Unemployment Benefits
It’s easy to blame people for being outside the labour market or on its low-paid fringes. It’s easy when you’re passing judgment from a comfortable vantage point, well above the fray.
The members of my organisation, the St Vincent de Paul Society, however, are painfully close to the reality of poverty in a prosperous nation.
Every day, we see how hard it is to survive on social security payments. The people who have been left out of the economic prosperity that has been generated in this lucky country are waging a daily battle for survival. It’s a battle that is being waged from below the poverty line.
Continue reading "The cost of poverty is way more expensive than the dole" »
There was a chilling line in a Daily Telegraph piece on girl gangs back in 2008. Reporter Lauren Williams had a 2.30am chat with a Glebe teen called “Carson” in the article.
“Carson” explained why she and her friends stole.
“If the government gave us more money then we wouldn’t have to rob people,” she said, apparently satisfied she had delivered an impregnable justification for purse snatching, shop lifting and mugging.
Continue reading "You’re not meant to be comfortable on the dole" »
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Johno says:
I went on Centrelink for a month after I closed my business after 15 years, and it was merely extra money for a holiday after the 15 year grind. Started back full time work and interestingly, it was a bit of a pain to get Centrelink cancelled: had to make… Read more »
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Bob says:
Well it seems like we have lots of people happy with their nice job and careers pointing the finger, looking down on people for not working. I have been unemployed after working some pretty decent jobs and it taught me some valuable lessons. One lesson was to never judge somebody… Read more »
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.
Continue reading "La dole cheque vita is not so sweet on $16 a day" »
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Daniel says:
It’s not that easy. I have been unemployed for nearly 12 months in a regional area and without being to afford to run a car I have not been able to get a job (I previously worked in freight logistics for ten years). Can’t afford to retrain myself and centrelink… Read more »
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billfromthebush says:
Thats 115 too much in my opinion, get off your collective lazy fat arses and get to work. bludgers. Read more »
“GET a job!” It was the response to a protester from Prime Minister Paul Keating during his ill-fated 1996 election campaign that epitomised the “dole bludger” tag.
The nation’s unemployment rate had spiked during his previous term and many school leavers were seen as aimless, finding it easier to rely on government welfare than to look for paid work.
More than a decade on, the jobless figures have done an about-turn. In some areas there are more jobs than willing workers. But it seems the legendary dole bludger is alive and well.
Continue reading "Yep, most people still really hate dole bludgers" »
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Tammy says:
I agree with Jade, it isnt hard to look for work I was on unemployment for 3 months but during that time I joined an employment agencies and got into a study course which I completed the course in 10 weeks and got myself a job. the majority of unemployed… Read more »
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Bowhunter says:
As far as I’m concerned welfare is my compensation for having to live in a capitalist society, and for having to put up with fools like Jade! Take welfare away and I’ll just kill the rich and take what they have. Read more »
There’s no way taxpayers should be supporting fit young people to lounge around for years on the dole, smoking joints and listening to Pink Floyd.
And no one wants their hard-earned being spent on a wannabe writer who houseshares with other ‘creatives’ living the dream while we eke out a meagre office-bound existence, soothed only by Friday night drinks and dreams of what might have been.
And we’ll be damned if we pay tax after levy after carbon price while someone who has ‘self esteem’ issues can’t get out of bed before lunch.
Continue reading "Abbott’s new era of work for the proles" »
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Cynic says:
whats really ironic is that it was the Liberals who gave the youngsters a ‘youth allowance’ thereby making welfare seem normal, is it any wonder that they then go on the dole? Abbott also needs to understand disabilities a little better, a lot of people on disability pensions would love… Read more »
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john says:
You know “Conviction Kitchen” is a TV program ? It’s not real you know… ALL employees of licensed venues must pass a police check BY LAW. Please stop talking out of your backside. Read more »
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