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Post by bruceb on Feb 10, 2012 21:54:58 GMT 7
Thanks Strings. The more feedback the merrier. I have already made some changes and uploaded a revised draft version. I might have a go at doing an abstract last thing before I hand it in.
I'd like to keep at it whilst it's fresh in my mind, so I plan to finalise my submission a week from today (Friday 17th). That will also give everyone else a full week to knock out their own letters.
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Post by Banker on Feb 12, 2012 17:13:09 GMT 7
Bruce, a couple of things to be brought to your attention.
The misinformation given by Centrelink staff, this can be very confusing for Pensioners. eg: When I stayed in Cambodia, I phoned Centrelink (at my cost) to see if I could get my pension paid into a bank account in Cambodia, I received three different answers. They were. 1. Under no circumstances. 2. Only if it was a US$ account. 3. Yes I could.
Later I spoke with a C/L employee about my changing from DSP to OAP and I asked him why I would get 3 different answers to the same question, his reply was that most staff at C/L do not know the correct answer & they will just make one up to get you off the phone because you are causing them work.
This is just one of the times it has happened & I'm sure some of our members could give us a lot more.
The other issue on residency that is wrong IMO is how can The Australian Government have different residency rules for different departments, like the ATO & Medicare are different. I phone the Immigration about this last November & they said that residency had nothing to do with them.
When I have had forms to fill in C/L have filled in that I am a resident of Thailand or another Asian country, by Thai law I can not be a Thai resident, but C/L will not have any of this & demand that I must be a resident of the Asian country where Im staying.
Hope that helps.
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Post by zorro1 on Feb 12, 2012 17:51:31 GMT 7
"When I have had forms to fill in C/L have filled in that I am a resident of Thailand or another Asian country, by Thai law I can not be a Thai resident, but C/L will not have any of this & demand that I must be a resident of the Asian country where Im staying."
classic, would love to see that tested in court. I wonder how a sailor would be classified? i have done a lot of sailing including extended offshore and have come to the conclusion that its the perfect environment for certain disabilities. A boat has dozens of grab handles and its only a small shift from a berth to a head (toilet) to the galley and the sheets ( ropes) can all be located at the helm for one handed sailing.
A boat would be a good alternative to a house and doesn't have to be sail, it can be a clipper with a diesel engine that gets along slowly ( very cheap fuel) and perfect for cruising Australis inland waterways.
I digress, back to the point, where would you reside if you were live aboard and cruising Asia permanently?
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Post by Banker on Feb 12, 2012 18:12:13 GMT 7
I think Centrelink employees have been getting away with far too much, staff making up rules etc and I think the Government should put a complete stop to it.
After all some decisions are dealing with life & death situations.
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Post by bruceb on Feb 12, 2012 21:31:45 GMT 7
All good stuff. The lack of consistency (in interpretations, definitions, etc) is already mentioned in passing but I will amplify/expand that a bit. You also reminded me of the great difficulty in dealing with C/L from overseas - they are really set up on the basis of 'you want us-you come see us' ... and I will certainly add in some material there
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Post by Banjo on Feb 13, 2012 7:25:00 GMT 7
There are that many pensioners living overseas legitimately that a couple of the most likely embassies, eg Bangkok and Manila, could have a permanent Centrelink officer based there. Claims that there would be insufficient work to warrant this would be ludicrous in the computer age. OAP and DSP recipients could be required to contact them by phone every three months and in person once a year to prove they are still alive.
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Post by Banker on Feb 13, 2012 19:14:55 GMT 7
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Post by bruceb on Feb 13, 2012 21:47:29 GMT 7
Read it with interest thanks, but unlikely to use it. Without spending a lot ot time researching its accuracy, it reads like just another anonymous conspiracy theory ... of which I've come across quite a few recently. I did look up the reference in the Constitution ... was hoping it might make a commitent to providing assistance to all citizens etc, but all it says is that the fed govt has the right to make laws in relation to various types of welfare assistance.
Have made a few changes today and am about to insert some new material about pension agreements with other countries ... noting that Korea and Japan are the only such agreements in Asia. I'm going to try to wrap it up before Friday
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Post by bruceb on Feb 13, 2012 21:51:27 GMT 7
I wanted to check something with you guys. You mention, I think, some dealings between yourselves and one or more large welfare lobby groups in Oz. Can I ask what level of support you have had from them? Do they feel comfortable supporting your push for relaxed restrictions on pension payments to folks spending time o/seas? Are they actually pushing for this type of reform?
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Post by bruceb on Feb 15, 2012 10:41:36 GMT 7
Thank you all for feedback provided - submission now finalised and has been sent off
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Post by Banjo on Feb 15, 2012 14:06:31 GMT 7
Good news Bruce, I'll get mine finished by the weekend if I can throw this cold off. Pen wat mai dee.
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Post by bruceb on Feb 20, 2012 20:21:40 GMT 7
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Post by Banjo on Feb 20, 2012 20:44:20 GMT 7
Interesting... I believe one of the first things Adolf Hitler did when he came to power was cut off the state pensions of all Germans living overseas.
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Post by Banjo on Feb 22, 2012 20:05:17 GMT 7
Australia in the Asian Century Submission. The people to people links mentioned in the terms of reference is a subject close to my heart as I am a regular traveller in South East Asian countries. I have been involved for the last two years in a group that has petitioned the Australian Government for greater freedom of travel for Disability Support Pension (DSP) recipients. The current system restricts pensioners to thirteen weeks away at a time. Absences that are longer than that or too frequent can result in loss of Australian residency and loss of DSP payments.
In this day and age these measures are nothing short of draconian, Asia is our neighbour and freedom of movement should be becoming easier, not harder. The Government is currently acting against us with stricter residency rules that came into force on the 1st January 2012. Now our trips away will be far less frequent, and while the legislation does not specify exactly what is going to happen, rules and guidelines will be set up and enforced by the relevant government department, Centrelink.
Many pensioners have made, or would like to make, their homes in Asia. They live in local communities and are often involved in supporting small businesses as customers as well as cultural, social and religious activities. It gives the local people an opportunity to get to know Australians outside of the tourist areas and in many cases establish friendships and family links with them.
After considerable campaigning we have received a promise from the Government that pensioners of this type who are assessed as no longer employable will receive indefinite portability of their pension. This legislation is before parliament now and its impending changes are being ignored by Centrelink officers bent on enforcing the stricter portability rules. Families and relationships are being broken up by bureaucratic nit-picking. It is vital that this promise not be forgotten and it passes through parliament by the promised date of 31st June 2012.
A sensible option to monitor these people would be to have a Centrelink officer stationed permanently, or as a regular visitor, at appropriate Australian embassies, Bangkok and Manila stand out, to monitor the DSP and Old Age Pension (OAP) recipients allowed to travel and live overseas.
Banjo DSPoverseas
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Post by bruceb on Feb 27, 2012 12:48:54 GMT 7
The deadline for submissions to this inquiry has been extended one week - now 4 March
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