Income Management and Indigenous Peoples – Nudged into a Stronger Future?

Shelley Bielefeld, ‘Income Management and Indigenous Peoples – Nudged into a Stronger Future?’ (2014) 23(2) Griffith Law Review 285-317.

Posted: 27 Feb 2015

See all articles by Shelley Bielefeld

Shelley Bielefeld

School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet); Griffith University - Griffith Law School

Date Written: November 30, 2015

Abstract

Australian policy has been motivated by paternalism towards Indigenous peoples for the better part of Australia’s colonial history. Contemporary forms of income management that disproportionately affect Indigenous peoples extend a paternalistic approach. The paternalism embedded within the income management discourse draws heavily upon the framework of ‘new paternalism’, which increases government supervision of those who receive welfare payments. However, in recent years, another form of paternalism has also been growing in popularity with western governments, ‘nudge paternalism’, which may have future implications for policymaking in the welfare context in Australia. This article is comprised of three parts. The first part explores specific problems that can arise with paternalistic policy making directed towards Indigenous peoples, including nudge paternalism. The second part considers how income management departs from the principles of nudge paternalism, and the impact that income management has on Indigenous peoples. The final part explores some alternative suggestions for policy initiatives to address disadvantage experienced by Indigenous welfare recipients, particularly those living in the Northern Territory.

Keywords: Indigenous peoples, income management, nudge paternalism, new paternalism, self-determination, law and policy

JEL Classification: K39

Suggested Citation

Bielefeld, Shelley and Bielefeld, Shelley, Income Management and Indigenous Peoples – Nudged into a Stronger Future? (November 30, 2015). Shelley Bielefeld, ‘Income Management and Indigenous Peoples – Nudged into a Stronger Future?’ (2014) 23(2) Griffith Law Review 285-317. , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2569654

Shelley Bielefeld (Contact Author)

Griffith University - Griffith Law School ( email )

Nathan Campus, GU
Nathan 4111
Australia

School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601
Australia

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