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Post by Banjo on Mar 4, 2018 18:49:36 GMT 7
The ARO is not there to comment on the legislation, indeed the AAT will most definitely not overrule the legislation. I think that you could say the ARO is there to observe correct procedure, the AAT to see that the Act is interpreted correctly.
Only the High court can rule that the legislation is wrong.
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Post by Banjo on Mar 4, 2018 13:41:09 GMT 7
The ARO rarely overrules Centrelink, for one thing he works for them, another he only has to make sure that THEIR procedures were correctly followed.
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Post by Banjo on Mar 4, 2018 13:34:06 GMT 7
Labor signals plan to dump 'punitive' work for the dole program Ed Husic tells ABC there are questions over safety and effectiveness of expanded schemeEd Husic has said that work for the dole is “punishing people for not being in work” rather than helping them find a job in a sign Labor is preparing to dump the program if elected. Labor’s employment services spokesman has ramped up his rhetoric against work for the dole after evidence in Senate estimates that 73% of participants did not have a job three months after completing the work-readiness program. Work for the dole employs job seekers for up to 25 hours a week for six months a year as a form of mutual obligation to continue receiving the dole. The program expanded under the Coalition from 47,000 places in 2014 to 111,000 in 2016. On Sunday Husic told ABC’s Insiders the $600m program had “serious question marks over its performance and, in particular, whether or not it’s safe”. “We need to ensure that we get young Australians working, not putting them through a program that clearly has either got an issue with its safety or an issue ultimately as to whether or not it’s putting people into work, skilling them up, getting them ready for jobs.” Husic and the Australian Unemployed Workers Union have been campaigning for the release of a report into the death of work for the dole participant Joshua Park-Fing in Toowoomba in April 2016. Husic cited that case and incidents of young people being exposed to asbestos, claiming that departmental audits had found work for the dole work sites were not safe. The government maintains that the rates of injury incidents on the program are lower than across the economy as a whole. Husic said that would be cold comfort to the families of children exposed to asbestos and argued young people feel they can’t make safety complaints for fear of losing their welfare payments. Husic said that Labor is “absolutely committed to mutual obligation”. “We want to ensure that young people are not sitting on their hands. They don’t want to be sitting on their hands, they want to be put to work.” Mutual obligations include training, developing a job plan, applying for jobs and attending meetings with employment service providers. Signalling an intention to replace work for the dole, Husic said that a “future program” would retain mutual obligation so that job seekers are skilling themselves up and getting ready for work. Husic said that 70% of work for the dole participants “don’t get themselves into jobs just months after being in it”. He said it “has been a useful program” in the past because Labor ran it “with a focus on skilling people up and in particular for those job seekers that haven’t had any work experience whatsoever”. “The way it is being managed at the moment, the way it has been chopped and changed and the way it is not preparing people with skills that employers need demonstrate that the program being managed by the Coalition is becoming a dud.” On Wednesday employment department officials told Senate estimates that between July 2016 and June 2017, 27.1% of work for the dole participants were employed three months after their participation in the program. The Greens’ family and community services spokeswoman, Rachel Siewert, said that more than 70% of people “languish below the poverty line after working below the minimum wage just to receive income support”. “Here we have a clear cut example of work for the dole not working for participants, yet the government persists with the program,” she said. Siewert said the program forced people to do “basic tasks” that “don’t necessarily build skills”. She suggested it should be scrapped in favour of individualised support and mentoring for young people to help them find jobs. www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/04/labor-signals-plan-to-dump-punitive-work-for-the-dole-program
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Post by Banjo on Mar 3, 2018 17:58:53 GMT 7
Keep in mind that it's more than 5 years old.
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Post by Banjo on Mar 3, 2018 15:48:35 GMT 7
I see that the originator of this thread is online after more than a few years absence, I'd be more than interested in hearing of his current experiences with Centrelink.
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Post by Banjo on Mar 3, 2018 15:43:25 GMT 7
What about changing "Links", it's rarely used and we could take advantage there?
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Post by Banjo on Mar 3, 2018 15:41:26 GMT 7
I thought that the article was relevant to many of us regardless of the disability mentioned in it. I think there maybe a board in the forum for links like that, or something similar, I'd rather adjust a heading than create a new one. I'll take a look later.
