New Parking Zones for the Unemployed!
By Monika
Baker
Great, finally a privilege for the underprivileged! But helas, don’t
be fooled, we are talking about the free parking zones for long term unemployed
people in Intensive Assistance. To make our concerns heard about the state
of the Job Network we made a submission to the Productivity Commission.
Their Report was released in the middle of March 2002 and it contained
401 pages without counting the submissions, which are available on their
web site.
The authors seemed to have paid quite a bit of attention to our submission,
mostly they countered our arguments. We complained about the missing appeals
process in the Job Network and the lack of an independent monitoring body;
they said that there was a kind of complaints mechanism. Have you found
it? I might be a bit slow, I searched the web site of the newly named
DEWRE- the DREARY Department for something. . . including Employment Services.
No luck - I looked at the Job Network site and could not find an invitation
to complain. If you can find it, could you let us know?
The reaction of the politicians was interesting. Hardly any response came
from the current government. Democrats Senator John Cherry commented:
“The underlying problem is that there is an incentive for service
providers to penny pinch in services to the people who need the most help,
so that the agencies can return a profit.”
ALP’s Shadow Minister for Employment Services David Cox media release
stated:
“The Productivity Commission has exposed how the most disadvantaged
long-term unemployed are currently ‘parked’ in Intensive Assistance
programs where it is unlikely that providers will assist them to get a
job.
“The Job Network providers are responding to artificial market forces,
which some of them refer to as a ‘Lego’ market because its structure,
incentives and dynamics are determined by rules set down by the Howard
Government.”
In a
Senate Estimates Hearing in February 2002 one of the Managers of the Job
Network from the DEWRE Dr. Yates responded to Senator George Campbell’s
question of why the Job Network performed so badly:
“As you would be aware, the factors that influence our success in
reducing unemployment are a combination of the predominant factor, which
is the state of the labour market and the jobs that are being generated
by it, and then our capacity, through the kinds of employment assistance
that we provide, to improve the prospects of unemployed job seekers in
getting access to those jobs. A realistic assessment of the effectiveness
of programs has to weigh up those kinds of considerations. In the light
of international experience of labour market assistance, these kinds of
outcomes are quite reasonable. That is not to say that we cannot build
on them, but they are quite reasonable.”
So what kind of outcome is reasonable? According to Senator Campbell:
“Intensive assistance, for example, funding level B, indicates there
is 11.1 per cent in full-time employment, 17.2 per cent in part-time employment,
47.1 per cent unemployed, 17.1 per cent not in the labour force and 7.5
per cent get further assistance. The Work for the Dole figures are remarkably
similar...”
That means that of 100 long term unemployed people, 11 find employment
during or as a result of Intensive Assistance and 17 find a part time
job. 64 remain unemployed, really 72, because around 8 are going into
different assistance programs such as the Personal Support Program.
Eleven full time jobs is a reasonable outcome. And the Productivity Commission
agrees with this assessment. Are they working together? Eleven full time
jobs is a pitiful outcome for the investment of two milion dollars ($20.000
per job seeker).
Not only are many Job Network agencies unable to get a decent outcome
for their clients they also rort the hand that feeds them - the government.
Mr. McMillan, also from DEWRE, admitted that $111,188.50 has been recovered
as a consequence of overpayments to Job Network Providers. Surely this
sum did not include the around $300,000 Leonie Green had to repay last
year. What are the Job Network Providers doing to rort the system?
In the same hearing Senator Carr listed some of the details:
The complaints that the department took were to do with ongoing employment
and numerous claims for placements. In the first week of a month, it appears
that Career Solutions would monitor a job seeker’s situation and
arbitrarily claim a GM fee if they were working, regardless of whether
the employment was ongoing.
