‘Haven’t done enough’: Albanese government urged to ‘go much further’ in welfare payment boost as increased Centrelink payments take effect


SkyNews.com.au
January 1 2023

Calls for government to go 'much further'

Almost one million Centrelink recipients will see a six per cent boost to their payments from today. Australian Council of Social Service CEO Cassandra Goldie says there's "no doubt" every dollar will help people. "But it does not get these key payments to the level that will lift people out of poverty," she told Sky News Australia. "Our cost of living research towards the end of now-last year showed people relying on these kinds of payments were going without food; they were going without heating and cooling. "So we want to see action - we do want the government to go much further with its approach to tackling cost of living, particularly for people on the very lowest incomes."
Almost a million Australians will benefit from increases to their welfare benefits in 2024, but the Albanese government is being urged to “go much further”.

More than 930,000 will see their Centrelink payments rise by $20 per week from January 1 – a six per cent increase – with Youth Allowance, Austudy, the Disability Support Pension, and others all set to increase.

However Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) chief executive Cassandra Goldie said the government “haven’t done enough” to assist those struggling with cost of living pressures.   :(

“Every dollar was going to help people; there's no question about that. But it does not get these key payments to the level that will lift people out of poverty,” Dr Goldie told Sky News Australia on Monday.

“I mean, our cost of living research towards the end of last year showed that people relying on these kinds of payments were going without food, they were going without heating and cooling. And we've got extreme weather all over the country now.   :(

“So we want to see action. We want the government to go much further with its approach to tackling cost of living, particularly for people in the very lowest incomes.”

More than 930,000 Australians will benefit from higher Centrelink payments from January 1, but the government is being urged to "go much further" to assist those struggling with cost of living pressures.

The ACOSS chief executive said the government needed to take the advice of the Independent Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee – of which she is a member – which last year  recommended substantial increases to Jobseeker and Youth Allowance.

“They recommended that the payment should be lifted to at least 90 per cent of the pension rate, which would bring it from where it is now at $54 per day up to $70 per day,” she said.

“We need the government now to do the right thing because the cost of living costs is real for people on low incomes.

“This is not a question of how many coffees can I have this week. It's a question of whether people can afford to keep the roof over their head or face homelessness, whether they are able to eat eight three meals a day or just one.”   :(

Australian Council of Social Service CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie, said that people relying on Centrelink payments were going without food and decided not to cool or heat their homes to make ends meet.

The changes that have taken effect from New Year's Day mean that Youth Allowance payments will increase between $19.10 and $41.40 a fortnight, while Austudy will rise by between $32.40 and $41.40. The disability support pension for people without children aged 21 and under will increase by between $31.10 and 44.90.

The welfare payment boost is among a series of changes that will aid people doing it tough, including changes to the amount working seniors and veterans can earn without impacting their pension, and changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – all of which have come taken effect from January 1.

A permanent increase to the Work Bonus limit means the new maximum income for pension recipients has risen to $11,800.


Single pensioners can now earn $204 per fortnight before income is counted under the pension income test, while couples can earn $360.

In addition, the added $300 per fortnight Work Bonus means a single aged pensioner could earn up to $504 a fortnight and still receive the maximum rate of pension in 2024.

Changes to the PBS will also see the cost of prescriptions on the scheme fall by 29 per cent.

Dr Goldie acknowledged the government had made “some important changes” but insisted more needed to be done.

Each new year brings a host of changes to laws across the country, with the Medicare safety net, Centrelink payments and vape sales just some of the many areas subject to new regulations from January


“Some of that assistance around, for example, medical expenses and medicines will help. There were some modest increases to some key payments, like the parenting payment single in the May budget that helped about just under 60,000 people,” she said

“But we're talking about over a million people who are relying on these really low payments now. So they haven't done enough.”

The ACOSS CEO argued the government needed to overturn the stage three tax cuts – passed by the then Turnbull government – which are set to come into force from 1 July 2024.   :(

“They are giving money to people who actually don't need the money. And if those tax cuts go through, it will fuel inflation in that discretionary spending in a way which is not useful for the economy or the community,” Dr Goldie said.

