MEDIA RELEASE 🧵
@ACOSS
backs Robodebt Royal Commission. Responding to Labor
@AlboMP
@billshortenmp
announcement
@ACOSS
CEO
@cassandragoldie
said: “The Robodebt affair was not just a maladministration scandal, it was a human tragedy that resulted in people taking their lives.
RoboDebt was a horrible, shocking abuse of government power that should never, ever have happened. ACOSS called on government to stop Robodebt and is ready to share this evidence to the commission today.
#robodebtrc
#NeverAgain
#Budget2019
People on $200,000 will get over $224 a week
People on $50k will get $23 a week
People on $25,000 (on pensions) get a one-off payment of $75 (equivalent to $1.40pw)
People on $15,000 (on Newstart) get nothing.
#KeepMyTaxCut
#RaisetheRate
#SaveOurServices
ACOSS's firm view is that JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and related payments are inadequate for all.
We must
#RaisetheRate
to at least $76 a day so that people can cover the basics.
A 🧵- comments attributable to
@cassandragoldie
1/5
The Government is floating ineffective, expensive policies, like cashless debit and drug testing, in a misguided effort to distract from the urgent need for a real increase to Newstart, which is widely supported & would give the economy much-needed stimulus
#auspol
#RaisetheRate
All of the elected Lower House crossbenchers agree we must
#RaisetheRate
of
#Newstart
and we congratulate them on their election! They represent diverse electorates, from Mount Isa to Melbourne, Mount Barker to Manly, showing just how broad support is.
#auspol
#auspol19
70% of people receiving Newstart have been unemployed for 12 months or more. Why? There is only 1 job available for every 8 applicants. More than half the people on Newstart live below the poverty line. It’s impossible to look for work if you’re homeless and hungry.
#RaisetheRate
People have been surviving on the same rate of Newstart since 1994. Then, rents were lower, house prices were $180,000 and pizza hut was the only pizza in town. Living costs have increased. Let's
#RaisetheRate
and increase spending in local communities.
#RaisetheRate
#auspol
Thanks
@latingle
for raising
#Newstart
on
#Insiders
today, citing the Reserve Bank Governor's comments that an increase would be helpful economic stimulus. After 25 years we finally need to
#RaisetheRate
to help people through tough times while also boosting the economy
#auspol
It's near impossible to look for work if you're homeless + hungry. Unemployment payments are so low they're acting as a barrier to employment. Payments must be increased to ensure everyone has a roof over their head and food on their tables. It's time to
#RaiseTheRate
.
#auspol
"You can't live on Newstart," cries Ellen 61, who's caring for 2 kids. "I eat 1 meal a day so the kids can eat. My sweet girl says I should eat more. I was a nurse for 27 yrs. All my savings have gone. I'm in so much debt. I try my best but feel so ashamed."
#RaisetheRate
#auspol
The Morrison Government has been shamed by public outcry into including people on Newstart in one off token $75 Energy Assistance payment. This backflip is offensive, The public outcry is about no real increase to Newstart for 25 years. People need $75 per week, every week. Now.
We cannot go back to $40 a day for income support or continue the harsh treatment of ppl without paid work.
We need to
#RaisetheRateforGood
so people can get by & make the most of job opportunities when the economy rebuilds.
#auspol
With removal of isolation measures, ACOSS is very concerned about ongoing health risk for people on low incomes with limited means to protect themselves if infected. Community service providers and their workforce will feel the impact of this decision. (1/4)
#auspol
We welcome Labor’s commitment to end the cashless debit card in Bundaberg. The card is punitive, discriminatory and ineffective. The next step is for the Parliament to abolish the cashless debit card nationally.
#auspol
Raising
#JobSeeker
is ‘the single greatest blow you can strike for fairness in Australia’ says
@D_AccessEcon
partner Chris Richardson as
@ACOSS
polling finds most voters in 5 marginal seats agree
#JobSeeker
should be at least $67/day
#auspol
1of2
Even this self-described “grumpy old economist” says we urgently need to raise the rate of Newstart and Youth Allowance.
