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Welfare “slackers” articles

Turnbull government’s tough new measures to strip bludgers of welfare payments

SHARRI MARKSON, The Daily Telegraph, April 24, 2017 12:27pm

WELFARE slackers who refuse to participate in work-for-the-dole schemes will be stripped of payments under tough new measures to be unveiled in the upcoming Budget.

Employment Minster Michaelia Cash said today there is a cohort of people in Australia that actively say no to suitable work.

“I think all taxpayers would rightly expect that those who can work should work and our welfare system should be there as a genuine safety net, not as something that people can choose to fund their lifestyle,” she told reporters.

The Daily Telegraph revealed today the Turnbull government will close a loophole created by Labor that allows bludgers to repeatedly skip job interviews or work-for-the-dole commitments yet have their welfare payments remain untouched.

It comes as new data shows more than 33,000 people told Centrelink they couldn’t be bothered turning up to a job interview on 100,000 occasions last year – yet less than 1 per cent faced a penalty.

Human Services Minister Alan Tudge said there were obvious flaws in the current system. In total, there were 380,000 cases where welfare recipients skipped job interviews or work but had no reasonable excuse.

And in worrying signs for the future, 60 per cent of the people who failed to fulfil their side of the bargain as part of the work-for-the-dole schemes were under 30.

The principle must be that if you can’t be bothered turning up for a job interview, then don’t expect the taxpayer to continue to pay your bills

– ALAN TUDGE

Human Services Minister Alan Tudge said welfare recipients cannot expect to be supported by taxpayers if they can’t even be bothered to turn up for work, job interviews or languages classes.

Labor frontbencher Katy Gallagher said she was a “bit suspicious” when this government attempts to demonise and attack those who rely on welfare.

“We support rigour around people being responsible for the money they receive and actually having to play by the rules. There is no problem with that,” she told reporters in Canberra.

A senior government source said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wanted to focus on creating a system that incentivised people to be “active rather than passive” welfare recipients.

Mr Tudge, who would not comment on the Budget, said there were obvious flaws in the current system.

“The problem at the moment is that people are escaping any financial penalty because of the loopholes Labor created. We are working on fixing this,” he said.

More than 33,000 people told Centrelink they couldn’t be bothered turning up to a job interview on 100,000 occasions last year.

“The principle must be that if you can’t be bothered turning up for a job interview, then don’t expect the taxpayer to continue to pay your bills.” Under mutual obligation schemes such as work-for-the-dole, welfare recipients are required to work, volunteer, attend job interviews or take literacy and numeracy training.

If they fail to meet their obligation, they face an eight-week suspension of their welfare.

Labor introduced a waiver system in 2009, where recipients could have their penalty waived and have welfare benefits reinstated if they agreed to “re-engage” and attend the next appointment and agreed to a course of action such as training or volunteering. As a result the system has descended into farce. Less than 1 per cent – or 2457 people – had their welfare payments stopped for eight weeks last year. About 9 per cent had their payments blocked for one day.

When the Human Services Department asked the welfare recipients why they hadn’t turned up for work, the number one answer was that: “Jobseeker chose not to participate.”

Government analysis also shows the average Australian works 15 months fulltime to pay enough tax for someone to receive welfare under the Newstart scheme for 12 months. In total, the cost of the welfare system is $160 billion per year – and growing by 6 per cent annually.

AUSTRALIAN IDLE

Scott Morrison frustrated by Parliament’s refusal to claw back billions in welfare payments, taxes could be raised

EXCLUSIVE SHARRI MARKSON, The Daily Telegraph, February 15, 2017 10:00am

TREASURER Scott Morrison has warned he will be forced to raise taxes if Labor and Nick Xenophon block billions of dollars in welfare cuts amid grave concerns for the country’s future credit rating.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Mr Morrison unleashed his frustration at the Parliament’s refusal to claw back $5.6 billion in welfare payments from those who do not qualify for it, saying the splurge on welfare cannot continue.

Mr Morrison said it was a “complete lie” that the Government would not be funding the National Disability Insurance Scheme, instead issuing a blunt warning that there would be higher taxes or higher debt to pay for it.

Mr Morrison said Labor and Mr Xenophon’s move on the welfare cuts was irresponsible when credit agencies had already put Australia on notice.

