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Forcing people to repay welfare ‘loans’ traps them in a poverty cycle – where is the policy debate about that?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hanna-wilberg-1466649">Hanna Wilberg</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-auckland-1305">University of Auckland</a> The National Party’s <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/09/26/more-sanctions-for-unemployed-beneficiaries-under-national/">pledge to apply sanctions</a> to unemployed people receiving a welfare payment, if they are “persistently” failing to meet the criteria for receiving the benefit, has attracted plenty of comment and <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/09/26/nationals-benefit-sanctions-plan-cruel-dehumanising-greens/">criticism</a>. Less talked about has been the party’s promise to index benefits to inflation to keep pace with the cost of living. This might at least provide some relief to those struggling to make ends meet on welfare, though is not clear how much difference it would make to the current system of indexing benefits to wages. In any case, this alone it is unlikely to break the cycle of poverty many find themselves in. One of the major drivers of this is the way the welfare system pushes some of the most vulnerable people into debt with loans for things such as school uniforms, power bills and car repairs. The government provides one-off grants to cover benefit shortfalls. But most of these grants are essentially loans. People receiving benefits are required to repay the government through weekly deductions from their normal benefits – which leaves them with even less money to survive on each week. With <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/132980318/auckland-mother-serves-up-cereal-for-dinner-due-to-rising-food-costs">rising costs</a>, the situation is only getting worse for many of the 351,756 New Zealanders <a href="https://figure.nz/chart/TtiUrpceJruy058e-ITw010dHsM6bvA2a">accessing one of the main benefits</a>. <h2>Our whittled down welfare state</h2> Broadly, there are three levels of government benefits in our current system. The main benefits (such as jobseeker, sole parent and supported living payment) <a href="https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/benefit-rates/benefit-rates-april-2023.html">pay a fixed weekly amount</a>. The jobseeker benefit rate is set at NZ$337.74 and sole parents receive $472.79 a week. Those on benefits have access to a second level of benefits – weekly supplementary benefits such as an <a href="https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/accommodation-supplement.html">accommodation supplement</a> and other allowances or tax credits. The third level of support is one-off discretionary payments for specific essential needs. Those on benefits cannot realistically make ends meet without repeated use of these one-off payments, unless they use assistance from elsewhere – such as family, charity or borrowing from loan sharks. This problem has been building for decades. <h2>Benefits have been too low for too long</h2> In the 1970s, the <a href="https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/12967">Royal Commission on Social Security</a> declared the system should provide “a standard of living consistent with human dignity and approaching that enjoyed by the majority”. But Ruth Richardson’s “<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/124978983/1991-the-mother-of-all-budgets">mother of all budgets</a>” in 1991 slashed benefits. Rates never recovered and today’s <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/03/29/benefit-increases-will-still-leave-families-locked-in-poverty/">benefits are not enough to live on</a>. In 2018, the <a href="https://www.weag.govt.nz/">Welfare Expert Advisory Group</a> looked at how much money households need in two lifestyle scenarios: bare essentials and a minimum level of participation in the community, such as playing a sport and taking public transport. The main benefits plus supplementary allowances did not meet the cost of the bare essentials, let alone minimal participation. The Labour government has since <a href="https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-delivers-income-increases-over-14-million-new-zealanders">increased benefit rates</a>, meaning they are now slightly above those recommended by the advisory group. But those recommendations were made in 2019 and don’t take into account the <a href="https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-6-0-percent">sharp rise in inflation</a> since then. Advocacy group <a href="https://fairerfuture.org.nz/">Fairer Future</a> published an updated assessment in 2022 – nine out of 13 types of households still can’t meet their core costs with the current benefit rates. <h2>How ‘advances’ create debt traps</h2> When they don’t have money for an essential need, people on benefits can receive a “special needs grant”, which doesn’t have to be repaid. But in practice, Work and Income virtually never makes this type of grant for anything except food and some other specific items, such as some health travel costs or emergency dental treatment. For <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/02/27/very-stressful-beneficiary-says-he-cant-afford-msd-debt/">all other essential needs</a> – such as school uniforms, car repairs, replacing essential appliances, overdue rent, power bills and tenancy bonds – a one-off payment called an “advance” is used. Advances are loans and have to be paid back. There are several issues with these types of loans. First, people on benefits are racking up thousands of dollars worth of debts to cover their essential needs. It serves to trap them in financial difficulties for the foreseeable future. As long as they remain on benefits or low incomes, it’s difficult to repay these debts. And the <a href="https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2018/0032/latest/whole.html">Social Security Act 2018</a> doesn’t allow the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to waive debts. <h2>Contradictory policies</h2> Another problem is that people on benefits have to start repaying their debt straight away, with weekly deductions coming out of their already limited benefit. Each new advance results in a further weekly deduction. Often these add up to $50 a week or more. MSD policy says repayments should not add up to more than $40 a week, but that is often ignored. This happens because the law stipulates that each individual debt should be repaid in no more than two years, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Paying this debt off in two years often requires total deductions to be much higher than $40. The third issue is that one-off payments can be refused regardless of the need. That is because there are two provisions pulling in opposite directions. On the one hand the law says a payment should be made if not making it would cause serious hardship. But on the other hand, the law also says payments should not be made if the person already has too much debt. People receiving benefits and their case managers face the choice between more debt and higher repayments, or failing to meet an essential need. <h2>Ways to start easing the burden</h2> So what is the fix? A great deal could be achieved by just changing the policies and practices followed by Work and Income. Case managers have the discretion to make non-recoverable grants for non-food essential needs. These could and should be used when someone has an essential need, particularly when they already have significant debt. Weekly deductions for debts could also be automatically made very low. When it comes to changing the law, the best solution would be to make weekly benefit rates adequate to live on. The government could also make these benefit debts similar to student loans, with no repayments required until the person is off the benefit and their income is above a certain threshold. However we do it, surely it must be time to do something to fix this poverty trap.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/212528/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hanna-wilberg-1466649">Hanna Wilberg</a>, Associate professor - Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-auckland-1305">University of Auckland</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/forcing-people-to-repay-welfare-loans-traps-them-in-a-poverty-cycle-where-is-the-policy-debate-about-that-212528">original article</a>.

