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Post by Banjo on Aug 26, 2014 18:18:34 GMT 7
It will come down to backroom deals, as everything has in the past. It always used to make me laugh when the Libs accused Labor of being run by "faceless men".
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Post by roxane on Aug 26, 2014 18:23:09 GMT 7
I sincerely hope that you are both wrong about Labor. I hope with everything inside of me that they oppose the changes in the senate, like they promised in their email to me. They oppose a lot of things, but does anywhere in your email say that they oppose the portability? The bill includes a millions of nasties and only 1 is the portability. So can you check it again to what exactly they opposing to?
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Post by leijona on Aug 26, 2014 19:12:13 GMT 7
My email to them was VERY specific about the issue being portability. they replied and said they won't support these changes.
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Post by roxane on Aug 26, 2014 19:27:44 GMT 7
My email to them was VERY specific about the issue being portability. they replied and said they won't support these changes. You talking about labor, not the greens right? Can you please copy that part which says they won't support it, and who said it, thx
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Post by leijona on Aug 27, 2014 0:08:35 GMT 7
This was my email to the ALP
Dear Members,
My name is [myname] I have an urgent enquiry in relation to a specific policy relating to proposed changes to the disability support pension (DSP). I am writing to you because you are a senior member of the ALP with many years experience and might be in a good position to answer my question.
Currently, disability support pensioners may travel overseas for upto 6 weeks and keep their payments, if they overstay the 6 weeks the payments are suspended but reinstated upon re-entry into Australia as long as the total stay overseas does not exceed 13 weeks. This enables me personally to see my partner and her family who are currently residing overseas.
The government has proposed to change the portability requirements to a total of no longer than 4 weeks in a 12 month period, if the 4 weeks is overstayed then the DSP is cancelled indefinitely and the person would have to re-apply (and probably not get their pension back)
There are no exceptions for people with family or loved ones overseas. This proposed change has completely shattered myself and many others with the DSP who need to travel overseas to be with family or loved ones, and arguably is breaching our rights to freedom of movement under article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
If the changes are passed through the senate, I face not seeing my loved ones for a very long time. My mother is in ill health and it will be my partner and her family who looks after me once she has passed away.
The government has lied to the Australian people and said that it costs too much to support overseas travel, there are roughly 800,000 DSP recipients in Australia. The government has said this will save them $13.2million
So when $12.3 million is divided by 800,000, that is a saving of $15 per DSP recipient, and if it is over five years, then a $3 saving per DSP person per year - what a huge number, or not, and if not for genuine savings, what is the purpose?
Dividing 12.3 million by 800,000 is a saving of $15 per DSP recipient per year, and if we assume the saving is to be made over 5 years it is only a $3 saving - that is assuming ALL DSP recipients travel, which only a minority do. This doesn't save any money it is just a cruel attack on Disability Support Pensioners, and it stands to shatter my life and the lives of many others. Please do not support this change.
Furthermore, there are no benefits in restricting the movement of people on the DSP as once they are overseas, they are actually paid less (they do not receive rent allowance and other supplements). This move doesn't actually save any money, it is cruel and will ruin my life, as well as the lives of any person on the DSP with family ties overseas.
Can you tell me if your party will block this measure in the Senate? I cannot plan my travels this year without knowing. And I face not seeing my partner for a long time if these changes pass the senate.
With the utmost sincerity. [myname]
--------------------------------------------------------
This was the reply
Dear [myname],
The Labor Party will be opposing these changes to the DSP in the House and the Senate.
Please find attached some Media Releases from Jenny Macklin regarding Labor’s position on the changes to the DSP.
Thomas
Warm Regards,
Thomas McCrudden
Office of Chris Bowen MP
Federal Member for McMahon
Shops 3 & 4, 398 Hamilton Road FAIRFIELD WEST NSW
PO Box W210, Fairfield West, NSW, 2165
P (02) 9604 0710
F (02) 9609 3873
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Post by roxane on Aug 27, 2014 8:52:31 GMT 7
This was my email to the ALP This was the reply Dear [myname], The Labor Party will be opposing these changes to the DSP in the House and the Senate. Please find attached some Media Releases from Jenny Macklin regarding Labor’s position on the changes to the DSP. Thomas Warm Regards, Thomas McCrudden Office of Chris Bowen MP Federal Member for McMahon Shops 3 & 4, 398 Hamilton Road FAIRFIELD WEST NSW PO Box W210, Fairfield West, NSW, 2165 P (02) 9604 0710 F (02) 9609 3873 what they did, is gave you the link to the media releases where you can find out what they support and what the don't. They gave you only a link, which is not an direct answer to your specific query about the portability.
So the picture is clear for everyone, labor does support the 4 weeks.
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Post by Banjo on Aug 27, 2014 9:26:05 GMT 7
#closed
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