Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is urging the Government to crack down on welfare payments for the disabled and the unemployed.

Mr Abbott says allowing people to stay on welfare if they can work is a "kindness that kills".

He wants the Government to suspend unemployment benefits in areas where unskilled work is available, for example in rural areas where there is plentiful crop-picking work.

Mr Abbott is also pushing the Government to make work for the dole mandatory for people under 50 who have been receiving unemployment benefits for more than six months.

And he says Labor should extend welfare quarantining to the long term-unemployed and take a more rigorous approach to the disability support pension.

The Government has already flagged it is planning to boost workforce participation.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/31/3178329.htm

Been there done that... The "bastard son" of Rattus is at it now... see toon above...