For pre-existing employment, numerous claims were made for placement of
the same job seekers into the same large retailers—particularly Bi-Lo,
Franklins and Woolworths—and Career Solutions treated these pre-existing
employment arrangements, where the employer maintained the job seeker
as an employee, as discrete placements and claimed accordingly. Regarding
placement of non-eligible job seekers, Career Solutions claimed for job
seekers who were neither registered with Centrelink nor met the criteria
for short resignation. A job seeker who is not registered with Centrelink
can only be eligible for Job Network if they have been in less than 15
hours employment in the week.”
It seems there are plenty of opportunities to rort the system. And what’s
more there is more to come:
Senator CARR —Have you investigated any other Job Network members
who you believe have made wrongful claims?
Mr McMillan —We are investigating a number of Job Network members.
Senator CARR —That you feel have made wrongful claims.
Mr McMillan —Indeed, Senator.
Senator CARR —How many?
Mr McMillan —At the moment we have approximately 56 investigations,
but that does not mean necessarily that there are 56 separate—
Senator CARR —You may find that there is nothing wrong, but there
are 56 current investigations into what you believe to be inaccurate,
wrongful or inappropriate claims.
Mr McMillan —I should have said ‘wrongful’.
Wouldn’t it be nice if they would describe the so-called welfare
cheats as having made wrongful claims, which are forgiveable? In the case
of an unemployed individual they call it fraud.
Will there be any changes to the system? We don’t think so as the
government has already said no to the suggestion that job search agencies
should obtain a licence and compete with each other for clients.
They have not rejected the idea to scratch Job Matching, the unemployed
can find jobs over the Centrelink computer centres, there is no need for
interference. If that is so, good-bye Employment National!
Unemployed must unite against Fascism!
By Rosetta de Lutto
It is only 60 years ago that Europe was gripped in a wave of
fascism. Significantly the unemployed contributed to the rise
of fascism, supported it and even believed it was their salvation.
In Germany many people are still saying:”At least he eliminated unemployment!
Without the freeway building project we would have all starved to death.”
They talk about Hitler as their saviour, disregarding the Holocaust, the
pain and suffering inflicted on fellow neighbours, even their own family.
More over they are still justifying the pain and suffering inflicted on
other peoples ‘as having been necessary at the time, it was Us or
Them, we had to survive!’
Does this rhetoric sound familiar? Even though Australia is not the originator
of the War against Terrorism, our government has pledged its full support.
And isn’t it remarkable that after September 11 a huge economy on
its knees has been turned around and is once again blossoming?
How can an economy
turn around when at war? Who is paying for the rising costs of defence,
the building of new weapons and the detention of many innocent citizens?
And who is paying here in Australia for the rising costs of defence and
border protection?
According to rumours about the soon to be released budget (May 14) in
Australia the unemployed, aged and people with a disability have to make
sacrifices. Significant sacrifices that is: the Disability Support Pension
may be aligned with the New Start Allowance ( -$52.80 per fortnight).
They won’t dare to do that to the aged pension yet, but the Treasurer
has made all the right moves toward such an intention with his forty year
projection of costs in aged care.
The Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme will have to curb rising costs and therefore
the price per prescription will rise from $3.50 to $4.75. Electricity
prices in SA are rising by 20% from January 2003, Telstra wants to raise
its line rental while on the other hand access to services will be more
limited.
That will hit once again people with disabilities and the unemployed.
The Job Network may cease its job matching programs, the disability services
providing day care, supported accommodation and home care packages will
have to do with at least $90 million less, while already sporting an unmet
need of $300 million.
Who benefits from rising defence costs? Who produces weapons and security
installations? Whoever it is who is involved in this kind of industry
will rub their hands with glee.
Who are the new recruited security guards and who are the people working
for ACM guarding the detainees in Woomera and overseas? Most certainly
they are people in need of a job for whatever reason and many unemployed
would be grateful to have a job, anywhere, just to overcome the crippling
poverty.
tion. It is devastating
for anyone not being able to meet the basic living costs, let alone for
someone who has the responsibility of raising children. There are few
more painful moments than when your own child tells you that you are a
loser, because you can’t afford the birthday present s/he longs for.