Money & Banking

Can you lend a paw this tax time to help cats in need?

With a proud reputation of caring for cats for more than 60 years, the Cat Protection Society of NSW runs Sydney’s only no-kill shelter just for cats, as well as providing feline welfare programs to help cats and the people who love them. Cat Protection began in 1958 as a small group of people dedicated to reducing the number of street cats and while our organisation has grown over the years, our vision remains the same; that every cat deserves a loving and responsible home. Over the years, Cat Protection has helped literally hundreds of thousands of cats, kittens, and people. We’ve led the way in setting the standards for best-practice feline sheltering, and our health and welfare services extend far beyond our adoption centre. And while technology means we can offer a great range of free cat care resources online, we’ve never lost our human touch and we still help thousands of people every year with advice and tips on cat care by phone or in-person, at no cost. Our subsidised desexing, vaccination and microchipping programs promote cat health and welfare in the community and our newest program, Adopt-a-Stray, offers a complete and affordable package for those who wish to fully welcome a street cat into their heart and home. What sets us apart from many other animal shelters is our holistic approach to each individual cat or human client. Cats are not given a time limit, although most are adopted within days or weeks. Every cat is individually assessed and provided with a care plan to meet their unique needs. If they need complex surgery, allergy trials or behavioural interventions our highly qualified team will work with veterinarians and specialists to ensure the cat gets everything they need to set them on the path to living their best life. A kind person found Snake, a four-week-old sickly orphaned kitten. In addition to cat flu, our vets identified corneal scarring in his right eye, a blocked tear duct, and an adhesion on his eyelid restricting the normal movement of his third eyelid. Treatment resolved the flu and improved his eye, but Snake will live with limited vision in that eye. This has not dampened his playfulness or zest for life. As well as poor physical health, orphaned kittens miss out on the important lessons of being a cat from their mum and siblings, and this can lead to behavioural issues. Where we can, we will make sure such kittens get to join a stepfamily, but in cases such as Snake’s, illness means that isn’t always possible. It is then up to our human team to work with these little ones to help them learn to navigate the world with good manners! In contrast, Banjo had all the behavioural benefits of his brother but alas at seven weeks of age Banjo weighed only 560 grams while his brother Clancy weighed 900 grams! Banjo was diagnosed with a rare form of congenital hypothyroidism. Because his condition was diagnosed early, his prognosis is very good. He was started on a medication called Thyroxine and went back into foster care so that we could monitor his progress and adjust the dose of his medication as necessary with follow-up blood tests. After six weeks in foster care, Banjo graduated to the adoption centre. He will need to be on Thyroxine for the rest of his life, but that didn’t daunt his new family who’ve told us Banjo is now thriving in his loving forever home. From individualised TLC and veterinary care for every cat and kitten, to helping human clients resolve cat challenges (from furniture scratching to strata bans) and strategic research and advocacy on behalf of people and cats, Cat Protection’s impact is so much greater than our budget. As an independent registered charity for cats, we’re dependent on donations and bequests to do our work. We are compliant, open and transparent; on our website you can see our audited annual reports for details of what we do and what it costs. We have a strict “no harassment” fundraising policy which means under no circumstances will your information be sold on, and we do not employ pressure-tactics or door-to-door solicitations. We don’t spend money paying fundraising companies to ring you at dinner time asking for money or send you five-page long letters insisting you give more. And we never will. Donations are invested in helping our feline friends and nurturing the unique bond between cats and people. Your generosity will mean that we can continue to help thousands of cats and people each year. If you can lend a paw, please <a href="https://www.givenow.com.au/catprotectionsocietynsw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">make your tax-deductible donation here</a>! For general advice on cat care and everything feline, call the Cat Protection Society of NSW on 02 9557 4818 or visit <a href="https://catprotection.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">catprotection.org.au</a> Images: Supplied. This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with the Cat Protection Society of NSW.

