Australia is a RICH country and we can easily afford a just-above-the-poverty-line basic income to everyone 18 or older. Each Australian is worth $55,800/ year in disposable income (Aus. Bureau of Statistics) https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abs.gov.au%2Fhousehold-income&psig=AOvVaw39_GZ3tAeYlPu3p-t2R44g&ust=1590735008838000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCPDE8-r71ekCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

The recent Rescue-packages proves the government is easily capable of allocating basic income needs well above the normal welfare requirements. Today austerity seems to be the only answer given to remedy the economic crisis in Australia, and yet people are getting poorer and poorer. Automated manufacturing and wealth accumulation are changing our approach to work and more and more is produced with fewer and fewer people. Unemployment has skyrocketed and paid work is no longer a right for everyone. The good news is, never in history has human society produced so much wealth, but while this worth is produced by the work of all past and present, this wealth is unevenly distributed amongst citizens. We as Australian citizens propose an alternative; it's called Unconditional Basic Income. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states "...Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control." Unconditional Basic Income should be: universal, individual, unconditional, and high enough to ensure a dignified existence and participation in society. This new fundamental right for Australians not only would eradicate misery, but it is also a way to develop non-market orientated work, such as artists, parents, and volunteers. But it’s also an economic measure; Unconditional Basic Income for all means supporting local business. This would therefore allow us to fully exercise our citizenship. The Unconditional Basic Income can be financed by implementing more financial and high income taxation, consumption tax on luxury goods and polluting products, and mainly self-financing by simplification of a very long list of current social transfers and associated public services which have become obsolete. What we propose would be much simpler, equal and transparent. Everyone gets an Unconditional Basic Income. It is up to the citizen to work if they want an increase in income. Overall, the nature of the Unconditional Basic Income support - lifelong financial security and free of means test - will enable people to plan their own careers with greater certainty, with movements in and out of the workforce as required or desired to develop various skills and aptitudes. The provision of unconditional income support will provide the nation with an income support system which is free from political manipulation. It will remove income support from welfare policy considerations.

Why is this important?

Under current systems, when someone becomes employed they lose most of their welfare payments. This means they can go from not working at all to working a full week, but not earn much more than they did previously, which acts as a disincentive to work. Under Unconditional Basic Income, when people become employed they would retain the same basic income payment, with their salary added to it, so this disincentive no longer exists. Remember this will not replace your wages, you will be able to earn your normal working pay on top of the the basic income. It is there simply as a safety net to ensure your basic human rights are fulfilled. Second, the Unconditional Basic Income support will help people adapt to the changing industrial structure and employment opportunities by assisting them to plan and develop their vocational training and career structure. Remember this won't just help the young, what about middle aged families with a mortgage and kids to feed and clothe? On the current system if you lose your job and you own a flash car or property, you are expected to sell those assets first, wait 12 months and then you can claim the dole. With my proposal of a Unconditional Basic Income for all, the anxiety and stress for these kinds of families would no longer exist as they will still have a means to survive and will not be forced to pack up their lives and move somewhere due to their budgets. Third, Unconditional Basic Income will provide people with a better opportunity to pursue training in cultural, recreation, and sporting activities in which they have special skills and aptitudes. Fourth, the financial support for people with special skills and aptitudes can have special benefits for rural towns and regional areas at present facing dwindling communities and a lack of career opportunities. - The greatest benefit to society as a whole will be the influence it has towards a more equal and egalitarian society. Please, prospective signers, take note -

UBI can be many things to many people. It can be a - * stabilizer -it keeps the economy running and the dollar circulating

* safety net - if you lose your job or incur a "shock expense"

* liberator - frees you from domestic anguish and work exhaustion

* chance giver - the time, money and opportunity to explore your goals.

Added to campaign material August 8th, 2018 by David Upton *Please note members. I am now proposing the amount of $22,500/annum as a proposed basic income. Added September 8th, 2020 Hello again members. Please check out this table -.

Observed UBI Effects

From completed and ongoing trials ☺ Crime went down 42%

☺ Hospitalization rates decreased 8.5%

☺ Birth weights improved due to better maternal nutrition

☺ Consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables went up

☺ Consumption of alcohol and other temptation goods went down

☺ Child personalities improved such that kids were more honest and worked better together

☺ School attendance increased and grades improved

☺ Teen pregnancy rates went down

☺ Frequency of people being personally offended by each other went down

☺ Savings went up and debt went down

☺ Entrepreneurship quadrupled in one place and was 3 times higher than control groups in another

☺ Recipients worked more hours and earned more additional income

☺ Disproportionately positive effects overall were seen among women, the elderly and the disabled

How it will be delivered