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Post by Banjo on Mar 3, 2018 11:40:20 GMT 7
Disability and Social IsolationDisability can be an isolating experience, depending on its severity and a person’s willingness to look past it. Of course it’s incredibly isolating. Every single disabled experience is unique, and it can be hard to find able-bodied people who understand our daily struggles — who really empathize, and not just feel sympathy for us. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, disability can affect many of us at some stage of our lives. For some, it may be a little more permanent than for others. Oppressive attitudes, lack of accessibility, and dwindling support services dictate how big a role a person’s disability plays. Opportunities for education, work, and socialization are few and far between. I know I struggle to explain to able-bodied friends why I am so tired. I know they can never really understand why I don’t go out every single weekend, and they don’t realize how much energy it takes for me to do even the smallest everyday task or activity. When I can’t hear properly, I often disappear into my head for a while, choosing to entertain myself with my own thoughts. I don’t think anyone without a hearing problem could identify with this feeling. People with a disability don’t want to be isolated or lonely, but it can be hard juggling a busy social life, not wanting to feel like a burden to others, working a paid or unpaid job, and everything else that comes along with this reality. This is where the internet is of great use. Online forums have enabled people all over the world to connect with each other, meaning it isn’t so hard anymore to find people who are going through similar problems. It’s a great feeling when you know that you’re not alone. The popularity of the internet has completely revolutionized the disability rights movement and given a voice to those not normally heard. While writing this column I came across the National Disability Strategy Consultation Report, titled “Shut Out: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their Families in Australia.” This report outlines the strategy by the Australian government to prompt a national discussion on injustices faced by people with disabilities. One sentence in particular from that report captures the spirit of this column: “Ideally we want to live in a dignified and simplified society where we have the confidence and self-esteem to speak our mind and have the opportunities that everyone has.” This society is attainable, but not without a lot of hard work from many different people. Attitudes don’t shift overnight — you need positive reinforcement for that to happen. It’s very easy to become socially isolated when you’re fighting a losing battle with your body. However, to change perceptions about disability and challenge the society in which we live, we cannot allow ourselves to become socially isolated. Our fight is far from over. *** Friedreich’s Ataxia News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. friedreichsataxianews.com/2018/03/02/friedreichs-ataxia-disabilities-social-isolation-overwhelming/
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Post by Banjo on Mar 2, 2018 16:43:18 GMT 7
Warwick woman's defeat after 5-year Centrelink crusadeA MASSIVE crusade to win back thousands of dollars from Centrelink has left a Warwick country singer at her wit's end and almost without a home. Five years in battle with a system that is "set up to kick you when you're down", there were days when Norma Green didn't think she would make it through. "There are people out there committing suicide, and now I can see why," she said. Her struggle all came down to a piece of misinformation Ms Green said she was given seven years ago. After being told the 'pensioner bonus scheme' had been abolished in 2010 - the year she turned 65 - Ms Green left the Centrelink office in tears, believing she was ineligible for a pension. Two years later, she found out she wasn't. "I made an appointment with the financial advisor through Centrelink in May 2012 and he told me I should have been on this pension two years ago." Ms Green calculated she missed out on $28,000 as a result of the misinformation, and has been fighting ever since to get back the money. In 2016, after falling victim to Centrelink's 'robo-debt' fiasco, Ms Green discovered she could make an appeal to recover the money she claims she lost in 2010. The promise of an appeal brought renewed hope to Ms Green, who was behind on rent and struggling with finances as a result of the robo-debt mistake. But her optimism turned to stress, anxiety and frustration, as she floundered in a system she said was designed to confuse and overwhelm customers. "I understand why people don't go through it, because it kills you," she said. "It's all so time consuming and no-one will talk to you straight." Going through the appeals process, Ms Green spoke to eight different Centrelink staff members and said each gave her a different story. As the stress mounted and Ms Green's frustration grew, she exhausted every avenue, trying to retrieve funds to which she believed she was entitled. "I've been to the Ombudsman, to Bill Shorten, Tanya Plibersek and Pauline Hanson but none of them can do anything." Just last week, Ms Green stormed into the Warwick office of David Littleproud to give him "the shirt off her back" in a symbolic act of frustration. "That is exactly what the