Toothpaste too costly for senator    

Date
    April 16, 2012


WA Green Senator Rachel Siewert exposed herself to a social experiment.     :-?

WA Greens Senator Rachel Siewert is trying to live on $35 a day in a bid to highlight that the meagre dole was causing jobseekers to be sucked into a cycle of poverty.

Rachel Siewert has $12 in her wallet for the rest of the week.

She went shopping on the weekend and bought some basic food items and toilet paper totalling $53, but if she runs out of toothpaste, she will just have to go without.

This week Ms Siewert is living off the average weekly Newstart Allowance payment in a bid to highlight what she says is a system which makes it even more difficult for job seekers to get out of unemployment.    


The $244 she started with on Saturday has quickly been taken up by the essentials.    

While in reality, she will remain in her four-bedroom, two-bathroom house in the northern suburbs, $125 has been deducted from her budget to pay for the one bedroom unit in Bentley or Armadale, which would be all she could afford on Newstart.     :-?

Thankfully for her, the amount has been subsidised down from $185 due to the rent assistance that she would be eligible for as a jobseeker.

Small amounts of money are also set aside for electricity, gas and public transport.

On her budget, Ms Siewert can only afford pre-paid phone credit, which she has spent $10 on and she has also put $5 of fuel into her car.

She is hoping her car doesn't have any issues throughout the week, because the $12 in her wallet would not cover a new battery let alone a tow truck.

After taking all of these expenses into account, there was about $17 left, but Ms Siewert also has a health condition which requires her to take iron tablets every day - that is another $4.10 gone.     :(

While she admits she would usually pop into a cafe and spend $4 on a coffee without too much thought, this week she is sticking to coffee made at home with ground coffee beans, so after deducting that cost, the remainder in Ms Siewert's wallet is $12.

Tonight she will make zucchini slice for dinner and have the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Being a vegetarian may have helped to keep her food bill down - if she had have bought meat she may not have had any money for the rest of the week.     :(

The money she does have, Ms Siewert will keep in case she needs something throughout the week or something unexpected comes up, but she does not have much planned in terms of socialising.

"There'll be no activities that cost money, not much social activities, no movies, I'm fond of a movie but I won't even be able to hire a DVD," she said.     :(

Her days will be spent learning about the processes involved in searching for work.

This morning she is attending a place called Ready to Work.

"When you're on Newstart you can't afford new clothes, so your clothes get worn down, it's hard to afford cosmetics and shoes and nice clothes for an interview," Ms Siewert said.

The staff at Ready to Work help jobseekers with these things so they can present themselves in the necessary manner for a job interview.

She will be talking to jobseekers and service providers throughout the week to hear about their experiences.

Ms Siewert said her experiment this week would only scratch the surface of what jobseekers on Newstart have to go through.     ;)

She said people often became socially isolated and also had to go into debt.

"It's a cycle of poverty which just makes it harder to get out of," Ms Siewert said.

She said the government excused what she believed were unfairly low payments by saying that if the payments were higher, people would not have an incentive to find work.

"We're arguing for at least a $50 a week increase," she said.

"That's just $7 extra a day."

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/toothpaste-too-costly-for-senator-20120415-1x1a6.html#ixzz2GkzNtMsU

I wonder whether Macklin has ever read this?

Or has even SPOKEN to Rachel S?

With thousands of migrants being employed on 457 visas there is no reason for anyone to be on the dole for longer than a few months at the most.
The question should be "how can we motivate these bludgers to get off their fat arses" not "how much more money should we throw at them".

i wonder how she found anywhere to rent for $125 a fortnight - cant be a week or she would have no money left.

SOB

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 6:45am:

i wonder how she found anywhere to rent for $125 a fortnight - cant be a week or she would have no money left. SOB

You wouldn't even get a tent-site at a caravan-park for that, would you?

There's another, hidden issue here, too.

Many estate agents will not rent to the unemployed under any circumstances.

Kat wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 6:50am:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 6:45am: i wonder how she found anywhere to rent for $125 a fortnight - cant be a week or she would have no money left. SOB You wouldn't even get a tent-site at a caravan-park for that, would you? There's another, hidden issue here, too. Many estate agents will not rent to the unemployed under any circumstances.

