WE WANT YOUR JOB AGENCY STORIES
Do you live in Adelaide and have a job agency story you would like to share with us?
We are collecting stories we can send to politicians, as part of our efforts to get them to realise how unfair and useless job agencies are.
If you have a story you would like to share, you can do it in two ways: 1) e-mail us at antipovertynetwork.sa@gmail; 2) visit our website (antipovertynetworksa/org/stories). Please include the name/location of your job agency.
Thanks!! :-)
The Treasurer wants to stick his beak in your poo to sniff out whether you're stopping yourself from getting a job, from meeting your 'mutual obligation', and from making bad choices in your life. In other news, AFP reports that there are still no signs of missing recluse, "JobsNGrowth".
"The minister already has data available that suggests Western Australia and South Australia would be the best places to start the trial...
The first National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program report last year for the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, found that ice consumption in WA and SA was higher than the national average, in both the capital cities and regional areas."
<https://www.businessinsider.com.au/scott-morrison-wants-to-use-sewage-tests-to-decide-where-to-set-up-drug-trials-2017-5>
Scott Morrison wants to use sewage tests to decide where to set up drug trials
businessinsider.com.au
Treasurer Scott Morrison says sewage tests will be used to decide where the government will set up drug testing trials for people on welfare.
Scott Morrison: "the best form of welfare is a job".
NOPE.
The best form of welfare is welfare that treats people with dignity and respect, that does not impoverish them, punish them, and stigmatise them.
MEDIA RELEASE: 2017 FEDERAL BUDGET – SUBTLER, BUT NOT ANY NICER FOR WELFARE RECIPIENTS
INFO: Anti-Poverty Network SA spokesperson Pas Forgione, on 0411 587 663, or at antipovertynetwork.sa@gmail.com.
We are relieved that the government has finally withdrawn its 'zombie measures' that would have caused great harm to welfare recipients, particularly job-seekers.
Nevertheless, the latest federal budget features multiples attacks on those relying on income support. Attacks that are subtler and more targeted, but no less mean-spirited.
The government wants to strengthen "Mutual Obligation" requirements for job-seekers. In fact, we already have an incredibly one-sided, unmutual system, with strict obligations for job-seekers, but few for the government. This budget continues that pattern: more obligations for welfare recipients, while the government continues to ignore its own responsibilities.
There was no mention in the budget of the fact there is 1 job for every 11 job-seekers (including the underemployed).
Nor any mention of the fact that Newstart, at $267 per week, is $160 per week below the poverty-line, and has not been raised in real terms since 1994. Its very low rate means job-seekers experience significant financial and personal stress, with impacts on their health, social connectedness, and ability to search for work.
DEMERIT-POINTS SYSTEM Instead of a desperately-needed increase to the incomes of the unemployed, the government has proposed a demerit-points system, that will lead to thousands having their only source of income cut or suspended for missing appointments or activities.
We know from the existing compliance system that even when job-seekers have a 'reasonable excuse', they can still get breached, because of human error, Centrelink or job agencies refusing to accept medical certificates, because they were unable to make contact with either of these organisations quickly enough, or for a range of other reasons outside their control.
We are particularly concerned about the 27 percent of Newstart recipients with a diagnosed disability. These are the people most likely to miss appointments and activities, for valid reasons, but who often still have their payments cut.
We need to look at why individuals 'disengage'. More often than not, it is the demoralisation that comes from being long-term unemployed (70 percent of Newstart recipients have been out of work for more than one year), from being rejected for job after job.
We should not judge harshly those who become discouraged and lose hope. They have been let down by the government and the labour market.
In any case, the goal of the welfare system must be, first and foremost, to prevent individuals from falling into poverty. We cannot support any changes that will lead to more people losing their payments, whether or not they "deserve" it.
DISABILITY SUPPORT PENSION CHANGES Preventing those whose health issues are caused by substance abuse from accessing Disability Support Pension is moralistic and mean-spirited, and will have devastating consequences.
Access to Disability Support Pension should be based on need, not judgments about deservingness. The Disability Support Pension has strict eligibility requirements – only 1 in 6 applications are successful.
