care and Control of Children'.

The new legislation was to provide a more uniform level of assistance with the Commonwealth sharing the cost. This was particularly important in Queensland, where the general level of State assistance "has been considerably below that obtaining elsewhere". Unmarried mothers also became eligible for the pension.

All States agreed except Victoria which since 1947 had been paid special benefits by the Commonwealth Government. Wentworth hoped Victoria would now join the national scheme.

Moral stance continues

But there was not yet the hoped-for revolution in social philosophy.

Whilst acknowledging the Federal Government's plan, Jack Pizzey, Queensland Country Party Premier (until his death on 31 July 1968)continued to raise the question whether parents really deserved help. He argued mothers who received welfare payments should be required to 'bring the deserting father to account' and spoke of 'uniform legislationto help tighten the net on absconding husbands whoindulge in border-hopping in efforts to escape their obligations'.

The Premier seemed pleased that between 1962 and 1966 the number of children placed in foster care had increased from 618 to 1042, adding 'The atmosphere in State institutions is kept as close as possible to family life ... we [the State Government] have laid the foundations of a social structure which … can … keep pace with the ever-changing demands of modern civilisation'.

A Queensland Liberal politician said Australia too readily accepted responsibility for husbands who had 'blown through ... We spend $15 million a year caring for the families of shirkers and dodgers', although in Sunday Truth he acknowledged deserted wives in Queensland get 'the worst deal in Australia'.

The new pensions were paid immediately, in July 1968.

Crucial Announcement

Twenty months after the Exploratory Seminar of June 1968, Health Minister Doug Tooth announced the ground-breaking decision: improved rates of assistance were to be paid to 'deserted' mothers, married or not, including wives of prisoners, half the cost from the Commonwealth Government.

A mother with one child would now receive $18.50 a week instead of $4.85; a mother with six children $26 instead of $17.35.

In spite of hiccups the Little Brisbane Revolution of 1966 could now be considered successful in exposing a major problem and how to improve it, with significant initial results for many battlers.