The solution is simple..get a job.
The dole was never meant to be a permanent salary and those that treat it as such have no one but themselves to blame for their situation.

again this points out why its more important to rely on developing relationships with family and friends than it is to develop a relationship with governments.

smart people would focus on developing good strong community bonds and networks rather than expecting canberra to put a roof over their heads.

if you are unemployed and have been a good community citizen and helpful member of your extended family network, then offers of free accomodation should come flooding in.
you should have family and friends clamboring over each other to give you a roof over your head AND free toothpaste.

if youve been a whiney sook who wanted to breastfeed off canberra for eternity , then thats just karma baby.

you should have been less selfish when you had the chance and developed meaningful networks with quality people.

The get a job crowd come out.  Yes I am sure they did think of that.     :(    

wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 7:01am:

The get a job crowd come out.  Yes I am sure they did think of that.     :(

You can't reason with closed minds.

wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 7:01am:

The get a job crowd come out.  Yes I am sure they did think of that.     :(

but the dole-bludger set were already here. of all the solutions being discussed not ONE of them involves getting a job.

Travel through Australias fruit and veg growing regions at the moment and you'll see thousands of migrant workers in the fields and packing sheds.
Look in the hospitals and you'll also notice thousands of migrant doctors and nurses..even the various state police forces have to bring in migrants to fill places.
This is just a tiny portion of jobs that are filled with migrants who are bought here to fill positions Australians do not want to do or cant be stuffed getting the qualifications to do.

Just in case you didnt know, the unemployed have to look for work.  It is part of the condition that they get their benifit.     ::)

wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 7:17am:

Just in case you didnt know, the unemployed have to look for work.  It is part of the condition that they get their benifit.     ::)

And as we know the long term unemployed are experts at getting around actually getting a job.
The dole should cut out after 6 months..no ifs no buts no maybes

adelcrow wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 7:21am:

wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:17am: Just in case you didnt know, the unemployed have to look for work.  It is part of the condition that they get their benifit.     ::) And as we know the long term unemployed are experts at getting around actually getting a job. The dole should cut out after 6 months..no ifs no buts no maybes

I find it incredible that there are still people who believe this rubbish.

These horror-stories were NEVER anything but a largely fictitious ploy
to discredit the unemployed.

They are NOT borne out by the facts.

As for cutting the dole after six months, that's nothing but sheer vindictiveness.

No it shold not, there should be no time limit on it.  People on the dole, are already survivig in poverty.     :(

Kat wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 7:25am:

adelcrow wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:21am: wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:17am: Just in case you didnt know, the unemployed have to look for work.  It is part of the condition that they get their benifit.     ::) And as we know the long term unemployed are experts at getting around actually getting a job. The dole should cut out after 6 months..no ifs no buts no maybes I find it incredible that there are still people who believe this rubbish. These horror-stories were NEVER anything but a largely fictitious ploy to discredit the unemployed. They are NOT borne out by the facts. As for cutting the dole after six months, that's nothing but sheer vindictiveness.

Jump on a bus and go to one of Australias many fruit and veg growing districts..theres plenty of work.

Kat wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 7:25am:

adelcrow wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:21am: wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:17am: Just in case you didnt know, the unemployed have to look for work.  It is part of the condition that they get their benifit.     ::) And as we know the long term unemployed are experts at getting around actually getting a job. The dole should cut out after 6 months..no ifs no buts no maybes I find it incredible that there are still people who believe this rubbish. These horror-stories were NEVER anything but a largely fictitious ploy to discredit the unemployed. They are NOT borne out by the facts. As for cutting the dole after six months, that's nothing but sheer vindictiveness.

i am not for cutting the dole, but if you dont think there are professional dole bludgers out there then you are living in la-la land. Pansi hereself said people move to her town simply because there is no work so they can continue to recieve the dole and have a good excuse.

there are plenty of legit unemployed. there are also plenty of dole bludgers. what the hell do you think IMFULLOFIT is??? years on here now and no job. and he is on record as saying he has no plans to work either.

gold_medal wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 8:21am:

Kat wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:25am: adelcrow wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:21am: wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:17am: Just in case you didnt know, the unemployed have to look for work.  It is part of the condition that they get their benifit.     ::) And as we know the long term unemployed are experts at getting around actually getting a job. The dole should cut out after 6 months..no ifs no buts no maybes I find it incredible that there are still people who believe this rubbish. These horror-stories were NEVER anything but a largely fictitious ploy to discredit the unemployed. They are NOT borne out by the facts. As for cutting the dole after six months, that's nothing but sheer vindictiveness. i am not for cutting the dole, but if you dont think there are professional dole bludgers out there then you are living in la-la land. Pansi hereself said people move to her town simply because there is no work so they can continue to recieve the dole and have a good excuse. there are plenty of legit unemployed. there are also plenty of dole bludgers. what the hell do you think IMFULLOFIT is??? years on here now and no job. and he is on record as saying he has no plans to work either.

false statement - forgiven.

Quote:

i am not for cutting the dole, but if you dont think there are professional dole bludgers out there then you are living in la-la land. I never said that there weren't, but I did say that they're a small minority, and that the huge majority of genuine shouldn't be penalised because of them. Pansi hereself said people move to her town simply because there is no work so they can continue to recieve the dole and have a good excuse. But they actually can't, not without risking their payment. They cannot move to an area with higher unemployment than where they currently reside. Not sure who brought that in, but it was to pander to those who erroneously believed that the unemployed were all moving to surfing hot-spots or Nimbin in droves. That wasn't borne-out by the facts, either, and actually discouraged the unemployed from travelling to look for work.

Kat wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 6:50am:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 6:45am: i wonder how she found anywhere to rent for $125 a fortnight - cant be a week or she would have no money left. SOB You wouldn't even get a tent-site at a caravan-park for that, would you? There's another, hidden issue here, too. Many estate agents will not rent to the unemployed under any circumstances.

Do you blame them? They fall behind in the rent and with all the govt. protection for tenants, it can sometimes take months to evict them ... meanwhile the landlord still has to keep up the mortgage repayments. Contrary to popular belief, most landlords are not rich ... they struggle to pay the bills and a bad tenant can not only risk the rental property being repossessed, but often they use their own home as security and that can be repossessed by the banks as well. You think landlords are greedy, you go borrow $300 - $400 000 and you take all the risk. It's easy to criticise landlords when tenants take ZERO risk.

Jenny Macklin must have been flooded with emails. She's gone underground.

I went to send her the link of the OP, but her website says:

Sorry, but this form is no longer accepting submissions.

Inaudible video recordings and no contact options ha ha ha......

I might see if she's on Twitter, but I suppose my comment will be illegible or maybe illegal.

gold_medal wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 8:21am:

Kat wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:25am: adelcrow wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:21am: wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 7:17am: Just in case you didnt know, the unemployed have to look for work.  It is part of the condition that they get their benifit.     ::) And as we know the long term unemployed are experts at getting around actually getting a job. The dole should cut out after 6 months..no ifs no buts no maybes I find it incredible that there are still people who believe this rubbish. These horror-stories were NEVER anything but a largely fictitious ploy to discredit the unemployed. They are NOT borne out by the facts. As for cutting the dole after six months, that's nothing but sheer vindictiveness. i am not for cutting the dole, but if you dont think there are professional dole bludgers out there then you are living in la-la land. Pansi hereself said people move to her town simply because there is no work so they can continue to recieve the dole and have a good excuse. there are plenty of legit unemployed. there are also plenty of dole bludgers. what the hell do you think IMFULLOFIT is??? years on here now and no job. and he is on record as saying he has no plans to work either.

Show us the proof longy? I've read imcrook's posts for years and he has never divulged any of his private information.

Come on, it's time to pay the piper longy, you lying criminal.

I recall my parents telling me many years ago how they used charcoal to clean their teeth because that is all that was available.  There's a few bucks saved!

Vic wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 9:02am:

I recall my parents telling me many years ago how they used charcoal to clean their teeth because that is all that was available.  There's a few bucks saved!

Really? How much does charcoal cost?