Leading economist, Chris Richardson, says it will be good for people and the economy.
#auspol
#RaisetheRate
“Requiring people to attend job services provider appointments or other face-to-face activities right now is exposing people to unnecessary risks and also placing the whole community at greater risk,” said ACOSS CEO
@cassandragoldie
–
Did you know that there are 30,600 single women and almost 29,000 single men aged 60 or over on Newstart? That's almost 60,000 people over 60 (many of whom would be grandparents), living on $40 per day.
#raisetherate
and
#changelives
We’ve updated our call to
#RaisetheRate
of
#Newstart
to $95 per week in our Federal Budget Submission, recognising that in 2020, no one can get by on $40 a day. Media release and Budget Submission:
Join the campaign:
#auspol
It shouldn’t take a court challenge for Centrelink to work out whether someone owes them money. This is an example of a system that doesn’t work. We’re calling on all political parties to commit to scrapping
#robodebt
#notmydebt
#auspol
#auspol2019
Incredible display of support for the Federal Government to substantially lift JobSeeker, Youth Allowance & related payments in this budget. Thank you to all who attended, &
@DavidPocock
for organising and his support. People on income support cannot wait to
#RaisetheRate
#auspol
We reiterate our opposition to the cashless debit card, following calls from a government backbencher today for its expansion. It is unnecessary, expensive, stigmatising and impractical, making it harder for people to buy second-hand goods.
#auspol
No one responsible for Robodebt's design, implementation & continuation has been publicly held accountable in a meaningful way. The lack of justice is the key issue that so many need resolved - ACOSS statement re. NACC decision:
The major parties are out of touch on the urgent need to increase Newstart. Labor has promised a review but people cannot continue to wait in poverty. The Gov should immediately
#RaisetheRate
#auspol
We can’t go back to forcing people to apply for 20 jobs a month and automatically suspending their payments on the day they don’t attend an appointment with an employment service provider regardless of the reason
#auspol
Comment from someone who spent 3 months on Newstart: After rent, I had $40pw for food & bills. For 3 months, I could only afford 1 meal a day & couldn't pay bills. I was about to have my power & phone cut off, I was underweight & malnourished when I finally found my current job.
The message is clear: lifting Newstart and reducing poverty and inequality is resoundingly good for the economy. The injection of millions of dollars into regional communities will create new jobs, lift wages and profits as well as increase the incomes of people in the lowest 5%.
Australia has the lowest unemployment payment in the OECD as well as one of the toughest systems of mutual obligation for people seeking paid work. With just one job for every eight ppl looking for one, ppl need help, not humiliation.
We live in 2 Australia's - 40% of children of single parents live in poverty - not enough to eat, pay rent; while wealthy ppl invest in housing increasing the property and rental boom concludes
@cassandragoldie
on ABC Life Matters
#raisetherateforgood
#auspol
Avery, who is on Youth Allowance, tells politicians - After I pay for rent and groceries, I have $14 left for the fortnight. How am I supposed to survive?
#JobSeeker
#auspol
Some sobering facts during Homelessness Week:
- One third of people in Australia living in poverty are in paid work.
- About 16% of homeless people (28,600) are employed full-time.
If we believe in a 'fair go', we must do more to make sure everyone has a place to call home.
We are bitterly disappointed that the Gov's cuts to social security for migrants have passed the Parliament, with the support of Labor, One Nation, Derryn Hinch, Brian Burston and David Leyonhjelm.
#auspol
.
@AlanKohler
puts it simply - "The best way to stimulate the economy would be to increase the Newstart Allowance."
It's clear that raising Newstart is not only the right thing to do but the smart thing to do.
