http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/antony-mcmullen/ Antony McMullen is President of Social Security Rights Victoria who provide free advice and representation to people experiencing problems with Centrelink. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/The-ultimate-insult-to-genuine-job-seekers/ John*, who was unemployed for almost five years, says despite having to go into his Job Services Australia provider in order qualify for benefits, they never really gave him much help. “I would go into my JSA provider once a month, have a meeting with my case worker where I would have to prove I was actually looking for jobs. She would never have any jobs for me to apply for; she would never suggest any specific jobs I should apply for or have any suggestions on what jobs I could do. Let alone actually finding jobs for me or setting up interviews for me, which is what I thought they would do,” he said. The Commonwealth Government’s Job Services Australia (JSA) program replaced the Coalition’s old Job Network and is a moderate improvement on the old system. However, the JSA system is largely failing. Department figures show only 8 per cent of JSA clients get full-time work each year. But it’s a system which has made some JSA provider owners into millionaires off taxpayer money. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/The-ultimate-insult-to-genuine-job-seekers/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/The-ultimate-insult-to-genuine-job-seekers/#item8367 Tue, 01 May 2012 19:55:11 +0000 Antony McMullen | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/la-dole-cheque-vita-is-not-so-sweet-on-16-a-day/ Your task is simple. Here is $115.50. It must last one week. You have no savings, no assets, but thankfully you’ve already paid your rent. That’s about $16 a day to cover food, bills, transport, entertainment and hygiene products. We hope you like never going out, watching television and that none of your loved ones ever require a birthday present. Hopefully you’re not someone who requires much medication or needs to go the Doctor. We do hope you like basic carbohydrates or can cope with the embarrassment of having to ask a charity for a food parcel. Welcome to the world of Australia’s depressed, stigmatised and disempowered Newstart recipients. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/la-dole-cheque-vita-is-not-so-sweet-on-16-a-day/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/la-dole-cheque-vita-is-not-so-sweet-on-16-a-day/#item7716 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:00:48 +0000 Antony McMullen | Author bios | The Punch