Welfare Spending Data Online
3 July 2014 at 10:55 am
The Federal Government’s national income support data is to be made available online.
Federal Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews said making the income support data readily accessible was part of the Government’s policy to reduce red tape.
“This data will be updated quarterly and includes the number and location of Australians on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Newstart, Youth Allowance and Family Tax Benefits,” he said.
“Having this information readily available will help raise public awareness and understanding of patterns of income support across Australia.
“Access to timely data will help improve the evidence base around our welfare support system, so that we can work together on innovative solutions to improve it.”
As of March this year, about five million Australians were receiving income support payments, including 2.4 million people receiving the Age Pension.
Currently data from the last quarter of 2013 can be found online. Topics such as welfare payment recipients are available.
The Minister said other related data such as that contained in the annual Income Support Customers Statistical Overview would be added to the website when released early this financial year.
To access the income support data, go to www.data.gov.au/