Australian Left Review

Article Title

All Quiet on the Home Front? Contradictions of Family Life

Authors

Rebecca Albury

Abstract

The New Right’s economic and industrial policies have attracted far more attention in the Australian media than their social and family policies. Lower taxes will, however, require lower state expenditure on social welfare programs. The burden of the “reduced” state expenditure on welfare will fall on people with lower incomes. Women, Aboriginal people, recent migrants, people with disabilities, and what can be called multiple minority groups, will be hardest hit as the “family” is asked to replace the state as the chief source of welfare.