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Media Release
14 October 2009
Bar on access to employment assistance perverse
and counterproductive, says Welfare Rights
“Tough rules which deny tens of thousands of Australian’s access to any
assistance to find work were branded as perverse and counterproductive,” by
Kate Beaumont today, President of the National Welfare Rights Network. Ms
Beaumont will address an Anti-Poverty Week function at the Australian Services
Union Conference in Melbourne on Thursday.
“At a time when the nation is actively discussing human rights it is timely to shine
a light on the denial of support for unemployed people who are serving a
compensation preclusion period, liquid assets waiting periods and newly
residents’ arrived waiting periods. As well as those impacted by these waiting
periods many of those denied any support are New Zealanders and relatives of
those from Pacific nations that were ravaged by the recent earthquake. Others
have come to Australia under business migration schemes but then found that
when they arrived here their skills were not sufficient, were not recognised, or
they found it more difficult to find employment than they had anticipated.
“As well as being denied social security payments, they are also denied help
finding work.
“Paying for a private employment agency is out of the question. The only
assistance these job seekers get is use of a telephone and fax machine at a
Centrelink or Job Services Australia agency. They receive no help with resume
writing, presentation at interviews, or any practical tips for job searching. Many
have no basic computer skills and don’t even know how to search the internet or
turn on a computer. It is shameful that these highly motivated job seekers keen to
find work may have their plans thwarted by the simplest of things, such as not
being able to use a ‘mouse’.
“Large numbers are personally devastated and crushed by the constant rejections
and the absence of any support. The absence of any safety net whatsoever
places individuals and their families in such dire circumstances and at risk of great
psychological harm and distress. Many may not need a huge amount of
assistance, but they get none.
“The earlier access to more intensive employment assistance for the newly
unemployed and retrenched which started from April this year does not include
people with Centrelink waiting periods or preclusion periods. Access is also
denied to those whose visa permits them to work and pay taxes in Australia but
does not extend to assist them to obtain employment when they are without work
as a result of the current economic downturn.
“In the absence of any assistance, many are turning to overstretched community
agencies and charities. It makes economic sense for the Federal Government to
provide employment assistance to these individuals. If they are helped into
employment now they will not be reliant on Centrelink payments or charities for
support in the future.
“This approach does not fit well in Anti-Poverty Week with the Federal
Government’s desire to support social inclusion and prevent and reduce
homelessness, two key issues that the Prime Minister will address when he
addresses the Brotherhood of St Laurence in Melbourne on Thursday night.”
For comment: Kate Beaumont, NWRN President: 0414792923.
Gerard Thomas, NWRN Policy and Media Officer: 0425 296 882.
NEWS 
