As it's more than 100 days now, it has been suggested that a new thread was needed. The current govt has been breaking promises and telling lies at a rate so fast it's hard to keep up.
This below is worrying, "independent" pffft, as if your own doctor is somehow what? biased, it's ridiculous. So far there is talk of only including people under a certain age 30-35, for now. Remember that if your injured in a car, injured at work or get ill, you too might need to go on the DSP. They have done a similar think in the UK with devastating consequences.
and this is the 2nd time recently where the Govt has referred to work as welfare???? So when you go to work tomorrow (or tuesday), just remember that's welfare.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-20/disability-pensioners-may-be-reassessed-kevin-andrews/5400598
Independent doctors could be called in to reassess disability pensioners, Federal Government says
The Federal Government is considering using independent doctors to examine disability pensioners and assess whether they should continue to receive payments.
Currently family doctors provide reports supporting claims for the Disability Support Pension (DSP).
But Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews is considering a measure that would see independent doctors reassess eligibility.
"We are concerned that where people can work, the best form of welfare is work," Mr Andrews said at a press conference.
I know, I just read her twitter feed and unfortunately she also said something she shouldn't ve to a woman who runs a refuge 
Not the DT !
It is a shame that such an important topic such as this, wherein the victims are mainly women and children has virtually become here nothing more than a political adjunct with apparently no attempt at meaningful research.
"She is so wrong. I have said here before that domestic violence, infanticide, child abuse, etc. are in exactly the same ratios in all socio-economic groups. It is better hidden in some groups than in others, so perception is swewed."
What in fact does "in exactly the same ratios in all socio-economic groups" mean?
As I understand the term (ratio) it would indicate that, for example, for every 10 cases of child abuse there might be 1 case of infanticide regardless of whether the sample area is Alice Springs or Toorak. That is a nonsense concept, as actual numbers over time and demographics are of far more scientific interest, and would lead to useful terms like COMPARISON. and DEMOGRAPHICS. e.g.
- Indigenous people are two to five times more likely to experience violence than non-Indigenous people
- Indigenous women are five times more likely to be homicide victims than non-Indigenous people, and
- Indigenous women are 35 times more likely to be hospitalised than non-Indigenous people.
As for socio-economic factors being the same within all groups:
A more recent longitudinal study explored the relationship between personal or financial stress and women’s experiences of violence. The 2013 study found a correlation between higher levels of financial stress (together with lower levels of social support) and a higher risk of physical violence or victimisation.
It is without question that demographics will feature in a debate covering domestic violence, so research, consider, then comment, but without such meaningless terms such as "ratio"
