Understanding Covid-19 emergency social security measures as a from of basic income: Lessons from Australia

This article examines the changes in social security measures introduced by the Australian government during the first wave of Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020. These measures were basic income-like in that they became both more unconditional and adequate for a reasonable standard of living. This was achieved through a significant supplementary payment, suspension of mutual obligation requirements, and the relaxation of eligibility criteria on a range of unemployment-related payments. Through drawing on the results of an online survey, we examine the impacts of these measures and find that they significantly helped to alleviate poverty and improve wellbeing. These gains were not insignificant for the individuals involved, and offer empirical insights into studies of basic income. While seeing the Australian government embrace more generous and basic income-like measures, we also note that during Covid-19 gendered and class inequalities increased. This reminds us that basic income is never a silver bullet and, alongside implementing basic income payments, there also needs to be a concerted effort to restructure economic relations more generally.

An exploratory study examining the changes to Australia's social security system during COVID-19 lockdown measures.

During the 2020 COVID-19 wave, the Australian Government made an additional $550 Coronavirus Supplement available for people receiving social security payments, and temporarily suspended mutual obligation requirements. By doing so, the government effectively gave people who had been long stigmatised and subject to punitive conditionality to compel them into the labour market, financial security and their time back. Drawing on survey responses from people who received the $550 Supplement and had their mutual obligation activities suspended or reduced, this research examines how people used their time during this period and whether it differed from pre-pandemic government policy. We find that the increase in payments through the Supplement and the suspension of mutual obligations impacted positively on people's lives including the (1) the ability of respondents to meet basic needs and improve their long-term financial security, (2) improvements to physical and emotional well-being, (3) increased labour market engagement and (4) engagement in other forms of unpaid productive work.

Gendered impacts of changing social security payments during COVID-19 lockdowns: an exploratory study

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Government dramatically changed its approach to social security by introducing a temporary $550 per fortnight Coronavirus Supplement and the temporary suspension of mutual obligations. In late October 2020, we launched an online survey that asked respondents about how these changes impacted on their everyday lives and time use. Our findings suggest that the suspension of mutual obligations was extremely positive for respondents especially because it reduced the psychological and time pressure which make it harder for respondents to undertake long-term planning and preparation for employment. There were also considerable gendered impacts including how the reduction in time and psychological pressure allowed respondents to engage in their unpaid work such as looking after children and community engagement. Furthermore, our findings suggest that people placed onto mutual obligations undertake a range of productive work which provides important inputs into the economy and society more broadly despite being considered to be unproductive members of society. Respondents indicated that this work is easier to do when they had the time and economic base to do so, suggesting that a rethink of contemporary social security policy is needed.

Roadmap to recovery: Reporting on a research taskforce supporting Indigenous responses to COVID-19 in Australia.

In April 2020 a Group of Eight Taskforce was convened, consisting of over 100 researchers, to provide independent, research-based recommendations to the Commonwealth Government on a "Roadmap to Recovery" from COVID-19. The report covered issues ranging from pandemic control and relaxation of social distancing measures, to well-being and special considerations for vulnerable populations. Our work focused on the critical needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; this paper presents an overview of our recommendations to the Roadmap report. In addressing the global challenges posed by pandemics for citizens around the world, Indigenous people are recognised as highly vulnerable. At the time of writing Australia's First Nations Peoples have been largely spared from COVID-19 in comparison to other Indigenous populations globally. Our recommendations emphasise self-determination and equitable needs-based funding to support Indigenous communities to recover from COVID-19, addressing persistent overcrowded housing, and a focus on workforce, especially for regional and remote communities. These latter two issues have been highlighted as major issues of risk for Indigenous communities in Australia It remains to be seen how governments across Australia take up these recommendations to support Indigenous peoples' health and healing journey through yet another, potentially catastrophic, health crisis.