Substance abuse is often a form of self-medicating – a response to severe trauma and hardship. It is a medical issue. Those battling addiction need access to drug and alcohol services – services that sadly have experienced severe cuts under the Abbott and Turnbull governments.
Forcing addicts with significant health issues to languish on the grossly inadequate Newstart has the potential to exacerbate health problems.
DRUG TESTING The proposal to drug-test 5,000 welfare recipients, with those found to be using drugs to be subject to the cashless debit card (and those failing a follow-up test forced into treatment), is a radical, invasive move, that will likely discourage those with addiction issues from seeking help.
Coercion simply does not work. The best approach is voluntary, empowering and respecting the autonomy of those battling addiction, and allowing them to seek support without fear of punishment.
INCOME MANAGEMENT Income Management - whether through the cashless debit card or the basics card - has failed repeatedly, according to government and independent reports to reduce levels of alcohol and drug addiction. Addicts have no trouble circumventing restrictions on access to cash.
Extending funding for Income Management (via the basics card) in the NT, the City of Playford in northern Adelaide, and another dozen sites to June 2019, along with introducing two new cashless debit card sites, and extending funding for current cashless debit card sites to June 2018, is deeply disappointing.
The evidence shows that the vast majority of those subject to Income Management have not seen improvements in their wellbeing – indeed, the vast majority of those subject to scheme have no trouble managing their money, and do not want or need their payments quarantined.
Australian Welfare News Australian Unemployed Workers' Union Welfare Is Not A Dirty Word Parenting Payment for Parents - NOT Newstart Australian United Sole Parents Network Sharyn Janette Lisa
FEDERAL BUDGET: KEY ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Demerit-point system: 'Recipients who fail to turn up to job interviews or work-for-the-dole appointments will start losing payments when they reach four points - and when they hit seven demerit points, they will have their payment cut off for eight weeks. But some people who commit serious offences could lose all seven points instantly.'
- Drug testing of 5,000 welfare recipients, those found to be drug users to be put on cashless debit card.
- No Disability Support Pension for those whose disability is caused by substance abuse.
-Extension of cashless debit card beyond Ceduna and Kununurra/East Kimberly to two new sites.
- Extension of basics card in NT, Playford, and roughly a dozen other sites, to June 2019.
- 23RD FEDERAL BUDGET IN A ROW WHERE NEWSTART HAS NOT BEEN RAISED.
- "Zombie measures" from 2014-2015 federal budget have been withdrawn.
- Increased activity requirements for job-seekers (25 hours per week for those aged 30-50, instead of 15 hours per week).
BREAKING NEWS: Income Management in the Northern Territory, the City of Playford (via the Basics Card), and roughly a dozen other sites, has had its funding extended to June 2019.
ARE YOU A SOLE PARENT IN THE NORTHERN SUBURBS WHO HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO NEWSTART?
We are keen to hear from you about how shifting from Parenting Payment Single to Newstart has affected you and your family.
We will be doing some campaigning and lobbying work around Parenting Payment Single, trying to get politicians to commit to reversing some of the nasty changes of the past several years.
If you would like to share your experiences and insights, you can either:
1) e-mail us at antipovertynetwork.sa@gmail
2) visit our website: antipovertynetworksa/org/stories
Thanks!! :-)
Re: props for Trek
Hello, I'm looking for ideas for props to make/bring to the trek later on this year- anything to do w the welfare system and unemployment that will engage with our audience and send a strong message of resistance and alienation to our targets- thanks :)
Got a few cheers at the May Day march when I suggested in my speech that instead of debt notices to current and former welfare recipients, we send debt notices to the 600+ Australian companies that pay no tax.
Seriously, this would make a terrific stunt. Arriving at various corporate HQs with a giant bill or letter, some signs ('Hey Rupert, if you paid tax, here is how many extra teachers we could afford...'), and we could even bring an EFTPOS machine with us, in case they cannot pay with cash.
Friends! We could do this as a prank, you know.
Unless... mailing sweat violates some kind of bio-terrorism law...
New Law Requires Welfare Recipients To Submit Sweat To Prove How Hard They’re Looking For Job
theonion.com
WASHINGTON— In an effort to ensure that those on welfare are actively seeking employment, a new law enacted this week will require recipients of federal aid to periodically submit vials of sweat for measurement by government officials.