To the OP. I agree. Have been an advocate of capped 18 week dole payments for a long time now. If you can't find a job (ie any job) in that time you aren't trying. Simple as that. The number of times I have blokes rock up looking like you do after a huge night and no sleep, mumble something about looking for work and then getting very pissed I won't give them a business card so they can show centrelink they have been "looking" for work.
Interesting points made. To go through life just scraping by, not being able to travel or buy the thing you want ?? Hmm I'd prefer to work and earn the money to live properly. Having said that their are parts of our society that are grossly over paid, 10 million dollar golden handshakes for CEO's doesn't seem well earned to me. Just my thoughts.......
Having seen both sides, although not enjoyed the $10mill golden handshake myself (or even a small fraction there of
), my attitude is - good luck to them. 99% of the rank and file simply have no idea what these people do. I'm sure there are a few who don't but the vast majority very much deserve it. They are walking talking industries in themselves creating jobs and wealth for thousands of employee's and investors, most of which have nfi what actually goes on.
Haha jealous ?? Come now, let's keep it on point. NO one deserves a 10 million dollar payout !!!
Wrong.
Welfare... I feel everyone has the basic human right to food and shelter. Dole is about $400/fortnight; $200/week does not go far at all. Lets say (for a single person), food $60/week, rent (housing commission) $70/week, Bills (power, phone) $40/week - leaves $30/week to clothe oneself, get around, for entertainment and healthcare. This breakdown allows for no alcohol or tobacco, and certainly no car. Its hardly the holiday people are making it out to be. Just imagine the sheer bordeom of getting up and not doing anything, repeated adnauseum for 50+ yrs. Perfect storm of unhappiness - you have nothing to do, and no money to spend doing anything. In addition, its not like you can save for a rainy day, build capital, or do anyhting that is really meaningful.
The thing is, from what I understand, once you have been unemployed for X amounts of months you start to get more and more unemployable.
From what I've seen of your posts, I have do doubt at all you get more unemployable with every day that passes.
It could be that you are out of said industry and not keeping up with the trends for you are out of the loop, meaning you lack technical knowledge (this is surprisingly common for some teachers who go on a decades worth of maternity leave, for example). In addition, employment agencies see your CV and wonder why you are not employed again by now (bad referees?). In addition if you want a casual job and are over 21, your chances are greatly diminished, becasue unless they are desperate they will take the teens for they can be paid less. Finally, after being unemployed for so long some may develop depression, and 'give up'. At this stage a disability pension may be more appropriate.
That's the point. There are literally a plethora of industries who are always looking for unskilled, semi skilled and hi skill labour. They aren't the nicest jobs in the world and many are down right boring but they are all paid employment none the less. Lack of local labour is the very reason the 457 visa was introduced (have had extensive experience here). The up front costs of getting somebody from overseas is around 8 - 12 months wages and that is before they have been employed for 1 day. The list of "permitted occupations" available for 457 visas is wide and varied and ranges from fully fledged trades to those you can have nailed with 2 weeks on the job training.
It may be popular to bash welfare recipients, especially those who have received benefits for a long time, but what if the same situation happened to you?
I was in this exact situation before my current job. I will admit to being a job snob and thus was unemployed for 13 weeks. Could have had a job within 3 days but chose not to. The clincher is that I neither applied for, nor received any govco benefits during this time.
Like all things, I am quite sure most welfare recipients are doing the right thing, attend interviews, keep job-hunt diaries and so on, just that those who flout the system create a bad reputation for everyone else. I will finish by saying that I would support enhanced surveillance of welfare recipients to weed out the bad apples.
There is already a trigger for said recipients. Anybody who has taken more than 10 weeks to find a job (any job) isn't looking. Simple really.
There should be no dole. People of all ages need to work for what they earn, even if it's building roads or sweeping foot paths.
Not sure I'd make it quite that harsh. I'm fine with somebody receiving benefits for a maximum defined time. Would extend it to requiring paid employment for 6 (?) months between drinks at the dole office too. Needs to be thought thru fully but around there somewhere.
Ok then lets suppose the long term employed are engaged in a working for the dole type set up - what would they be paid, considering they are doing the work of other minimum wage people eg. cleaning etc.? How many hours should they work (I would suggest maybe 20-25hrs a week tops to give them time to find work whilst businesses were open).
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If we were to cut off payments, what happens?
The vast majority would somehow miraculously find employment. Pay 15% of it to the salvo's or whoever to help out with the rest.
Reaper
