It is about the welfare system,
I would raise the Newstart slightly to closer to the aged or disability pensions.
Not massive, but ... a big help to those MOSTLY in dire need. My experience with charity and those less well off is extensive and 30 plus years of trying to help, quietly some in dire straights, so they can eventually help themselves. AND for some who cant, via accident or health issues such as cancer or corrupt say employers or insurers.
Centrelink is being stressed by so many, being left as trash by insurers not paying a TPD insurance policy so they end up, needing income support when they have a valid 500k TPD insurance policy that would take 5 years to fight in court and 100k upfront for lawyers to fight with a 50% chance of a win. I don't play fair, in fact far from it.
Centrelink for say a person injured at work meant to be covered via the 4% premium paid on wages as an insurance policy if an employee is injured, the Employer does the right thing, the employer pays it willingly god forbid some employee is injured. If its serious, its likely denied ... the claim ... needing 2 year gap of ZERO funds for the injured .
On one case, a recent one, it failed on 7 laws, and every 21 case law reasons and the arbitrator got up to 10 before they went doing any more ,... is NOT of any use. Ex Employee felt as though they had been raped, they were ... went form 1k income to $270- for 3 years. Case won but only $135 a week awarded to be repaid to Centrelink .... about 70% of pre injury income restored for the maximum 5 years .... paid or offered $21,000- for a brain injury ... nothing for a worse physical injury and whilst now a full disability pension for 20 years till age 67 ... at $380- what is the cost ?
Cost to the Federal govt ? Lawyers for the Insurance company agent and bonus well over 100k. Chances of recovery, zero. Some hope if treated in the first 12 months but well ... when you have both a mental and physical injury and its bloody denied despite signed admissions, and physical evidence so compelling its absurd.
I suspect total cost for 40 years, likely 2 million. Federal govt pays. Unfortunate accident but in this case deliberate and malicious but that is NOT the issue, it was about and is about a helping hand all welfare whilst trying to be fair.
Dole bludgers ? I suspect take out young untrained and over 50;s or those injured and not enough ... to be fully disabled ... we have maybe 2% of the 5% unemployed. Of them if your suggesting even HALF are dole bludgers, that's 1% ... and remember 15% of people have small disabilities or are NOT seen as disabled but are under 85 IQ, and borderline, sadly, whilst kind and not suggesting anything else, just not ... well as gifted as others, sure they work like Trojans some of them. Ones best employees doing some things. But 1% maybe .... of the 5% are lax ... if even that and Centrelink encourages but with an iron fist and a lot of paperwork even for a disabled under age 65 person ... to check ...
That is reality.
Compassion ... humanity ... empathy and well what is being human. Whining about the less than 1% that periodically get sifted out and out ... as they are required and expected as time goes on to WORK as one might expect verses a real look at WHO or whom they are dealing with. Centrelink has to pick up the pieces of domestic violence, abuse and drug and other issues when they TRY and sort their lives out.
If you don't understand this role,
their dual and complex roles which often alternate between a kid glove and and iron fist if needed, and for those navigating what is often a bureaucratic paperwork nightmare, maybe go buy a few workers there a few beers ? Or better still volunteer which obviously most don't their time, or skills to some others for free ?
It is rewarding and for some, life saving that someone, a bloody stranger cares. Then again, most will remain in their little world and be stunned if something bad happens to their world. Be even more stunned if they reach out and hopefully someone, or group helps. Not Centrelink, but they are a bridge not just income support, but a bridge to a lot of goverment assistance if needed from aged care in house support to NDIS and Community housing for say an abused mother of 5 who flees a maniac and eventually needs to raise 5 kids, no income from deadbeat father, what does she do ?
I could go on, but blank looks usually occur or glazed ones. Be brave, buy someone a beer. Or talk to a homeless person. You may be surprised !!