Family & Pets

"Get a job": Ben Fordham slammed over interview with welfare recipient

Ben Fordham has come under fire for a patronising interview with a welfare recipient, in which he tried to get the man, who is unable to work, a job live on air. On Wednesday morning, the 2GB radio host spoke with Jez Heywood, who is president of the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union, and has been out of work since 2017 due to several health conditions. Mr Heywood had recently spoken to The Australian, sharing his frustration about the $20-a-week increase to Jobseeker, saying he was “angry” and “annoyed” at the federal government, describing the $2.85-a-day increase as “absolutely nothing”. Mr Heywood's commentary on the Jobseeker budget increase caught the attention of 2GB, who invited him to speak to Fordham, saying he “wanted to see whether we can find Jez a job”. Fordham asked Heywood if he was looking for work, to which Heywood shared that he is looking for work, but it is hard to find a job that would be suitable given his physical and mental health barriers. In response, Fordham told Heywood that "there are 54,000 jobs available right now in Melbourne". "That’s on the Workforce Australia website. So none of those 54,000 jobs are suitable to you or you’ve applied for them and they’re just not giving you the nod?" Heywood said he is applying for jobs that are "suitable" for his conditions, and is hearing nothing back from prospective employers. Fordham said a job would seemingly fix everything for Heywood, saying, "I reckon we can help your mental health if we get you into a job." Heywood seemingly appreciated the help, but also said it is important for him to consider what he is able to achieve in a job given his limitations. The tense exchange between Fordham and Heywood continued, as Heywood voiced his concerns and limitations with working, as Fordham seemed to dismiss his worries and said everything would be fine if he simply returned to work as a graphic designer. After the call, Heywood took aim at Fordham on social media, slamming the host as a “coward and a bully who’s been taking potshots at welfare recipients from the safety of his cosy radio studio for years”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> You're a dog Ben Fordham — Vulgar Boatman (@satisjacktion) <a href="https://twitter.com/satisjacktion/status/1658691768706269184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I’ve never met a dole bludger. I *have* met plenty of people with unresolved trauma and mental and physical illnesses (often not-yet-diagnosed), who probably LOOK like bludgers, through a telephoto lens. People who are doing okay WANT to be busy and to work. — Catherine Caine (@CatherineCaine) <a href="https://twitter.com/CatherineCaine/status/1658665436916101120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2023</a></blockquote> He stood by his opinion that the Jobseeker payment should be at least $88 a day to keep recipients above the poverty line, and condemned Fordham for “calling me a dole bludger on national radio”. Fordham doubled down on his condescending treatment of Mr Heywood, saying, "I just want to find you a job, Jez." Image credits: Getty Images / Twitter