woman at the Centrelink office asked me for when I was discussing my assets with her, of which I have none," she said. Now, Ms Green is about to lose the house she loves and has lived in for six years. "I can't afford to live here any more," she said. "It just makes you lose all hope." When Norma Green walked into a Centrelink office in 2010 to enquire about the aged pension, she didn't realise should was entering into a five-year battle with a system that is When Norma Green walked into a Centrelink office in 2010 to enquire about the aged pension, she didn't realise should was entering into a five-year battle with a system that is "set up to kick you when you're down". Ms Green said her struggled were not unique. "Everyone out there is going through this," she said. "Australians gearing up for retirement are being treated like crap." Ms Green's friend Donna Coleman supported her emotionally and financially throughout the process but said it was hard to watch her friend struggle. "It's not a happy time if you are close to someone and they're stressed, you feel it yourself," she said. Ms Green's appeal has been rejected by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which is independent of Centrelink and or Government. The Department of Human Services has responded to Ms Green's outcry and has contacted her to offer "additional support". "The department is confident that the decisions made in Ms Green's case have been made in accordance with the legislation." www.ipswichadvertiser.com.au/news/warwick-womans-defeat-after-5-year-centrelink-crus/3350065/
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Post by Banjo on Mar 1, 2018 18:02:28 GMT 7
I started a new thread on this before I saw you post here mikey, it's important so I'll leave them both for now.
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Post by Banjo on Mar 1, 2018 17:55:25 GMT 7
Questions on notice have revealed that of 30,056 people who were subject to assessments of whether they are still eligible for the disability support pension from July 2017 to November 2017, only 135 came off the DSP.
Of those:
119 voluntarily chose to come off DSP and are either no longer receiving income support (56) or are on another payment (63); and 16 recipients had their DSP cancelled and are either no longer receiving income support (10) or are receiving a more appropriate payment (6).
Greens welfare spokeswoman, Rachel Siewert, said:
“With only 66 people coming off income support ... out of 30,000+ recipients reviewed, it seems the eligibility checks have been a monumental waste of time and money.
“The government would have likely spent more money carrying out the checks than the money they’ve clawed back from these people, meanwhile 30,000+ recipients have gone through a stressful process that didn’t need to occur in the first place.
“In Senate estimates today the Department of Social Services admitted they were reviewing the process, which to me is a concession that the process isn’t working as they hoped.
“I urge the government to stop this awful process that is causing stress to vulnerable members of our community. It is obviously not saving money and is just causing harm.”
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Post by Banjo on Mar 1, 2018 8:20:14 GMT 7
Program of Support requirements for Disability Support PensionBefore you claim Disability Support Pension, make sure you’re aware of Program of Support requirements. You may need to take part in a Program of Support for at least 18 months in the three years before claiming DSP. This includes the Community Development Programme which helps job seekers in remote areas of Australia find a job in their local community. We may ask if you’ve taken part in a program when you apply for DSP. A Program of Support may help you look for a job, develop your skills with study or training, or with rehabilitation. You may not need to take part in a program in some cases, such as if you: have an intellectual disability with an IQ of less than 70 are permanently blind, or need nursing home level care You can also watch our DSP eligibility video. www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/news/program-support-requirements-disability-support-pension
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Post by Banjo on Feb 28, 2018 14:40:27 GMT 7
It's not that fact that they are AUD, it's the fact that you are in Australia that they don't ever get to take up space in your wallet.
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Post by Banjo on Feb 28, 2018 11:36:11 GMT 7
About 20 years ago I heard this strange story in Laos about how the Iranians had acquired printing blocks or plates for the American $100 bill. They were perfect except for a very minute size difference and were known as the "big hundred". No business in the region would touch them and you had to take them to the bank to get them changed for smaller bills after careful measuring.
I suppose the distrust of USD has carried on from there.
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Post by Banjo on Feb 28, 2018 9:13:29 GMT 7
I seem to recall an ATM that paid out in USD when I was there. Never had any trouble using the ones that I brought though but some businesses would only give the change in Reals which upset my companions but I just used them for lunch money, drinks etc. I think I still have some somewhere, along with a few Lao kip and Vietnamese dong.
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