Lessons from a basic income programme for Indigenous Australians

Elise Klein, Jon Altman

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    Abstract

    This article examines the importance of basic income in supporting development and economic security in remote Australian Indigenous communities. Specifically we draw on the case of the Community Development Employment Programme (CDEP) and examine its significant basic income features: it provided economic security, flexible definitions of work, community control and a means to establish community development initiatives. We find that CDEP suited the economic and cultural circumstances of remote-living Aboriginal people whose livelihoods depend on a hybrid form of economy inclusive of customary (non-market) practices rather than market capitalism. We then trace shifts in Indigenous policy in recent times which saw the dismantling of CDEP in the name of 'real' employment, and we examine the consequences of this for Aboriginal people. We end by proposing the reinstatement of a more complete basic income scheme, initially for people in remote Indigenous communities in Australia who are in deepest poverty.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)132-146
    JournalOxford Development Studies
    Volume46
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2018

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