SOB

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 10:20am:

Vic wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 9:02am: I recall my parents telling me many years ago how they used charcoal to clean their teeth because that is all that was available.  There's a few bucks saved! Really? How much does charcoal cost? SOB

It's usually free...... ;D ;D ;D ;D

John Smith wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 8:36am:

Kat wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 6:50am: Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 6:45am: i wonder how she found anywhere to rent for $125 a fortnight - cant be a week or she would have no money left. SOB You wouldn't even get a tent-site at a caravan-park for that, would you? There's another, hidden issue here, too. Many estate agents will not rent to the unemployed under any circumstances. Do you blame them? They fall behind in the rent and with all the govt. protection for tenants, it can sometimes take months to evict them ... meanwhile the landlord still has to keep up the mortgage repayments. Contrary to popular belief, most landlords are not rich ... they struggle to pay the bills and a bad tenant can not only risk the rental property being repossessed, but often they use their own home as security and that can be repossessed by the banks as well. You think landlords are greedy, you go borrow $300 - $400 000 and you take all the risk. It's easy to criticise landlords when tenants take ZERO risk.

Who was criticising?

I stated a fact, nothing more. I did not comment one way or the other.

Vic wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 10:22am:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 10:20am: Vic wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 9:02am: I recall my parents telling me many years ago how they used charcoal to clean their teeth because that is all that was available.  There's a few bucks saved! Really? How much does charcoal cost? SOB It's usually free...... ;D ;D ;D ;D

Really? Where can i get some free charcoal?

SOB

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 1:06pm:

Vic wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 10:22am: Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 10:20am: Vic wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 9:02am: I recall my parents telling me many years ago how they used charcoal to clean their teeth because that is all that was available.  There's a few bucks saved! Really? How much does charcoal cost? SOB It's usually free...... ;D ;D ;D ;D Really? Where can i get some free charcoal? SOB

anywhere these been a campfire,bushfire etc

FRED. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 1:16pm:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 1:06pm: Vic wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 10:22am: Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 10:20am: Vic wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 9:02am: I recall my parents telling me many years ago how they used charcoal to clean their teeth because that is all that was available.  There's a few bucks saved! Really? How much does charcoal cost? SOB It's usually free...... ;D ;D ;D ;D Really? Where can i get some free charcoal? SOB anywhere these been a campfire,bushfire etc

Thanks Fred - I didn't know whether this bloke was serious or not! ::)   Sometimes it is hard to fathom out ;D

Kat wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 12:45pm:

John Smith wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 8:36am: Kat wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 6:50am: Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 6:45am: i wonder how she found anywhere to rent for $125 a fortnight - cant be a week or she would have no money left. SOB You wouldn't even get a tent-site at a caravan-park for that, would you? There's another, hidden issue here, too. Many estate agents will not rent to the unemployed under any circumstances. Do you blame them? They fall behind in the rent and with all the govt. protection for tenants, it can sometimes take months to evict them ... meanwhile the landlord still has to keep up the mortgage repayments. Contrary to popular belief, most landlords are not rich ... they struggle to pay the bills and a bad tenant can not only risk the rental property being repossessed, but often they use their own home as security and that can be repossessed by the banks as well. You think landlords are greedy, you go borrow $300 - $400 000 and you take all the risk. It's easy to criticise landlords when tenants take ZERO risk. Who was criticising? I stated a fact, nothing more. I did not comment one way or the other.

Didn't accuse you of criticising ... I was merely pointing out reasons for landlords choosing not to put in unemployed people. If it came across like I was attacking you then I apologise, it wasn't meant to.

you can buy a small tube of McCleans for $1 at coles ... that should last one person at least a fortnight ..  if moneys tight just don't buy $8 tubes of toothpaste. There are other options

Kat wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 6:50am:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 6:45am: i wonder how she found anywhere to rent for $125 a fortnight - cant be a week or she would have no money left. SOB You wouldn't even get a tent-site at a caravan-park for that, would you? There's another, hidden issue here, too. Many estate agents will not rent to the unemployed under any circumstances.

Yes you would...I'm only paying $125.00 per f/n....Housing Commission, 2 bedroom house.