“We’re committed to it, but you’ve got to fund it,” he said. “If you don’t fund it by getting welfare under control, you’ve got two other options, increase taxes or increase debt.”

His frustration building at the total of $13.6 billion in budget measures being blocked, Mr Morrison said Labor and Mr Xenophon’s move on the welfare cuts was irresponsible when credit agencies had already put Australia on notice.

“If they can’t pass these savings, what savings can they pass? The answer to that is they don’t wish to pass savings,” he said.

“They are demanding that we actually stop trying to get expenditure under control. Labor is demanding that the government spend more and more on welfare.”

The Turnbull Government announced an omnibus bill last week that cut $4.7 billion in Family Tax Benefit supplements along with additional welfare cuts such as ending carbon tax compensation for future welfare recipients.

After discussions with the crossbench, there were additional payments for families as well.

Paid parental leave would increase from 18 to 20 weeks and the Family Tax benefit would increase by $20 a fortnight.

Senator Nick Xenophon has moved to block the cuts to welfare, angering the treasurer.

Government modelling shows families will be up to $7000 a year better off under their new childcare changes and family tax benefit changes.

For a single parent family on $80,000 where two children under the age of six are in long-day care for five days a week at $100 a day, they would be $7051 better-off than they are currently.

On top of this, they would still receive $10,053 in annual Family Tax Benefit payments.

For a single parent family on $50,000 a year, where two children under the age of six are in long-day care for two days a week, they would be $1372 better off by 2018-19, while receiving $15,337 in Family Tax benefits.

Mr Morrison said it was “disappointing” that despite holding crossbench discussions, there was still no support for the cuts. “We’ve been working with the Xenophon team for years … and we’ve done that in good faith and at the end of the day though, people who are voting have to make a decision.”

Are Gen Y kids a bunch of slackers?

By JESSE PHILLIPS, The Sunday Telegraph January 9, 2011 12:00am

THEY’RE lazy, self-indulgent, self-important binge-drinkers – at least that’s the common perception of Generation Y in the workforce.

But according to the founder of fruit-juice bar chain Boost Juice, Janine Allis, such descriptions are nonsense and the same tired complaints levelled at each successive generation.

Not everyone agrees, but the renowned businesswoman is out to challenge the stereotype, telling The Sunday Telegraph the 5000 young people she employs continually amaze her with their ability.

“I think people are constantly trying to categorise Generation Y as being lazy or flighty, but they are just doing the same things we did,” Ms Allis said.

“Like them, when I was young there were the ones who were inspired and driven, and there were also some who were lazy.”

About 4.5 million Australians – those born between 1979 and 1990 – fall into the Generation Y category and make up about 20 per cent of the nation’s workforce.

Despite Ms Allis singing Generation Y’s praises, two Sydney-based recruitment companies say not all employers are as upbeat.

Colin Kerr, NSW contracting manager for recruitment agency Talent2, said Gen Y thought nothing of chopping and changing careers, which was something potential employers disliked.

“When we ask them why they quit their last job they just say, ‘I wanted a change’, whereas other generations would never quit before they had another job,” he said.

“Most of them live at home and Mum and Dad look after them, so there’s no risk in quitting and they’re confident they’ll get another job.

“If there are two jobs and one offers better career development and the other pays $1000 more, they will take the one for more money.

“After three months they start asking, ‘When am I going to be promoted in this role?’ ”

Mr Kerr said for applicants from age groups outside Gen Y, five people might be interviewed to find one suitable candidate but, for Gen Y, perhaps 15 to 20 would need to be assessed.

Rebecca Wallace, managing director of Launch Recruitment, agreed Gen Y received bad press, but she conceded employers had reservations.

“I guess it’s around stability; Gen Y may not show stability in their previous career history, and that’s often a concern,” Ms Wallace said.

“Other criticisms made are around the fact that they’re potentially looking for career advancement too quickly – they want to move through the organisation before their time.”

Welfare con job: Thousands of Aussies reject job offers to stay on benefits

EXCLUSIVE Sharri Markson, National Political Editor, The Daily Telegraph December 12, 2016 12:00am

DOLE BLUDGERS ULTIMATUM: NO JOB? NO HANDOUTS

TREASURER Scott Morrison has said anyone who is unemployed and refuses to take a job should not get the dole.