Money & Banking

“Extremely difficult”: Woman forced to live in car for over two years

A Queensland woman has revealed the “extremely lonely” reality of living in her car. Wendy lived in shared accommodation for seven years, with a weekly room rent upwards of $200 a week. With the rent increases showing no signs of slowing down, the 52-year-old found herself living in her car for the past two and a half years. She has shared some tips for those in the same boat. “Downsize to the bare necessities you need, with just those few little luxuries like a good coffee and the barbecues,” Wendy said. She allows herself some luxuries, such as a gym membership, so she can have a shower, coffee and the occasional hot dinner. If she can’t keep up with her gym payments, Wendy exercises until she’s warm and hops into one of the cold public showers. She worked in construction cleaning, but the early start and late finishes became too difficult. “Transforming my car into a cleaning business was, as you can imagine, a bit unhygienic,” she said. She relies on welfare to get by, which is “extremely hard”. Wendy has a storage shed to help her keep some of her belongings, but the cost of that will see an increase from $45 to $60 a week, “I’m now going to even be pushed out of the storage,” she said. Wendy can access fresh food just once a fortnight when she visits Encircle Redcliffe Neighbourhood Centre, Queensland, otherwise, she’s stuck with a 3-day time frame of storing food in her car. Now with winter just around the corner, she parks her car in underground car parks to shelter from the elements. “As soon as they see you on camera, they’re concerned about me being there,” she said. “So I will be kicked out of there soon too.” It feels as though those in power have “turned a blind eye” to the reality of the housing crisis, Wendy said. “There’s no help out there for us, I’ve applied for housing and been denied.” The extra $40 announced in the federal budget for people on welfare was “definitely not enough”, Wendy said. Even going to the doctor has become “extremely hard”, Wendy said, as many have stopped bulk billing, which has forced her to travel further to find those who do so. She’s now facing car troubles, which only furthers her challenging situation. “I’m only using my car if it’s really necessary,” she said. Aside from discomfort, Wendy confessed living out of her car was “extremely lonely”. “It’s intimidating when people are walking past and staring at you — you feel like an extreme oddball in this world.” Image credit: 7NEWS

Real Estate

Federal Budget 2023: How to make the most of the key promises

Treasurer Jim Charles has handed down his first budget for 2023/24, offering a series of measures aimed at tackling the cost-of-living crisis. Millions of Australians will receive a boost from the federal government medical care, bills and welfare payments, amid the forecast that the budget will be be in the black with a surplus of $4bn. Here’s what it means for you: Bill help Those who are on the pension, a seniors card holder or a recipient of family tax benefits A and B will be eligible to get help with energy bills thanks to a deal between the states and Commonwealth that’s worth $1.5bn. That means over five million eligible households and one million eligible small businesses will benefit from the scheme. The relief will come in the form of credits that apply directly to their power bills rather than cash, and the amount they receive will depend on the state they live in. Medicare Relief The incentives paid to GPs who bulk bill 11.6m eligible Australians including children under 16, pensioners and other concession card holders will increase. GPs will be able to claim the incentives for in-person consultations over six minutes long and certain telehealth consultations. GPs who bulk bill patients in the city will be paid a new incentive of $20.65 compared to the previous rate of $6.60, while regional GPs will receive a $31.40 incentive, up from $10.05. Welfare recipients Over 1.1 million vulnerable Australians will benefit from a $40 fortnightly boost from September, if parliament agrees. The increased base rate will apply to people receiving JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment (partnered), ABSTUDY, Disability Support Pension (Youth) and Special Benefit. Rental assistance For many renters, this budget means that rent is forecasted to increase over the next year as the market tightens. However, for those currently receiving the maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance allowance their payments will increase by 15 per cent. Here’s what the Federal Budget will look like at a glance: <ul> <li dir="ltr"> Budget deficit of $13.9 billion in 2023/24 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Commonwealth net debt to rise to $574.9 billion (22.3 per cent of GDP) in 2023/24 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Economic growth to fall to 1.5 per cent in 2023/24 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Unemployment rate to rise to 4.25 per cent in 2023/24 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Inflation as measured by CPI to be 3.25 per cent in 2023/24 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Wages to rise by four per cent in 2023/24 </li> </ul> And here are the key measures the federal budget has promised: <ul> <li dir="ltr"> Energy bill relief for five million households and one million businesses </li> <li dir="ltr"> Triple bulk-billing incentives and more funding for urgent care clinics </li> <li dir="ltr"> Base rate of JobSeeker and other payments to be raised for 1.1 million households </li> <li dir="ltr"> Commonwealth Rent Assistant rise for 1.1 million households </li> <li dir="ltr"> Housing boost including tax breaks for build-to-rent investors </li> <li dir="ltr"> $4 billion extra for renewable energy </li> <li dir="ltr"> Tax breaks for small business to write-off assets and reduce energy costs </li> <li dir="ltr"> Targeted help for jobless aged over 55 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Cut to cost of medicines </li> </ul> Image: Getty Images/ Martin Ollman / Stringer

