[CFrance]

Originally Posted by bimmertl

Typical TOTV post. Somebody makes a statement and it immediately becomes a "fact". Then those who want it to be factual jump on the band wagon and keep the myth going.

Not much involved in checking out some of the facts. Here's a couple of actual facts and there are plenty more on the net.

Welcome to the welfare nation: Half of Australia’s families pay no net tax

No Cookies | dailytelegraph.com.au

I believe you are misunderstanding Australia's definition of "wellfare." What the term means in Australia is what is provided to each citizen as a result of taxes paid. And in this article it's not that they pay no tax. It's that they pay no net tax. So the benefits conferred on some Ausralians equal an amount that is greater than the tax paid by the percentage stated in the article.

I have a son and DIL who live and work in Australia. They pay very high taxes. But their benefits are very good. Australia is definitely a nanny state, but my son and DIL are happy with the goods and services available to them for the taxes they pay.

And here's an article you may be interested in regarding Americans and taxes: 60 Percent of Households Now Receive More in Transfer Income Than they Pay in Taxes | Tax Foundation

From the article you quoted:
On average, Australian families will pay $12,935 in income tax this year but receive $9515 in benefits — a net yearly contribution to the public purse of just $3424.
The figures include welfare paid in pensions, family benefits, jobless support and childcare support.