Dignity Not Debt: End Centrelink Debt Debacle Perth Rally

Welcome to Country:
Dennis Simmons (Maar Koodjal)

Speakers;
Louise Pratt (Australian Labor Party)
Senator Rachel Siewert (The Australian Greens)
Meredith Hammat (Secretary Unions WA)
Suresh Rajan (People with Disability Australia Inc. (PWD))
Father Chris Bedding (Anglican Social Responsibilities)

MC: Alex Whisson Perth Indymedia Radio – RTR 92.1 FM

In support of what has been happening to thousands of Australians each week. A man with autism, a single mother at Christmas, a teacher caring for her sick father, 4,5,6 – all forced to defend themselves against false debts, driven by bad data, capped off with a broken review process.

This rally is in solidarity with the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union’s rally in Melbourne on the 31st January.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1868965833322371/

1. Abolish Debt Recovery Scheme.

Since the Coalition (supported by Labor) introduced the Debt Recovery System in July 2016, Centrelink have sent 20,000 debt notices per week to social security recipients. At least 20% of these notices are wrong. As a result of the Government’s broken system, tens of thousands of vulnerable Australians are being harassed by Centrelink and private debt collectors, for debts they do not even owe. This is a disgrace.

2. Dignity for Social Security Recipients.

The Coalition has gone out of its way to make dealing with Centrelink a humiliating and difficult experience, for millions of low income Australians. Despite the well documented problems with Centrelink’s phone system, online portal, application process, and front line offices to name only a few, the Coalition has continually refused to address these problems let alone acknowledge them. Australia’s social security recipients deserve better.

3. Restore Adequate Funding to Centrelink.

Over the last 5 years, more than 5,000 Centrelink staff have been sacked. Consequently, Centrelink have been unable to keep up with the rising demand for its services. Last year alone, 36 million calls to Centrelink went unanswered. Due to Australia’s rising population, it is estimated that each year the number of calls to Centrelink will increase by 3 million.

4. Lift Payments Above the Poverty Line.

Australia’s expenditure on social security payments is one of the lowest in the OECD. As a result, every social security payment sits well below the Henderson Poverty Line, a standardized and well-respected method of measuring income.

If you would like to help organize this rally, or add your organisation’s endorsement, please contact us on contact@unemployedworkersunion.com, or call one of the lead organizers; Ewen Kloas (0415 548 252) or Sue Bolton (0413 377 978).

Sources:

20% of debt notices are wrong: https://thewest.com.au/business/finance/centrelinks-automated-debt-system-flops-bc-5276376154001

230,000 debt notices have been sent: http://www.smh.com.au/national/public-service/centrelinks-debt-230000-have-now-been-hit-20170110-gtp8zt.html

36 Million Calls went unanswered: http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/public-sector-union-calling-on-federal-government-to-suspend-centrelinks-debt-recovery-system/news-story/fd5f74c6c0d88db5bd05acd09a98daeb

Centrelink staff cuts: https://newmatilda.com/2015/05/21/cut-staff-and-services-suffer-union-links-centrelink-waits-job-losses/