The two key aspects of the welfare report that are of concern to our peoples are the safety net, and participation issues. The safety net provides access to payment for people whose life circumstances do not enable them to participate in employment. Access to such payments is non-negotiable and should not be subject to mutual obligation requirements. Participation support, on the other hand, represents a range of largely positive measures to assist people to obtain employment.

It is important to understand that for a large number of our peoples, the safety net is not yet in place. For example, people may be eligible for, but not accessing, any form of payment (see Smith, Ch. 7, this volume). There may be no access to Centrelink staff or offices in the places where they live. These inequalities must be addressed before discussion of reforms to the system can even begin. Once the safety net is available fairly for all Australians, steps must be put in place to empower people to participate fully in Australian society. Welfare in the form of the safety net is never going to lead to economic independence for our peoples. Empowerment does not come from merely reforming the welfare structures.

Reliance on welfare payments means subsisting on or below poverty levels of income. The term ‘welfare reliance’ assumes that people choose or want to remain poor. No Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person would choose or want to continue to live in the circumstances that many currently do—living in cars, not being able to afford basics like shoes and clothing, going without in order that their children may eat. It is very difficult to conceive of how a person in such circumstances might realistically front up for a job interview.