Ele Ludemann: The benefit burden

The superannuation burden as the aging population grows gets far more attention than the benefit burden.

The alternative to aging is death and some people receive benefits because of disability or illness which prevent them from working.

Kerre Woodham: A tough but fair change to the benefit

On the face of it, it seems tough. Telling young people to get out there and get a job when the economy is tanked and unemployment is high, is you'd think, unrealistic.

From November of next year, young people wanting to get job seeker support or the equivalent emergency benefit will have to take a parental income test to see whether their parents can support them instead of the taxpayer.