Money & Banking

Over-55s the only group to receive Centrelink payment boost

Older recipients of JobSeeker will receive a higher welfare payment as the federal budget is set to include an increase in payments for 227,000 Aussies. According to 7News, the budget will include an increase in the base rate of the JobSeeker for people aged 55 and above. The change honours Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ promise that an increase “will be focused on the most vulnerable”. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher previously committed to a “significant improvement” in terms of the budget. When asked if the rate of JobSeeker would be lifted, Gallagher revealed the budget would contain “ongoing” investments to help people with cost-of-living pressures, in addition to one-off measures. “This budget will have a significant cost-of-living package and that cost-of-living package will be targeted to the most vulnerable Australians,” she said. About 227,000 Jobseeker recipients are 55 and over, which is the highest number of any age group and the group most likely to be unemployed long-term, meaning they are without a job for five years or more. The majority of people in this group are women. Senior sources reportedly told 7News that the increase will be modest, not the $100-a-week advocates are hoping for but what the budget can afford. The change is unlikely to please Raise the Rate campaigners, who have called for the government to bring payments above the poverty line. 7News reported that the government will sell the moderate increase as a “responsible first step”, an increase that will help the most vulnerable of JobSeeker recipients and honours its election commitment to do what it can to help within the restraints of the budget. The pressure continues to pile up for the government to substantially increase income support payments above $49.50 a day for singles on JobSeeker and $40.20 a day for Youth Allowance. An open letter to the Prime Minister, which has been signed by more than 300 politicians, community advocates and prolific Aussies, called for an increase to be included in the budget to support those most in need. “Right now, the rate of JobSeeker is so low that people are being forced to choose between paying their rent or buying enough food and medicine,” the letter, coordinated by the Australian Council of Social Service, read. In 2022, the council’s research found six in 10 people on income support were eating less or reporting difficulty getting medicine or care due to their inadequate income. This increased to seven in 10 in March 2023. The budget plans to extend single-parenting payments and increase rental assistance - particularly for women. Around $120 billion in Morrison Government road and rail projects will be reviewed and money reprioritised, with hundreds of smaller projects likely to be stopped. Image credit: Getty

Money & Banking

Jackie O sends welfare check for concerning caller

Radio giant Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has requested a welfare check for a listener after receiving a distressing phone call on The Kyle and Jackie O show. The caller, Michael, who made it on air at about 6:30 am during the First Calls segment on the show, proceeded to sing a song about suicide, blindsiding the presenters. The song was Fade to Black by U.S heavy metal band Metallica, from their 1984 album Ride the Lightning. The bleak track is about wondering if life is worth living and wishing for death. Michael did not advise the hosts that he would be singing the song, and had told producer ‘Intern Pete’ Deppeler off air that he was a ‘comedian’ and ‘had a few jokes to tell’. Henderson seemed concerned and asked the team to make sure the listener was okay. The dismal segment started soon after an ad break, with host Kyle Sandilands asking, “You want to ring up for anything? First Calls, 13 10 65 will get you through. Michael has called in. Hey, Michael.” “Hello,” Michael responded, sounding dismal, which the hosts recognised was off as Sandilands was quick to mimic ‘hello’ back. Sandilands asked how the listener was doing, to which Michael replied, “Oh, not bad. I [inaudible] have a quick ten-second song I'd like to... sing for you.” 'What, sorry? A song?' Henderson asked. “It goes like this,” Michael said, before singing the lyrics to Fade to Black, “.. lost the will to live / Simply nothing more to give / There is nothing more for me / Need the end to set me free.” Michael put his own spin on the song, singing lyrics that don’t appear on the track, “Never cared for no one else” before quickly hanging up. “Don't be like that…”, a baffled Sandilands said after Michael abruptly ended the call. Henderson feared the worst, immediately asking producers, “Is he alright? That didn't sound good, guys. What were you getting off air? Because that sounded like a goodbye song to me.” Sandilands tried to reassure Henderson, saying “He seems fine. He seems fine.” Deppeler, who had spoken to Michael during the ad break and briefed him on what would be discussed on air said, “He was normal to me,” When Henderson asked what they’d spoken about during the ad break, Deppeler told the presenter, "He said, 'I'm a comedian, I've got a few jokes to tell, I've got a new song.'” “So he went rogue on you?' Henderson asked, with Deppeler replying, “A little bit rogue, yeah”. Henderson asked Deppeler to “call him back and check he's okay,” adding, "He just hung up and said this is the end for me. Just check he's alright, that guy.” She awkwardly laughed as she and Sandilands scolded Deppeler for having such a grim listener as the first caller following a two-week break. The presenters then moved on to the second caller, A woman called Debbie. Help is available, speak with someone today. Crisis support is available from <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lifeline</a> on 13 11 14. Support is available from <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beyond Blue</a> on 1300 22 4636. Image credit: Instagram