“We would recommend that they… instead retarget some of that expenditure to finally fixing the adequacy of our key payment, like the unemployment payment jobseeker.”

Government money is an incentive that should be directed at

Rewarding more of the behaviour we wish to see increase

We definitely do not want to see an increase in people on welfare
So it is important not to incentivise this behavior

We certainly do want to see an increase in people earning 100,000 plus
So it is important that we do incentivize this behavior

Buy encouraging success we are becoming more like Singapore
An awesome multicultural regional powerhouse

Buy encouraging welfare recipients we are becoming more like North Korea
A country where people eat a bowl of dirt a day supplemented by a little grass


It is so so important that the government back the winners
And it is fairly obvious who the winners are

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/31/from-medicare-to-preschool-the-australian-laws-changing-in-the-new-year



Quote:

More than 930,000 will see their Centrelink payments rise by $20 per week from January 1

Dirty Dan's new property tax starts today -
it is a tax on all landlords who will pass it on to their tenants -
so rent for people on the dole
will go up by more than $20 per week in Victoria.

Oh well - they voted for Labor.   :(

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/31/from-medicare-to-preschool-the-australian-laws-changing-in-the-new-year



Increased land tax in Victoria

The Victorian government has also introduced a temporary land tax surcharge for the next 10 years.

This means there will be a new $500 surcharge for landholdings that are valued between $50,000 and $100,000.

For land valued between $100,000 and $300,000, the surcharge will be $975, and landholdings valued over $300,00 will be charged $975 plus 0.1% of the taxable value.

Family homes remain exempt from the land tax, while there is also an increased penalty for land that is left vacant for longer than a year.

Bobby. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2024 at 6:37am:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/31/from-medicare-to-preschool-the-australian-laws-changing-in-the-new-year Increased land tax in Victoria The Victorian government has also introduced a temporary land tax surcharge for the next 10 years. This means there will be a new $500 surcharge for landholdings that are valued between $50,000 and $100,000. For land valued between $100,000 and $300,000, the surcharge will be $975, and landholdings valued over $300,00 will be charged $975 plus 0.1% of the taxable value. Family homes remain exempt from the land tax, while there is also an increased penalty for land that is left vacant for longer than a year.

Do you have a problem with that Goober?

John Smith wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2024 at 6:38am:

Bobby. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 6:37am: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/31/from-medicare-to-preschool-the-australian-laws-changing-in-the-new-year Increased land tax in Victoria The Victorian government has also introduced a temporary land tax surcharge for the next 10 years. This means there will be a new $500 surcharge for landholdings that are valued between $50,000 and $100,000. For land valued between $100,000 and $300,000, the surcharge will be $975, and landholdings valued over $300,00 will be charged $975 plus 0.1% of the taxable value. Family homes remain exempt from the land tax, while there is also an increased penalty for land that is left vacant for longer than a year. Do you have a problem with that Bobby?

Not me - I no longer rent.
I bought another place.
I feel sorry for all people who are renting.

Bobby. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2024 at 6:43am:

John Smith wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 6:38am: Bobby. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 6:37am: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/31/from-medicare-to-preschool-the-australian-laws-changing-in-the-new-year Increased land tax in Victoria The Victorian government has also introduced a temporary land tax surcharge for the next 10 years. This means there will be a new $500 surcharge for landholdings that are valued between $50,000 and $100,000. For land valued between $100,000 and $300,000, the surcharge will be $975, and landholdings valued over $300,00 will be charged $975 plus 0.1% of the taxable value. Family homes remain exempt from the land tax, while there is also an increased penalty for land that is left vacant for longer than a year. Do you have a problem with that Bobby? Not me - I no longer rent. I bought another place. I feel sorry for all people who are renting.

You feeling sorry for property hoarders? :D

John Smith wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2024 at 6:46am:

Bobby. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 6:43am: John Smith wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 6:38am: Bobby. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 6:37am: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/31/from-medicare-to-preschool-the-australian-laws-changing-in-the-new-year Increased land tax in Victoria The Victorian government has also introduced a temporary land tax surcharge for the next 10 years. This means there will be a new $500 surcharge for landholdings that are valued between $50,000 and $100,000. For land valued between $100,000 and $300,000, the surcharge will be $975, and landholdings valued over $300,00 will be charged $975 plus 0.1% of the taxable value. Family homes remain exempt from the land tax, while there is also an increased penalty for land that is left vacant for longer than a year. Do you have a problem with that Bobby? Not me - I no longer rent. I bought another place. I feel sorry for all people who are renting. You feeling sorry for property hoarders? :D

Property hoarders will pass on the new tax to their tenants as of today.

Bobby. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2024 at 6:49am:

John Smith wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 6:46am: Bobby. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 6:43am: John Smith wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 6:38am: Bobby. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 6:37am: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/31/from-medicare-to-preschool-the-australian-laws-changing-in-the-new-year Increased land tax in Victoria The Victorian government has also introduced a temporary land tax surcharge for the next 10 years. This means there will be a new $500 surcharge for landholdings that are valued between $50,000 and $100,000. For land valued between $100,000 and $300,000, the surcharge will be $975, and landholdings valued over $300,00 will be charged $975 plus 0.1% of the taxable value. Family homes remain exempt from the land tax, while there is also an increased penalty for land that is left vacant for longer than a year. Do you have a problem with that Bobby? Not me - I no longer rent. I bought another place. I feel sorry for all people who are renting. You feeling sorry for property hoarders? :D Property hoarders will pass on the new tax to their tenants as of today.

Some will. Some might decide its not worth holding onto their property and sell it.

So you cry that govt doesn't do enough to stop property hoarding,  then you cry when they do something about it. You're just a sooky little bitch aren't you?

John Smith wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2024 at 6:53am:

Some will. Some might decide its not worth holding onto their property and sell it. So you cry that govt doesn't do enough to stop property hoarding,  then you cry when they do something about it. You're just a sooky little bitch aren't you?

Poor people vote for Labor because Labor pretends to care about them.
They really got sucked in this time.   ::)

Both Govt parties encouraged property hoarding and
members of parliament got in on it too.
They also supported mass immigration creating a housing shortage.

There has been a $1000 % increase in property values since 1999
thanks to their policies.
People who had their own house and owned a rental property too back in 1999
have become millionaires out of it -
even if it was an old fibro dump that was unsafe to live in.

Never will - all that happens is the 'market' in the hands of New Robber Barons just absorbs any pay rise anyone gets... and that's always after the event .. been tellin' yez for years now that the only way to control cost of living/pay rise escalation = galloping inflation ... is to control costs first... but you never listen... all those parasites need more and more just to get by, don' cha know?  And the Guv is going to bring more of those grasping peasants in to swamp White Australia out of existence...

Sure do hate their own country, them boys and girls.... maybe they should be all shipped out...

**lies back and dreams of the beaches at Gondwanamo Bay, with the inmates over the wire on the inside where the concrete is hot all day and the queue for the water bucket is long**

Bobby. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2024 at 7:13am:

Poor people vote for Labor because Labor pretends to care about them.

who told you that? Lots of stupid poor people that vote for the libs.
Besides, would you prefer they do nothing?

Like I said earlier, you cry when they don't do something to try to stop hoarders, you cry when they do something. Lets face it, it wouldn't matter what they did, you'd whinge. Why? Because you're a moron, thats why.

John Smith wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2024 at 1:14pm:

Bobby. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2024 at 7:13am: Poor people vote for Labor because Labor pretends to care about them. who told you that? Lots of stupid poor people that vote for the libs. Besides, would you prefer they do nothing? Like I said earlier, you cry when they don't do something to try to stop hoarders, you cry when they do something. Lets face it, it wouldn't matter what they did, you'd whinge. Why? Because you're a moron, thats why.