#RaisetheRate
#auspol
We strongly condemn the Govt's decision to remove income support for asylum seekers. We understand that around 1,500 people will have their income cut entirely over the next three months, with more cuts to come. We are better than this.
#auspol
Staggering - the revenue lost through Stage 3 tax cuts could pay for Raising the Rate of JobSeeker three times over. These tax cuts will mostly benefit high-income men. Raising JobSeeker & related payments would mostly benefit very low-income women.
Joint statement to Senate from 12 Charity Leaders: “It’s unconscionable to pursue company tax cuts while refusing to raise the rate of Newstart and other allowances. Read the statement at:
#auspol
#tax
Thank you to every federal parliamentarian that spoke up for their community and signed the open letter urging the Prime Minister to substantially
#raisetherate
at the federal budget in May
#auspol
We cannot continue to keep people trapped without enough for the basics, let alone to look for paid work, any longer.
It’s been 25 years - it’s time to
#RaisetheRate
& polling shows about 70% of the community agrees
#auspol
It has been 25 YEARS TODAY since the last real increase to Newstart. In that time the cost of living for ppl on low incomes has gone through the roof, esp rent & energy costs. Today's 1% rise is completely inadequate to support ppl through tough times & find suitable paid work.
“I eat 1 meal a day. I’m hungry. I’m stressed out. If I had a little more money each week, I would not spend 95-100% of my time worrying and feeling destitute, lonely, hungry and dealing with stresses from bill shock." (40 yo woman)
It's time to
#RaisetheRate
of Newstart.
#auspol
These offensive comments made by
@Anne_Ruston
show she is out-of-touch with the harsh realities of trying to get by on
#Newstart
and the strong community support to
#RaisetheRate
after 25 years
#auspol
ACOSS media release:
Drug testing is demeaning, unnecessary and expensive.
It's estimated to cost between $500 - $900 per person, per test.
How can we afford drug testing and cashless debit cards but not find money to
#RaisetheRate
of
#Newstart
, which would stimulate the economy?
#aupsol
A million children live in households that rely on
#JobSeeker
and other payments. Think of their families when the
#Coronavirus
Supplement is slashed on 31 Dec. We can’t turn our backs on them - help us
#RaisetheRatefor
Good!
A massive thank you to the 700+ politicians, community advocates, economists, academics, and business leaders who have signed the open letter to
@AlboMP
calling on the govt to
#RaiseTheRate
. You can view the full letter and sign on here:
Yet another confirmation that
#Robodebt
was illegal. The Government must urgently pay back the thousands of false debts it made people pay.
#NotMyDebt
#auspol
More and more single older women are unable to afford a home. With little or no super, many pay 30%-plus of their income in rent. Older women account for 3 in every 4 people spending more than 50% of their income on rent.
#RaisetheRate
and
#changelives
Tonight’s budget delivers critical support to single parents, people on low incomes needing health care, and kicks off important investment to retrofit low-income homes to improve their energy efficiency.
We thank everyone who has shared their first-hand experience of trying to survive on $40 per day.
The Government has again acknowledged today it is nowhere near enough to get by, but it has failed to deliver an adequate, permanent increase we need.
#RaisetheRateforGood
#auspol
Dept of Social Services admits that 40% of people on Newstart have an illness or disability that prevents them from working full-time
No one can survive on
#Newstart
and it's even tougher if you're sick or have a disability
#RaisetheRate
#auspol
We are now in a phase of rapid, widespread transmission of
#COVID19
and many people are missing out on the support they need. We need the right people in the room to advise government on how to best address the current crisis
#auspol
The
#RaisetheRateforGood
National Day of Action is on today! Thousands are planning to contact their political representatives about why we can't turn back to $40 a day
#auspol
Media release:
The Disaster Recovery Payment has not been increased in 14 years
The Disaster Recovery Allowance is set at the same rate as
#Newstart
which hasn't seen a real increase in 25 years
Both must be raised to support people through tough times
#RaisetheRate
#auspol
#AustraliaBushfires
More than 200 women leaders have written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging him to provide economic security for women leaving violence by raising the rate of Jobseeker and Youth Allowance.
