ABSTRACT
Australia's social welfare system has become even more mixed in its basic principles since ALP won office under Gough Whitlam in 1972. Social welfare was a major concern of this Labor government during its term of office from 1972 to 1975. The most philosophically ambitious was the Social Welfare Commission, chaired by Mrs Marie Coleman, whose brief was to develop not data but an overall integrated concept upon which welfare services could be provided. The vision of social welfare as an expression of just, compassionate society imbued with ideals of liberty, equality and brotherhood was soured, scarred, and perhaps destroyed. To cope with these conditions the commission argued, in a manner more explicit than ever before in a public report on social welfare action, that basic principles should inform the community's approach to poverty. The actual increase in government expenditure would be much lower, especially once many of the special schemes of social welfare currently operating were phased out.
