A sobering new report from the Centre for Independent Studies has confirmed what many Australians have long suspected — more than half of voters now rely on government as their primary source of income.

Whether through welfare payments, public-sector salaries or taxpayer-funded subsidies, a majority of Australians are now economically dependent on the state.

This is not just unsustainable. It’s dangerous.

Family First is deeply concerned by the cultural shift this represents. What began as a safety net for the vulnerable has become a vast and bloated system of dependence. A feedback loop has formed — politicians expand benefits to win votes, voters become reliant on those benefits, and meaningful reform becomes politically impossible.

CIS economist Robert Carling warned, “A culture of dependency and entitlement has taken root… political behaviour has become only too willing to accommodate and encourage it.”

The facts are staggering. Government spending has hit 39 per cent of GDP — the highest level since World War II. The National Disability Insurance Scheme alone costs $52 billion annually, and when combined with disability pensions and carer payments, disability spending exceeds the budgets for defence, aged care, Medicare and even the age pension.

Meanwhile, childcare subsidies have more than doubled since 2018, with little measurable benefit for children or mothers’ workforce participation. And Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s promise of universal childcare could cost another $13 billion a year.

At the same time, 80 per cent of new jobs are in government-dependent sectors like health and education, dragging down national productivity.
Australians should be alarmed.

This level of spending is fuelling persistent deficits, rising debt, and calls for higher taxes. It also undermines the dignity of work and the value of independence.

Family First believes in a hand-up, not a hand-out. We support the vulnerable — but we reject the transformation of government into a cradle-to-grave provider for the majority.

A healthy society must foster personal responsibility, strong families, and a vibrant private sector — not state dependency.

We can’t go on like this. Political courage is needed to restore balance.

That begins with recognising that an economy where more than half the population is paid by the government is not just economically reckless — it’s morally wrong.

Family First will fight for policies that rebuild self-reliance, strengthen families, and limit government to its proper role.