Read more:
"We are not poor because we have trouble managing money. We are poor because payments are so low on Centrelink it requires financial gymnastics to survive,"
Nijole Naujokas writes in an excellent piece in
@GuardianAus
today
#RaisetheRate
#auspol
“We need permanent solutions We got temporary fixes. Right now we are tackling climate change, disasters, people are facing homelessness and hunger. This isn’t a budget that will tackle in a permanent way cost of living for people struggling the most”
@cassandragoldie
#Budget2022
I'm 51, on Newstart and need someone to know what I'm experiencing, says Bella. I've been homeless this year, and last. I'm reliant on my daughters giving me extra food when they can. I lost my car. What I'm afraid of is if this nightmare continues... Please
#RaisetheRate
#auspol
ACOSS urges the Parliament to reject the cashless debit card bill. The card is unproven, expensive, impractical and discriminates against First Nations People.
#auspol
Another call from someone (60+) desperately struggling to survive on <$40/day. "Newstart isn't enough to live on. I want someone to hear me. I worked hard. This is a nightmare. They're killing us" It's time to
#RaisetheRate
of Newstart
#ChangeLives
#auspol
While the Labor party today confirmed it understands that the rate of Newstart is
‘shamefully low’ and committed to completing a review within 18 months if it wins government, what we needed was a clear commitment to an urgent increase.
#auspol
#RaisetheRate
On
@theprojecttv
ACOSS’ Jacqui Phillips says 1 in 3 single parent families in Aust live in poverty and it doesn’t make sense for single parents receiving income support to have their payment cut once their youngest turns 8. Children get more expensive as they grow
#auspol
Newstart is increasing tomorrow by a pitiful $1.65 per week. This is less than the cost of a loaf of bread or a 2L bottle of milk.
It is not enough.
We must be
#RaiseTheRate
of
#Newstart
by at least $75pw.
"The cashless debit card costs thousands per person to administer. This is a waste of money going to the big banks. These public funds should go to increasing
#Newstart
,"
@cassandragoldie
on Gov's cashless-debit scheme with big banks. Media Release
#auspol
People living below the
#poverty
line can’t afford $70 for
#COVID19
rapid antigen test kits – people who are homeless, live remotely, single-parents, on
#JobSeeker
,
#YouthAllowance
,
#Disability
support and services that support them need free RAT tests
Over 1200 community members, politicians, economists, business leaders, and academics have now signed the open letter to
@AlboMP
urging the government to
#RaiseTheRate
. And the numbers continue to grow.
Click here to read the letter and add your name:
There's 60,000 single people aged 60+ who are struggling on the disgracefully low unemployment benefit – Newstart Allowance, which is up to $175/wk less than the age pension. Everyone agrees you can't live on Newstart.
It's time to
#RaisetheRate
.
#auspol
If the Welfare 'reform' Bill goes through, ppl who are unemployed will no longer be back-paid to the day they first lodged their claim, effectively imposing a multiple-week wait for payment depending on how long the Dpt takes to process claims. This measure is unnecessarily cruel
ACOSS CEO
@CassandraGoldie
is calling on Government to listen to what the community is saying. An Essential Poll shows 68% agreed Newstart should be increased. It's time to
#RaiseTheRate
of Newstart, Youth Allowance and related payments so everyone’s basic needs are met.
#auspol
Senators told that
#Newstart
is so low it’s impossible to budget, and the payment is failing older women and single mothers more than any other group
#RaiseTheRate
#auspol
On ABC TV,
@cassandragoldie
says - It’s not actually that complex to end poverty. When the Govt doubled
#JobSeeker
through the full Coronavirus Supplement at the start of the
#Covid19Aus
, we heard single mums saying for the first time I can guarantee my family three meals a day.
