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Saigon_Jinn110 karma

Mr Rudd. First of all, whether you answer this question or not, thank you for doing this AMA session. I will begin with the question and then explain why this is a deeply personal issue for myself and others in a similar position, I am sure.

Do you think that a Universal Basic Income is viable, and can and/or should it replace our welfare system, and why/why not?

Now some context. I am in my thirties and have been unable to work for 5+ years now. I suffered a spinal injury, which required surgery, which led to the discovery of a birth defect in my spine that will affect me for the rest of my life. I also have suffered from severe depression and anxiety for most of my life, which has been exacerbated by my situation and has led me to attempt suicide more than once. Unfortunately, I am stuck dealing with Newstart, and have to jump through all of their hoops to receive an income which is barely keeping my head above water. A UBI would ensure that I am able to not only survive, but also allow me the freedom to find a way to meaningfully contribute to society, and break the poverty cycle, that our current system does not. I understand that such a program will have it's teething problems, but with automation exponentially growing and changing the way we will perform work in the future, I feel that a UBI will be essential to humanity's growth.

Thank you again for taking the time to do this AMA.

Saigon_Jinn38 karma

Thank you for your response to my question, and your empathy, it means a lot. I have not had much luck with the NDIS as of yet, but I will keep persevering. I also appreciate the fact that there are people in government (and formally) that understand that a lot of us that are on welfare genuinely do not want to be, but have essentially run out of options. You have definitely gained at least one new supporter today and I wish you the best in your future endeavours.