centrelink

A perennial Australian favourite: let's beat up on welfare recipients

North Coast Voices - June 2, 2008 - 1:10am

There is one thing a wide section of the Australian community can be depended on to display - a deep and abiding prejudice against any form of difference and an intolerance of people on the dole.
For some reason many think prejudice is acceptable when sent by email, as was this montage/photograph with the legend: Support the system that supports me. Centrelink.

This piece managed to capture at least one spiteful myth about welfare recipients; that they are all bludgers on the make. Read more »

Special Disability Trusts

GreensBlog - May 16, 2008 - 4:46pm

Although the introduction of the Special Disability Trust (SDT) in September 2006 was welcomed by parents and carers of those living with disabilities, it has not been as widely taken up as expected, during questioning in Senate Estimates it was revealed that only 22 trusts have been established Australia wide to date. [...]

Debit card reeks of Big Brother

North Coast Voices - May 13, 2008 - 1:15am

So ran the banner above yesterday's editorial penned by David Bancroft in Grafton's The Daily Examiner (Clarence Valley locals will remember David as a former staffer for then NSW Labor Minister for Local Government, Harry Woods).

SOME disturbing signs of social engineering are starting to appear from the new Rudd Government. Read more »

Every breath you take, I'll be watching you

North Coast Voices - May 19, 2008 - 1:15am

Tucked neatly into Joe Ludwig and Jenny Macklin's joint media release, on the welfare debit card to be introduced this year for Centrelink clients under income management and all baby bonus recipients, is this little admission. Read more »

A very personal kneejerk reaction to the Rudd-Swan 2008-09 Federal Budget

North Coast Voices - May 14, 2008 - 1:15am

Belonging to a recognised category of poor that contains less than half a million souls and has little political clout, it has been so long since a Federal Budget gave me anything that I now Read more »