A new front in the ‘welfare wars’ has opened following revelations that a significant number of those dependent on welfare are receiving financial support from the government that exceeds the value of the wages earned by average workers.

But the debate about the way welfare discourages work – an issue which is being pushed hard by Social Services Minister, Christian Porter, and Human Services Minister, Alan Tudge – also needs to be broadened to focus on how outdated the welfare system is compared to modern ideas about women, work, and family.