And our current government is very keen to get young and old involved
in military activities, especially the unemployed. All Centrelink job
centres will have an army recruitment office attached. If you are unemployed,
why not join the army?
Younger people can serve their Work for the Dole time in a reception army
camp by joining the Army Cadets. Yes, they have been promised a real uniform.
And they may even learn how to handle a gun. This can be a quite useful
skill when they are facing the battle to gain employment.
Yes, the Australian government is doing everything it can do to inspire
militaristic thinking, to divide the community along outdated and long
overcome battle lines such as immigration.
If all this looks like a journey back to long forgotten times to you,
dear reader, you are not the only one. And if you are as scared as I am
that these times rise once again like a hellish phoenix, I am with you.
Growing up in Italy I had many talks with my older relatives about how
to prevent a second holocaust. Unfortunately many just shook their heads
and indicated that humans will always be human. Threaten them with taking
away their livelihoods and they do anything.
I refuse to believe that giving in to human nature is all that can be
done. Surely we have not learned our lesson, if there is nothing else
that can be done!
How about refusing to participate? We are not getting shot yet! How about
writing letters, making phone calls? How about voicing your fear and opposition?
Come
to our Meetings
on the last
Tuesday of the month,
5:30 – 7 pm at the World's End
Hindley Street West, Adelaide.
Join
UPM against Poverty
as a member!
Copy
the membership form here!
Contents:
New Parking Zones for the Unemployed!
Unemployed must unite against fascism
Take a look at this month's additions to the Sleuth
Click here to access our previous newsletters:
UpWords 1 No. 1:
What is BreachingUpWords 1 No. 2:
Young Poor under AttackUpWords 1 No. 3:
Frog Boiling;UpWords1 No. 4::
Welfare Reform;UpWords1 No. 5:
S11;UpWords1 No. 6:
History of Unemployed Movements,
HomelessnessUp-Words No. 7:
Launch of UPM/Latest Breaching StatisticsUpWords1 No 8:
Open Letter to Minister Amanda VanstoneUpWords2 No 1:
Millionaires' Coup for Govenrment
Centrelink Officiouisness hurts us allUpWords2 No 2:
Big Brother is watching you!
Work for the Dole is not workingUpWords2 No 3:
Globalisation - the Excessive Wealth Disease?UpWords2 No 4:
Is Howard a Communist?
Mal Brough, Minister for Compassionate Employment Figure FudgingUpWords2 No 5
Benefits 37% below poverty line
May Day protests worldwideUpWords2 No 6:
The Permanently Alienated Underclass Speaks UP!
The Budget for the Unemployed
Views from the Coal FaceUpWords 2 No 7
Criminalisation of Poverty
Job Network is not working - from rorts to incompetenceUpWords 2 No 8
Work for the Dole can kill!
National Coalition against Poverty Petition
Post card campaign
Poet's Corner:
Views on UnemploymentUpWords 2 No 9
UPM joins Ranks for Peace
International Day for the
Eradication of Poverty
Unemployed Treated Worse Than Criminals!UpWords 2 No 10
Election 2001: UPM's How to Vote Card
Annual General Meeting
How much longer?Up-Words Vol. 2 No 11
Not Drowning - Just Looking for Work
Election Aftermath: ALP Awake!
Human Rights Day Picnic
AGM
Up-Words Vol. 3 No 1
35 hour week or share Argentina's destiny?
Human Rights Day - do we count too?
State Election Issue
No 1: Jobs
My experiences with Job Network ProvidersInsert in this issue:
War against Terrorism - the Police State Agenda
can be found at:
http://www.newdawnmagazine. com/articles/War_on_Terror_ The_Police_State_Agenda.htmlUp-Words Vol. 3 No 2
Is it Australian to bully the unemployed?
Greens support the 35 hour weekUp-Words Vol.3 No 3
New compassionate breaching rules?
Put 35 hour week on the agenda
Have a look at our new campaign site:
PO
Box 485
Brooklyn Park SA 5032
Phone (08) 8352 4950