Caring

A horse died on the set of The Rings of Power: more needs to be done to ensure the welfare of horses used in entertainment

The recent <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/rings-of-power-horse-death-lord-of-the-rings-peta-1235564884/">death of a horse</a> on the set of Amazon’s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7631058/">The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power</a> is the latest incident raising questions about how humans use horses for entertainment and sport. While a statement from producers said the horses’s cardiac arrest occurred before the day’s filming began, animal rights activists PETA used the death to call on all screen producers to replace on-set horses with CGI and mechanical rig alternatives. The incident feeds into growing public concern about horse welfare on film and TV sets, at the track and in equestrian sports. But improving horse welfare is about more than just reputation repair – too often it’s about survival for horses and humans. <h2>Horse welfare in film and TV</h2> The riding of a horse over a cliff to its death for the movie Jesse James (1939) led to the establishment of <a href="https://humanehollywood.org/about-us/">American Humane</a>, which now oversees around 100,000 animals on more than 1,000 productions each year. While things have improved since the early days of film and television, deaths and mistreatment of horses still occur. In 1987, on the set of <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118307194">The Man From Snowy River II</a>, a seriously injured horse was killed using the blunt end of an axe. More recently, the high-profile series <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/the-real-story-behind-hbos-cancellation-of-luck">Luck</a>, starring Dustin Hoffman, was cancelled following the deaths of three horses. <h2>The good and bad of unprecedented global exposure</h2> In 2021, the Tokyo Olympics beamed to a global audience the excessive <a href="https://7news.com.au/sport/olympics/peta-calls-for-abusive-equestrian-events-to-be-axed-from-olympics-c-3703388">whipping and punching</a> of modern pentathlon horse Saint Boy and show jumper Kilkenny’s <a href="https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/kilkenny-suffers-nosebleed-during-olympic-individual-final">spectacular nosebleed</a> during the controversial show jumping program. While the bleed must have been obvious, officials did not intervene to stop the ride. Confronting images, and the perceived failure of organisers to protect the horses involved, brought into clear and global focus the indisputable welfare issues faced by horses competing at the elite level. The global outcry led to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9892093/Name-price-Kaley-Cuoco-offers-buy-horse-cruelly-punched-Olympics.html">actress Kaley Cuoco offering to buy Saint Boy</a> and the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/nov/02/modern-pentathlon-votes-to-ditch-horse-riding-after-tokyo-olympic-turmoil">withdrawal of the equestrian phase from modern pentathlon</a>. <h2>Risk to humans and horses</h2> Horse welfare does not just impact animals. Since the 1840s, 873 jockeys are known to have <a href="https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/2062/facts-and-figures-jockey-fatalities-australia/">died in race falls</a> in Australia. Internationally, the sport of eventing (where competitors complete three phases: dressage, show jumping and cross-country) reported 38 rider and 65 horse fatalities during or after competition between 2007-15. Riding horses is considered one of the most <a href="https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/evj.13934">dangerous of all sporting pursuits</a>, and the deaths of riders and jockeys, usually from falls, are common. Public concern about risk to horses and humans through horse racing and equestrian sports, as well as screen production, also <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/15/1987">threaten these industries’ social licence</a>. <h2>Better horse welfare is related to better rider safety</h2> Our research offers hope for the horse industry and for those passionate about riding horses. Last year, we <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159121003269">published a paper</a> demonstrating the link between horse welfare and rider safety. We asked riders how they cared for their horses and how their horses behaved when ridden – for example, we wanted to know how often horses were bucking or rearing. From this information, we calculated a relative welfare score for each horse. We also asked riders about their accidents and injuries. After analysing the data from over 400 riders, we found the higher the horse welfare score, the fewer accidents and injuries a rider reported. In a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08927936.2023.2176589">subsequent study</a>, we found horses with better welfare scores are more enjoyable to ride, most likely because they perform better and riders feel more in control, creating a win-win for horses and riders. <h2>Good horse welfare means more than good health</h2> Often good welfare is thought of in terms of an animal being healthy. While this is part of good welfare, good health alone is not enough – especially for a horse competing at the elite level or taking part in a film. Horses are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159117300710?casa_token=5E77h_TYKGEAAAAA:EUBGz7BTnACvpvB_3iYM-urXpBxJbS95G0-05yMRJEbMTg_SEeb_VnSoVgn35su8_aNOZEpSqctL">neophobes</a> – this means they find new things frightening – so most horses are likely to find a movie set or travelling to a new location stressful. The most up-to-date <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1870/htm">understanding of welfare</a> tells us that stress and poor mental health means poor animal welfare. When a horse is stressed or in pain they <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159117300692">behave in a very predictable way</a> – they run away, panic, kick out or buck and rear. Yet, anecdotally and in the media, people seeing a horse behaving in this way often claim the horse is crazy, unpredictable or just plain mean. More likely, an “unpredictable” horse is suffering from poor welfare. As part of our research program, we have developed a <a href="https://hub.rspca.org.au/attachments/88">new framework</a> to help horse owners identify aspects of their care and training that diminish horse welfare. This information can be used to make modifications to improve horse welfare, and, importantly, can be applied to horses in any equine sector, including racing, sport and film and television. <h2>Investing in the future of horses in entertainment and sport</h2> Although a veterinarian assessed the recent horse death on the set of The Rings of Power as “unlikely to be associated with the horse’s participation in the film”, more can be done to protect horses and the industry. In Australia, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/1986">no specific standard exists for the use of animals</a> in filmed media, and each state and territory has differing risk management guidelines. An opportunity now exists for the industry to set a new standard for horse care and training. An easily executable first step for the industry could be to insist a scientifically trained and credentialed equine behaviour expert be involved in the recruitment and supervision of horse actors and their trainers at all stages of production. This would ensure horse actors are appropriately trained to be on set and that horses are trained using the most up-to-date ethical methods. Horse behaviour experts could also help in scene design to minimise horses’ exposure to stressful situations and identify tasks that are incompatible with good horse welfare. If these suggestions were to be adopted, the film and television industry would be setting the benchmark for horse welfare – and pressure other horse industries to follow suit. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-horse-died-on-the-set-of-the-rings-of-power-more-needs-to-be-done-to-ensure-the-welfare-of-horses-used-in-entertainment-202939" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Images: The Rings of Power / Amazon