Labor, Liberal, National  - they have all encouraged property hoarding
and most of their politicians are property hoarders themselves.

Every time the property prices might collapse
they find new ways to kick the can down the road again:
first home buyers grants,
mass immigration in the millions.

The new land tax in Victoria was a new way Dishonest Dan found to
raise taxes to pay for Victoria's massive debt that he caused.
We owe more money than:
QLD, NSW and Tassie combined -
it's in the 100s of $billions.
The Victorian Govt is nearly bankrupt.

I spent a lot of money on car repairs and the like. I was out of pocket a few thousand dollars for a second-hand engine. My bank account was at its lowest since ten years ago. But, in the last 6 months, I seem to have found money available more than I thought in my account. Not only am I getting more from my Centrelink, the job I have seems to be paying generously.

Non-workers of the Tent Cities arise!  You have nothing to lose but your guy ropes, which can be put to better use....!!!

I have been down among the dead men sleeping in the park.... I know what you'll never know.... think I'll become one of them populists and campaign the good campaign..

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jan 5^th, 2024 at 6:13pm:

Non-workers of the Tent Cities arise!  You have nothing to lose but your guy ropes, which can be put to better use....!!! I have been down among the dead men sleeping in the park.... I know what you'll never know.... think I'll become one of them populists and campaign the good campaign..

All caused by mass immigration that the major parties kept off the political agenda.

https://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1704248075/15#20

We never get to vote on the real issues and the media keep away from any party that tries to set them out so the people never have a voice... the first time for ages the people had a direct say was with the Aboriginal Voice Madness and the response was a resounding NO!

Then (and now) their government-elect set about installing that 'voice' via implementing its demands without permission and behind the backs of voters....

As you know, I've been collecting the news stories under 'Lawfare' - and it is about time that I went back through those and listed the things that have been pushed through since the 'voice' referendum.  I think most of you with any mind at all will be shocked.

I am still recovering from mega heart surgery, filled with drugs daily, and this is hard work just to think straight.... but someone has to do it for the sake of this once-great country filled with hopes for a better and best future.

we were that close to going out... the disposal machines were running day and night...... but there was one man, Sarah... he taught us to unite... to fight against the Party machines.... his name was John Doe Grappler - son of Australia.... son of all of you.  He gave me a message to give to you - "You must be stronger than you ever imagined yourself capable of being... the future of the world depends on you!"

.... and you think I'm joking....... oh, well....

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jan 5^th, 2024 at 6:59pm:

We never get to vote on the real issues and the media keep away from any party that tries to set them out so the people never have a voice... the first time for ages the people had a direct say was with the Aboriginal Voice Madness and the response was a resounding NO! Then (and now) their government-elect set about installing that 'voice' via implementing its demands without permission and behind the backs of voters.... As you know, I've been collecting the news stories under 'Lawfare' - and it is about time that I went back through those and listed the things that have been pushed through since the 'voice' referendum.  I think most of you with any mind at all will be shocked. I am still recovering from mega heart surgery, filled with drugs daily, and this is hard work just to think straight.... but someone has to do it for the sake of this once-great country filled with hopes for a better and best future. we were that close to going out... the disposal machines were running day and night...... but there was one man, Sarah... he taught us to unite... to fight against the Party machines.... his name was John Doe Grappler - son of Australia.... your son.  He gave me a message to give to you - "You must be stronger than you ever imagined yourself capable of being... the future of the world depends on you!"

It's disgraceful that the real issues are not voted on.

Bobby. wrote on Jan 5^th, 2024 at 7:02pm:

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jan 5th, 2024 at 6:59pm: We never get to vote on the real issues and the media keep away from any party that tries to set them out so the people never have a voice... the first time for ages the people had a direct say was with the Aboriginal Voice Madness and the response was a resounding NO! Then (and now) their government-elect set about installing that 'voice' via implementing its demands without permission and behind the backs of voters.... As you know, I've been collecting the news stories under 'Lawfare' - and it is about time that I went back through those and listed the things that have been pushed through since the 'voice' referendum.  I think most of you with any mind at all will be shocked. I am still recovering from mega heart surgery, filled with drugs daily, and this is hard work just to think straight.... but someone has to do it for the sake of this once-great country filled with hopes for a better and best future. we were that close to going out... the disposal machines were running day and night...... but there was one man, Sarah... he taught us to unite... to fight against the Party machines.... his name was John Doe Grappler - son of Australia.... your son.  He gave me a message to give to you - "You must be stronger than you ever imagined yourself capable of being... the future of the world depends on you!" It's disgraceful that the real issues are not voted on.

