Newstart Allowance

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

by Hannah Harborow

110
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

by Sarrah Le Marquand

210
Defeating bullying one child at a time

by Peter James

310
Why can’t I be pope?

by Xavier Toby

410
My democratic dilemma after the death of a despot

by Gabriel Pizani

510
Punch on: Open thread 14/03/2013

by The Punch Team

610
Atheist church’s faithless flock proves value of religion

by Sam Clench

710
There’s no such thing as a free bus ticket

by Jessica Irvine

810
Politicians can’t control the economy

by Albert Alla

910
How far do the National Rifle Association’s sights focus?

by Scott Limbrick

1010

Do you really need to “live on the dole” to understand?

02 Jan 12:59pm

Filed under: Adam Bandt, Jenny Macklin, Newstart Allowance, Politics, The Dole, Welfare

Oh Jenny Macklin, it’s only the second day of the year and you’re in a deep mess, made messier by the clumsy efforts of your staff to clean up after you.

Between them they get paid more than $1800 a day…

And now an argument over whether single mothers of children aged 8 and over should work has turned into an argument about the generosity, or not, of the dole. They are actually two different debates.

But now you’ve opened the door to Greens MP Adam Bandt to challenge you to join him in a week-long stunt that will not reveal anything of substance.

Continue reading "Do you really need to “live on the dole” to understand?" »

Latest 2 of 146 comments

View all comments

Sharon says:

04:58pm | 02/01/13

My goodness. Tubesteak for humanitarian of the year!! Your last name isn’t Scrooge is it?? Did you ‘bah humbug’ at Christmas? Do you advocate bringing back the workhouse? Read more »
Steve Putnam says:

04:50pm | 02/01/13

@PJ “We have an entitlement culture due to carbon tax protection monies…” The pricing of carbon has been in place for six months and its now changed an entire culture??? Are you for real? This is your most idiotic posting yet. Maybe you would like to comment on the role… Read more »

Add your comment

Facebook Recommendations

Read all about it

Punch live

Up to the minute Twitter chatter

See all tweets

Nosebleed Section

choice ringside rantings

From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go

Tim says:

They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]

From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go

Kel says:

If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]