"You have to beg for help": how our welfare system pressures people to perform vulnerability

People who rely on welfare payments to survive are often required to repeatedly tell stories of their personal hardships. In a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/07/job-seekers-could-have-welfare-stopped-under-onerous-new-points-based-system-advocates-warn">conditional welfare system</a>, many must regularly attend compulsory appointments, job search training courses, and self-development and treatment programs simply to receive their payments. People in extreme hardship often tell their stories even more frequently as they seek extra relief from non-government charities and community providers. Those on income support payments below the relative poverty line feel the crunch of <a href="https://www.ncoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/NCOSS_CostOfLiving22_FINAL_DESIGNED.pdf">inflation and rising living costs</a> most severely. This means many will require extra support from welfare services to meet their basic needs. Integral to this system is the idea of “performing vulnerability”. “Performing vulnerability” – a term I borrow from UK-based researcher <a href="https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/vulnerability-and-young-people">Kate Brown</a> to update Australian academic <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/lowest-rung/FA159318C2D046EDD3C9347C8B8E4F2E">Mark Peel’s</a> idea of “performing poverty” – is not just about repeatedly describing personal hardship. It points to the expectation to describe hardship in particular ways that are recognisable – and hence believable – to support providers. My book, <a href="https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/making-a-life-on-mean-welfare">Making a Life on Mean Welfare: Voices from Multicultural Sydney </a>shows how the expectation to perform vulnerability to access support shapes experiences on both sides of the welfare frontline. It can compound the cycle of disadvantage associated with receiving welfare in the long term. It does so by <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0038026119876775">fostering mistrust</a> between welfare users and providers, as well as tainting how people in need of support see themselves and their situation. <h2>‘Tell me your story’</h2> For my doctoral research, I spent 18 months speaking to welfare users and workers in culturally and linguistically diverse southwest Sydney. I also observed different aspects of service delivery while volunteering at a community welfare organisation. I interviewed 25 welfare users and 11 community welfare practitioners. As a researcher of everyday experiences of welfare and poverty, I know all too well what it is like to ask people to tell their stories of hardship yet again. I also grew up in an impoverished family reliant on welfare to get by. I know firsthand what the impact of retelling stories of hardship can be, particularly when the audience is, as Peel <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/lowest-rung/FA159318C2D046EDD3C9347C8B8E4F2E">puts</a> it, “someone who has the power to give or deny them something they need”. One of the community welfare practitioners I interviewed summed it up by saying: "They’re coming again feeling ashamed. They’ve knocked on someone’s door, to tell yet again how shitty their situation is." Her response was to chat and put them at ease before saying, “Can you tell me your story?” She would follow up by saying, “You’ve given me some insight, let’s formalise your story a little bit.” Some welfare workers showed more scepticism, particularly when it came to giving out emergency relief. When someone refused to share more than the minimum information required to be eligible for extra assistance, one welfare worker commented: "That person doesn’t want to take responsibility." Another practitioner told me, “That woman dramatised her situation,” but quickly added, “That doesn’t mean she wasn’t genuine.” The willingness of people seeking assistance to disclose personal hardships and do so convincingly impacts on how deserving they may come across to those delivering support. The pressure to perform can overshadow encounters between welfare users and workers even when it doesn’t determine the outcome. <h2>‘It’s your dignity’</h2> Among the most marginal welfare recipients I spoke to, “performing vulnerability” was another toll of poverty. Those experiencing the worst hardship frequently told me about having to explain “the ins and outs” and feeling “embarrassed”, “intimidated” or “uncomfortable” when they had to present to welfare agencies. Two young people (whom I have given fictional names) powerfully conveyed the cost of telling all about their struggles: <blockquote> Kane: Often if you go to them sorts of people (welfare agencies) you’ve gotta put it all out there, that you’re homeless, that you got nothing, you got no friends, no family – and then they’re gonna go boom “alright” (you get the help you came for)… Nessa: Yeah, that’s what I had to do to get a house and it’s embarrassing (talking over each other) I think it’s embarrassing. Kane: You gotta go down to those levels you know – it’s wrong. Nessa: When you gotta expose everything and don’t want to, it’s, like, your dignity. Kane: Yeah, it’s everything. </blockquote> <h2>Performing is not pretending</h2> The most marginal welfare users get a great deal of practice performing their hardship. But knowing how to tell their story a certain way is not the same as pretending. Not only do people at the sharp end of the welfare system have to endure the hardships of poverty, but they must then recite it in a way that registers as genuine, pressing and beyond reprieve. As a woman living on the disability support pension put it:"You don’t have the flexibility that a rich person has to respond to crisis, so you have to beg for help. That takes time! And you know you’ll be judged like it’s your fault." A welfare system that demands disclosure of personal hardships – even when geared towards being <a href="https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezproxy.uws.edu.au/doi/full/10.1111/1468-4446.12740">supportive</a> rather than suspicious – can undermine dignity and hold back those unwilling or unable to tell their story convincingly or in enough detail. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/you-have-to-beg-for-help-how-our-welfare-system-pressures-people-to-perform-vulnerability-180975" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Retirement Income

