Victoria’s biggest welfare suburbs include Point Cook, Werribee

RESIDENTS of one Melbourne postcode received almost $23 million in welfare payments in a year, new ­figures from the Australian Taxation Office show.

The 3030 postcode, which includes Werribee, is Victoria’s welfare capital. Picture: Mark Wilson

RESIDENTS of one Melbourne postcode received almost $23 million in welfare payments in a year, new ­figures from the Australian Taxation Office show.

The 3030 postcode, which contains six outer-western suburbs including Werribee and Point Cook, has ­become Victoria’s welfare capital.

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A Sunday Herald Sun analysis of the ATO data reveals the state’s welfare burden is now increasingly centred on Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

For a decade, St Albans was ­Victoria’s welfare capital, with ­regional areas including Bendigo and Ballarat close behind.

Now Melbourne postcodes comprise nine of the top 10 Victorian suburbs receiving the most Commonwealth support.

Tagreed Lutfi and daughter Mary, 3, outside the Werribee Centrelink. Picture: Mark Wilson

The ATO figures show that residents of postcode 3030 received $22.96 million in federal government allowances, including Newstart payments, in the 2014-15 financial year.

The area ranked fifth in the nation for unemployment support, while 3029 (Tarneit and Hoppers Crossing) and 3021 (St Albans) ranked second and third in Victoria.

The total amount of welfare ­expenditure for the 3030 postcode, including Family Tax Benefits, last year rose to $356 million, an increase of 0.38 per cent on the year before.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter said location was an important aspect to consider in easing the country’s welfare burden.

“There are obvious geographical concentrations of dependency but our approach is to tackle that by looking at the groups and problems that cause that geographical concentration, and tackle those problems wherever they are,” he said.

Residents of 3030 received almost $23 million in welfare payments in a year. Picture: Mark Wilson

“The Coalition’s $96.1 million Try, Test and Learn fund will support trials of innovative policy responses to help improve the lives of young carers, young parents and young students who might otherwise be trapped in a cycle of welfare dependency.”

Victorian Council of Social Service CEO Emma King said poverty was generational in some communities. “This isn’t because people in those communities are less willing to learn or work,” she said.

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“There are a range of factors that contribute to disadvantage, like a poor education, an unstable home life, job insecurity, family violence or a mental health condition.

“The problem is governments keep trying to solve disadvantage by doing things that we know don’t work.

“We need more money for things like skills and training, mental health services and affordable social housing. Housing is a key factor.”

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Tagreed Lutfi has been forced to work in Geelong and says Werribee needs a second Centrelink office. Picture: Mark Wilson

OVER the past two decades, Tagreed Lutfi has watched the Werribee area grow as job opportunities in the region have dried up.

Ms Lutfi said more stress was being placed on the local Centrelink office as demand for payments rises.

“We probably need another in the region,” she said. “It’s a big area and it’s growing but we’ve got one office to deal with all these issues … another one in Tarneit or Wyndham Vale would be better.”

Ms Lutfi said unemployment was the major issue facing locals.

“I’m having to go to Geelong for work because there are no jobs to apply for here,” she said.

“I haven’t dealt with Centrelink much previously, just briefly at the moment, but you’re always coming back and forth as they ask for the same information.”

Ms Lutfi said while support for struggling residents was welcome, more could be done to bring people back into the office.

“The government could probably do more in terms of education and volunteer work to help give more opportunities to people, particularly refugees,” she said.

VICTORIA’S WELFARE CAPITALS

2014/15:

• 3030 — Werribee, Point Cook

• 3029 — Hopper’s Crossing, Tarneit

• 3021 — St Albans

• 3175 — Dandenong, Dandenong South

• 3977 — Cranbourne, Devon Meadows

• 3350 — Ballarat

• 3064 — Donnybrook, Craigieburn

• 3020 — Sunshine, Sunshine West

• 3199 — Frankston

• 3073 — Reservoir

2004/5:

• 3021 — St Albans

• 3350 — Ballarat

• 3550 — Bendigo

• 3175 — Dandenong, Dandenong South

• 3216 — Belmont, Grovedale

• 3199 — Frankston

• 3630 — Shepparton

• 3073 — Reservoir

• 3020 — Sunshine, Sunshine West

• 3124 — Camberwell