He was responding on the radio today to the news in today’s Daily Telegraph that up to 36,000 Australians have rejected job offers so they can stay on generous taxpayer-funded welfare payments without turning up to work.

“If they knock back those jobs, they are not taking those jobs, then they shouldn’t be getting the dole,” Mr Morrison told the Ray Hadley program on Sydney’s 2GB.

Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said anyone taking advantage of the social security system should have the book thrown at them.

35,000 Australians are knocking back work to remain on welfare. Picture: Carmela Roche She said there is no excuse for choosing not to work, although most people who are receiving unemployment benefits are desperate to find work.

“If someone is rorting, they should have to book thrown at them but let’s have a government that’s serious about supporting jobs for Australians too,” she told reporters in Sydney.

Mr Morrison said the government had been trying to get legislation from the 2015/16 budget passed that would put in place a four-week waiting period for the youth allowance.

“So that means you can’t go from the school front gate when you leave school to the Centrelink front door,” the treasurer said.

“Labor should support this, the crossbenchers should support this.” It was originally a six-month waiting period under a proposal in the 2014/15 budget but proved unacceptable to the Senate.

Meanwhile, the Productivity Commission is seeking submissions into its inquiry into reforms to human services, which aims to apply competition principles to the sector as recommended by the Harper review.

Six areas have been identified – social housing, public hospitals, end-of-life care services, public dental services, services in remote indigenous communities and government-commissioned family and community services.

Submissions are due by February 10, 2017.

Minister for Human Services, Alan Tudge said there were whole regions where as many people receive their income from welfare as from a job. Human Services Minister Alan Tudge said in this morning’s Daily Telegraph there are areas where business owners can’t find workers to do entry-level jobs, like fruit picking or working in an abattoir, but unemployment is high.

Mr Tudge also said there were “whole regions where as many people receive their income from welfare as from a job”. The Daily Telegraph understands about half the people aged 18 and over in the NSW electorates of Cowper and Blaxland receive welfare payments. This includes suburbs like Coffs Harbour, Auburn and Regents Park.

“We are fortunate to have a strong social security system for when people are down on their luck, but it must be a safety net, not a destination,” Mr Tudge said. In the year to October 2016, there were 35,576 occasions when welfare-dependent Australians who were perfectly capable of working refused to take or hold down a suitable job.

Some refused a job offer outright. Others accepted the job but never turned up.

More than 22,000 quit their new job without a good reason to go back on unemployment payments.

And another 10,000 were sacked from their new job for serious misconduct, such as theft, assault or harassment of colleagues or customers, or unauthorised absences from work.

At $160 billion, the cost of welfare makes up a third of all government expenditure. Ahead of the May budget, the Turnbull government is looking at ways to rein in the spend, which is exploding by 6 per cent a year.

Only one in five dole bludgers were penalised by Centrelink, the rest getting off scot-free. Australia’s welfare system, crucial to save struggling families from poverty, is being abused by a section of the population.

The government has started to analyse where the problem areas are and how many people capable of working are refusing to accept jobs.

It’s a problem that prominent indigenous leader Noel Pearson has described as the “welfare pedestal”, where people see no ­financial incentive to get a job.

Only one in five dole bludgers were penalised by Centrelink, the rest getting off scot-free despite the law stating that those who refuse to work should have their welfare payments docked.

Projections show that more than 100,000 jobs will open up in the aged, disability and child care sector over the next few years.

However, advice to government is that it will be ­difficult to transition those on welfare payments into these jobs.

Mr Tudge said while Australians rightly expect government assistance to find a job, they are required to take up a job when one is on offer.

“Even if the first job is not perfect, once a person has a job and does it well, it is so much easier to get the next one,” he said.

“Those who make deliberate decisions to end their job make it harder for everyone else to be given a go, because employers lose confidence.”

In September, The Daily Telegraph revealed those who refused to work would be kicked off the dole.

There are concerns in the Turnbull government about intergenerational welfare, where entire generations, from grandparent to newborns will spend their lives on handouts, stuck in the welfare cycle.

Linked from 31/10/2016 Journal