The Advertiser: Rural areas 'lose out' on welfare [26oct05]

"'ACOSS figures are biased and can never be trusted, as has been seen time and again over the last 12 months. Unfortunately, this undermines the credibility of ACOSS's argument,' he said in a statement.

'I don't share ACOSS's view that people who have a capacity to work are better off on welfare rather than in a job.

'There are thousands of people who will be infinitely better off under the Government's $3.6 billion investment in employment services and support.'"

My Comment

OK folks, do the maths. As far as I can see, no-one will be infinitely better off. Some may be 5-10% better off. So is it ACOSS figures we can't trust, or the Government?

Disabled people stopped from working

Discrimination and inflexible workplaces are preventing disabled people from working, a new report shows.

The report, commissioned by the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS), has found most disabled people would like to work part-time, but think it is unlikely employers will give them the flexibility they need.

They also say that Centrelink is largely unhelpful and that moving from the Newstart Allowance - when they are required to look for work - onto the Disability Support Pension (DSP) is a great relief.

'Most felt that they would be able to cope with formal part-time employment if employers were more flexible,' the report's authors said.

'This would involve employers taking account of their disability and allowing them to rest during the day when they needed to and to take whole days off when they could not contemplate going to work,' they said."

Comment

Its not rocket science is it? I hear this report from motivated people I interview every day I work. The problem is employer attitude.

The Australian: Retro sting in dole reforms [October 03, 2005]

The Australian: Retro sting in dole reforms [October 03, 2005]: "THE Howard Government will further toughen 'three strikes and you're out' dole rules by including in the tally mistakes by unemployed people made during the 12 months before the changes are brought in.

The decision means many people on the dole could face two months without money as soon as the Government's welfare reforms start next July."

My Comment

Now what about if we apply the three strikes rule to Centrelink and pollies. Centrelink make three mistakes and all welfare recipients get a weeks extra payment. If pollies mislead parliament or fail to answer the actual question asked in question time and they forfeit their seat.

Would that be fair?