australia top welfare country, page-7

Hi MobyT

You are correct it isn't 28% of GDP.

I used the figures from the latest government budget papers and link was provided in my post.

This shows that the government is spending over 35% of it's revenue on welfare and social security.
If it's genuinely needed then I don't have a problem with people getting help. It marks the difference between us as lucky Australians and others less fortunate.

But it wouldn't hurt to review all the government handouts particularly non-means tested stuff to ensure the money goes where it's needed. Some wealthy retirees pay much less tax and much less for their medicine etc. than a family struggling to raise kids and pay their bills.