And any new or existing small party that opposes that Great Silencing of the voters is scarcely reported on or is reported on in negative terms, so as to appear to be a bunch of rat-bags.  I'm no fan of Fred Nile's party - but their stance on this 'transgenderism' and the call for a full review is on the right track (Lefty got me into that one - now he and his kind have to deal with the bulldog with his teeth in their arse - the prick shows up on other sites still - I gun him down) - and is labelled as some kind of fanatical right wing madness movement... the religions anathema to Australia are praised to high Allah's Paradise, while Christianity (I am not an adherent - I am an Observer) is portrayed as a mad right wing group trying to force their views on those who are trying to force their views on the majority.... more twists than a sidewinder.

in 1984 Orwell postulated that the only answer lay with the proles in their earnest and honest work etc.... what a sad thing to even consider since the proles are blinded and deafened from birth.

So - does the answer lie with a Hitler-style touring the nation and assembling opportunities to speak out loud while being protected by a strong bodyguard?  Where could that lead us if this Hitler was, and surrounded himself with, the wrong kind... again??

Truly this once-proud nation is at an impasse...... and that is the result of deliberate policy from the government of two parties. ... and I fear we are going down.... after all ...... they have our money with which to mount massive campaigns against us.....

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jan 5^th, 2024 at 7:13pm:

And any new or existing small party that opposes that Great Silencing of the voters is scarcely reported on or is reported on in negative terms, so as to appear to be a bunch of rat-bags.  I'm no fan of Fred Nile's party - but their stance on this 'transgenderism' and the call for a full review is on the right track (Lefty got me into that one - now he and his kind have to deal with the bulldog with his teeth in their arse - the prick shows up on other sites still - I gun him down) - and is labelled as some kind of fanatical right wing madness movement... the religions anathema to Australia are praised to high Allah's Paradise, while Christianity (I am not an adherent - I am an Observer) is portrayed as a mad right wing group trying to force their views on those who are trying to force their views on the majority.... more twists than a sidewinder. in 1984 Orwell postulated that the only answer lay with the proles in their earnest and honest work etc.... what a sad thing to even consider since the proles are blinded and deafened from birth. So - does the answer lie with a Hitler-style touring the nation and assembling opportunities to speak out loud while being protected by a strong bodyguard?  Where could that lead us if this Hitler was, and surrounded himself with, the wrong kind... again?? Truly this once-proud nation is at an impasse...... and that is the result of deliberate policy from the government of two parties. ... and I fear we are going down.... after all ...... they have our money with which to mount massive campaigns against us.....

Our Prime Ministers have been unashamed traitors to Australia -

Bob Hawke even admitted it.

This is hilarious! Someone started a new thread on this topic rather than address the point i made in the other one?? HAHAHAHA

Spot

Bobby. wrote on Jan 5^th, 2024 at 7:16pm:

Our Prime Ministers have been unashamed traitors to Australia - Bob Hawke even admitted it.

Hawke wasn't always right - but he was right in that.  Sadly he himself sold out to that ideology, and only later regretted it and what he had helped do to the Australian people.  Money and power twist people's minds.  The more cynical or plain obtuse ones since Hawke just carry on as if nothing happened and is happening and enjoy their fat retirements.

Remember that I said, years ago in the Hawke PM era, when I was a Union delegate - that one day we would be looking back on the Hawke days, with all its faults, as The Good Old Days.

Been saying that to yez for years now ... it's also in my first book, written twenty years ago... I don't make things up...