Newstart hasn’t increased in real terms since 1994. That’s 24 years!
It’s time to
#RaisetheRate
of Newstart, Youth allowance and related payments. Everybody should have a roof over their head and food on the table.
Join us
#auspol
#DignityNotPoverty
Robodebt is being taken to Court over its dodgy debts.
Congratulations to Madeleine Masterton and her lawyers
@VicLegalAid
on this landmark case.
It's disappointing that it is being left to them to go to the Courts to stop this injustice.
Media release:
We are challenging the lawfulness of Centrelink’s robo-debt system. The system is clearly not working, it causes overwhelming hardship, and a Senate Committee has recommended it be suspended.
@VicLegalAid
#rewindrobodebt
Seven months after the Hill Report provided a blueprint for root and branch reform of the employment services system, the Government’s response has failed to address the harm people experience and the urgent need for change.
Media Release:
"Newstart is just $272 a week, and even with rent assistance and an energy supplement tops out at about $345 a week." The latest ACOSS/UNSW poverty report found the poverty line was $433 a week. We must
#raisetherate
The Senate just passed a motion calling on the Government to immediately revise their announcement and urgently increase Jobseeker to above the poverty line. Thank you to every Senator who voted in support of this motion
#auspol
#raisetherateforgood
"We should be supporting people right now not making life harder for them,"
@cassandragoldie
calls for suspension of Centrelink obligations, due to health concerns and noting employers are not seeking applications with
#COVID2019AU
#auspol
#Newstart
With her
#JobSeeker
cut to $540/fortnight Caryn tells
@sunriseon7
she will have just $40 for food, bills and medicine after paying her housing costs. At $51pd/$18500pa it is now less than half the minimum wage -
#RaisetheRateforGood
#auspol
How can we expect anyone to afford all basic essentials like housing, food, transport and bills on Newstart's $274 per week for any period of time? It's time to
#RaisetheRate
#auspol
Over 1900 community members, politicians, economists, business leaders, and academics have now signed the open letter to
@AlboMP
urging the government to increase income support
#RaiseTheRateForAll
Click here to read the full list and sign the letter:
We believe a company tax cut is a mistake while almost 3 million people live in poverty in Australia. It is unconscionable to pursue cuts while refusing to raise the rate of Newstart and other allowances.
#insiders
#auspol
#RaisetheRate
@HumanHeadline
People who are unemployed will no longer be back-paid to the day they lodged their claim if the Welfare 'reform' Bill goes through. This effectively imposes a multi-week wait for payment depending on how long it takes the Dpt to process claims. The Welfare Bill must be rejected.
At $55 a day, JobSeeker is not enough to cover the essentials like rent and medicine, let alone bus fare to get to a job interview.
Over 500 politicians, advocates and prominent leaders have called on the PM to urgently
#RaiseTheRate
Today, the government has announced that Parenting Payment Single will be expanded to single parents whose youngest child is aged up to 14.
This is life-changing news for the single parents who will benefit!
#auspol
Read more here:
People on Newstart must buy basic essentials such as a roof over their head and food on the table, just like everyone else. Yet Newstart hasn’t increased since 1994. They have been left behind.
#auspol
#RaisetheRate
The govt introduced legislation this morning to cut an education supplement received mostly by single parents & people w disability. Below are the cuts to fortnightly payments if the legislation passes. These cuts will hurt ppl trying to skill up and find paid work.
#RaisetheRate
A senior member of the government last night admitted Newstart should be higher and said he didn’t know why people on Newstart are excluded from the budget energy payment.
#RaiseTheRate
#Budget2019
#auspol
'I'm mum of 3 awesome boys. The shift from Parenting Payment Single to Newstart bc my son turned 8 is still impacting on me more than a year on. The anxiety of navigating all the multiple roles is quite frankly tapping away at me like water torture.'
It's time to
#RaisetheRate
.