Decision details

Moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Scully -

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         Basic Income (also known as Guaranteed Income or Universal Income) is a form of periodic cash payment which is provided universally to all individuals without condition;

(ii)        under Basic Income pilots, people receive payments from government - sometimes with the support of private philanthropy or community organisations - without the restrictive and often punitive obligations or conditions placed on people who receive income support in Australia;

(iii)      around the world, local governments are playing a central role in exploring and implementing Basic Income, including:

(a)       in the United States of America there are currently over 50 local government trials, and the number of Mayors in the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income network recently passed 100 Mayors in support of guaranteed income;

(b)       a Youth Basic Income was introduced in Seongnam City, and then Gyeonggi-do Province in the Republic of Korea; and

(c)       the Republic of Ireland has recently launched a ‘Basic Income for the Arts’ pilot, providing a Basic Income to 2,000 musicians, writers, dancers, film makers, choreographers and other artists;

(iv)      Basic Income experiments and trials have identified significant positive effects on physical and mental health, reducing poverty and enhancing social cohesion. Basic Income pilots have shown that people provided with unconditional and sufficient income support are more likely to become employed, and are more likely to start a business; and

(v)       the international Basic Income Earth Network Conference was held in Australia in September 2022. Keynote speaker Scott Santens at the conference and the Australian Basic Income Lab visited Sydney Town Hall to provide a briefing on efforts to advance Basic Income, particularly through local government.

The motion was carried on the following show of hands:

Ayes (8)          The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chan, Davis, Ellsmore, Gannon, Kok, Scott and Scully

Noes (2)          Councillors Jarrett* and Weldon*

Motion carried.

*Note – Councillors Jarrett and Weldon abstained from voting on this matter. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 10.4 of the Code of Meeting practice, Councillors Jarrett and Weldon are taken to have voted against the motion.

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