Category Archives: Uncategorized

Justice For Josh Snap Action

It’s now been over 30 months since 18-year old Josh Park-Fing died on his Toowoomba ‘Work for the Dole’ site – yet, the Morrison government still refuses all requests to release the report into his death, or take any responsibility for this dangerous program. In fact, last month the Morrison government significantly expanded this punitive and dangerous program. Two-and-a-half years after their tragic loss, Josh’s grieving family continues to wait for answers.

Josh’s employment service provider NEATO has now been fined a measly $90k for forcing him into a compliance activity that ultimately took his life.

Join the AUWU’s Snap Rally at Kelly O’Dwyer’s office tomorrow afternoon to demand Justice For Josh and help us present this petition! RSVP below.

To ramp up the pressure, we are also asking people to call Kelly’s office office on (03) 9822 4422. Tell her to release the report into Josh’s death. Ask her why her government continues to roll out a program that fails to meet proper workplace health & safety standards 64% of the time. And tell her, for the safety and well-being of all workers, to shut this awful program down

Go Public

We are always looking to publish new stories and reports from unemployed workers. These stories have the power to challenge and change a broken system. If you’d like to share yours, please get in touch.

My Health Record

The AUWU takes no position on the My Health system.

We encourage our members to make a decision based upon their individual circumstances.

Below is our recommended reading on the issue.

In a 27 July press release, ACOSS states: “we cannot support an Opt Out arrangement whilst it is clear that the current legislation is inadequate for protecting people’s basic privacy”.

Courier Mail article sounds a note of caution.

Very little is stopping My Health Record being hooked up to robo-debt — anyone who has felt the pain of a Centrelink “Robo-debt” will understand the concerns expressed here.

Government Digital Health Agency Flyer

Government Opt Out Information.

Visit the My Health Record website or call the My Health Record helpline on 1800 723 471, if you don’t want a record automatically created for you, by 15 October, 2018.

Fight Roll-Out of Demerit Point System

On 1 July 2018 the Turnbull Government’s punitive Demerit Point System will be gunning for unemployed workers!

Starting 25th June, the AUWU will fight the Demerit Point System. No need to take this lying down – join the Job Agency Action Group below.

The experience of AUWU members is that job agents are increasing the number of appointments. More appointments increases the likelihood of penalties. More penalties means more unemployed workers pushed off social security and made destitute.
The demerit point system is added to an already-broken compliance system. In 2015-16, there were 2 million penalties imposed on unemployed workers. The National Social Security Rights Network notes half of job agency penalties are imposed incorrectly.

The AUWU is providing unemployed workers with the tools they need to fight this harsh new compliance system. Sign up with the Job Agency Action Group below.

What is the Demerit Point System?

1. Personal Responsibility Phase (warning zone) — don’t you love their language?

Under this system — for the first time ever — the government has given privately owned job agencies the authority to impose payment suspensions without any government oversight and have stripped unemployed workers of their right of appeal.

2. Intensive Compliance Phase (penalty zone) — don’t you love their language?

Unemployed workers who are penalised with suspensions five times by their job agencies within a six month period will face harsh new financial penalties, including 50% and 100% reduction of their Newstart entitlement. Centrelink will have to sign off on all financial penalties, which means that unemployed workers can appeal these decisions.

What can I do to block it?

Together we can fight the Demerit Point System. Here’s what you can do:

Keep detailed records of all your interactions with your job agent.
Write down names, dates, times and content of phone conversations, conversations at appointments.
You will need these records as evidence of unfair treatment if you make an appeal to Centrelink.
Make an individual complaint – let’s keep their lines busy!
Under the demerit point system, the Centrelink appeals system becomes the only way unemployed workers can oppose penalties. The AUWU encourages all unemployed workers who feel they have been unfairly penalised to complain in writing to
- Department of Jobs and Small Business Customer Service Line (nationalcustomerserviceline@jobs.gov.au)
- your job agency
Sign up to the Job Agency Action Group below, for more ways to help yourself, your fellow recipients, or to support people you know:

More Nasty Details

The changes were made in the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017, which was passed by federal parliament on 26 March 2018.

This legislation comes with other nasty “reforms”:

Throughout all phases, if you refuse paid work, voluntarily leave a job, or are dismissed for misconduct from a job, your payment will stop for 4 weeks. This cannot be waived.
Job seekers will no longer be able to use drug or alcohol dependency as a reasonable excuse for being unable to meet their mutual obligation requirements, unless they agree to seek treatment. It sees drug and alcohol dependency as a moral issue, not the health issue it is.
Longer wait times for new applicants… and we know how easy the application process is — not!
A new single JobSeeker Payment will progressively replace or consolidate seven existing payments between March 2020 and January 2022. No more Widow Allowance — too bad grieving widows, you now get to go onto Newstart. No more Sickness Allowance.

Resources

National Social Security Rights Network – fact sheet about the new system

Block Roll-Out of Demerit Point System

On the 25th of June, the AUWU will launch its campaign to block the roll out of the government’s punitive Demerit Point System set to be introduced on 1 July 2018. As part of this campaign, the AUWU will distribute leaflets across the country providing unemployed workers with the tools they need to fight the harsh new compliance system.

Under this system, for the first time ever the government have given privately owned job agencies the authority to impose penalties without any government oversight and have stripped unemployed workers will have no right of appeal. Unemployed workers who are penalised four times by their job agencies within a six month period will face harsh new financial penalties, including 50% and 100% reduction of their Newstart entitlement. As these decisions will be made by Centrelink, unemployed workers can appeal these decisions.

Already the compliance system is broken. In 2015-16, there were 2 million penalties imposed on the unemployed for the first time. As noted by the National Welfare Rights Network, half of job agency penalties are imposed incorrectly. This harsh new system is designed to push unemployed workers off social security and into homelessness. We need to fight it. Help us Fight the Fine. Sign up to the Job Agency Action Group here and we will keep you updated on our activities: