The meeting was attended by about a dozen Capella residents. Federal MP for Flynn, Ken O'Dowd (right), with Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss. Credit:Peter Rae In audio of the meeting heard by Fairfax Media, Mr O'Dowd also argued that too many Australians were exploiting the social security system, and that something needed to be done to stop welfare cheats. He recalled a conversation he had had recently with billionaire Gina Rinehart. "[Rinehart's] biggest whinge to me was, she said, 'Ken, you blokes in Canberra have got to stop the welfare system," Mr O'Dowd told the community meeting. "There is [sic] 60 per cent of Australians on some sort of welfare payment. [Rinehart] said, 'They can't be all that badly off'."

Mr O'Dowd's comments were not welcomed by Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews, who has begun a review of Australia's welfare system and is trying to reassure Australians that despite cracking down on welfare they believe in maintaining a social safety net. Mr Andrews said on Thursday afternoon that Mr O'Dowd's comments ''do not reflect the government's position''. The minister said ''there will always be a minority'' of people taking social security benefits ''who do not want to do the right thing by not actively looking for work... or by not accepting suitable work when it is offered''. But the Abbott government was ''committed to providing motivation and support for the unemployed'', Mr Andrews added. Mr O'Dowd, Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and Ms Rinehart have also been contacted to respond.

Scamming the system

After his comments were widely reported on Thursday, Mr O'Dowd expanded his attack on welfare recipients, saying there are too many people who cannot be bothered finding a job. Mr O'Dowd said he hoped Mr Andrews would "drill right down into the hole" and stop people scamming "the system". "I've got nothing against aged pensioners," Mr O'Dowd told Fairfax radio on Thursday. "They've worked sometimes 50 years or longer ... But I think until you've put into the system how can you really fairly justify taking money out of the system?"

Asked whether he himself could survive on the Newstart unemployment allowance of $36 a day, the Queensland MP said: "Well, I'd rather have a job. I'd go to where the jobs are and get a job". Mr O'Dowd said there was plenty of work about but too many unemployed people who were too lazy to do it. "There's a lot of work could be done in our forestries," he said. "There's a whole host of things we could do rather than just get on the dole." Brendan O’Connor, opposition spokesman for employment and workplace relations, said on Thursday that while people who are physically able should work, Mr O’Dowd’s original comments were ‘‘ill-informed, spiteful and offensive’’. ‘‘Tony Abbott should immediately rein in his rogue member or does the Prime Minister agree with Mr O’Dowd?"

The subject of welfare reform is close to the heart of Mr Abbott. In his 2009 book, Battlelines, he wrote that one of the Howard government's most significant achievements was "slowing the rise in the number of people claiming the disability pension". But the Prime Minister also understands the dangerous politics surrounding any changes to welfare payments. Aware of the delicate politics of welfare reform, Mr Andrews has been trying to prepare Australians for a gradual and unthreatening review of the system. He has ruled out touching the age pension, but admits the government has Newstart unemployment benefits and the disability support pension in its cross-hairs. Valued members of society Chief executive of the Australian Council of Social Service, Cassandra Goldie, said she was "very pleased" to hear that "the minister has confirmed the views expressed by Mr O'Dowd do not represent the views of the government".

Ms Goldie said the minister should go further and urge that the welfare debate "is a respectful and considered one". "Unemployment can happen to anybody," she said. "Many people have been single parents, and people with a disability are highly valued members of the community." Maree O'Halloran, President of the National Welfare Rights Network said Mr O'Dowd's comments were "unhelpful and untrue". "There is no place for ignorance and demeaning stereotypes about people who are unemployed," Ms O'Halloran said. "It's stereotypes like this that prevent people getting a fair go from employers.

"People who are unemployed are everywhere: they are our children, our neighbours, our partners and parents and grandparents". Follow us on Twitter