Record boost to Centrelink payments coming for nearly one million Aussies

Hundreds of thousands of Australians receiving welfare are due to receive the biggest increase to their payments in two decades. The increase will see payments for young people, including parents, students and those on disability, increase from January 1, 2023. From next year, the base rate for singles on Youth Allowance will increase by at least $19.10 - with a maximum $32.40 extra a fortnight - taking the maximum rate up to $569.80. Single Australians with dependents can expect a boost of $41.40, bringing payments up to $729.60, while couples will receive an additional $35.20 a fortnight. For those under 21 without kids who receive Disability Support Pension, including Youth Disability Supplement, the payment increase is expected to range between $27.40 and $40.70 a fortnight. Recipients of Austudy, ABSTUDY, Mobility Allowance, Double Orphan Pension, Carer Allowance and Pharmaceutical Allowance will also be included in the increases, which are part of a routine indexation that happens every January to keep up with inflation. It comes after the Reserve Bank of Australia forecasted that inflation would peak at eight percent by the end of 2022. In comparison, payments for young people and students have been indexed at 6.1 percent. Social services minister Amanda Rishworth said the increase would help ease the pressure coming from the current cost-of-living crisis. “With the cost of living increasing, we need to ensure students and young people can cover basic costs while focusing on their studies and career aspirations,” she said. While young people are the subject of these payment increases, those who receive Jobseeker or the Aged Pension won’t be left out, with indexation increases announced for all welfare payments were announced by the federal government in September. These payments are also indexed at other times of the year, with the Aged Pension increasing in March and September. Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

Man hides hefty lottery win from wife and child

A Chinese man has kept his eye watering 219 million yuan (AUD$47,068,869) lottery win a secret from his wife and child so they don’t become lazy. Known only as Mr Li to conceal his identity, the man dressed up in a yellow cartoon costume when he accepted the huge win on October 24 at the lottery office in Nanning, in the southern region of Guangxi. “I did not tell my wife and child for fear that they would be too complacent and would not work or work hard in the future,” he told Nanning Evening News. Mr Li confessed that he bought 40 lottery tickets all of which had the same seven numbers, with the lottery company paying out 5.48 million yuan (AUD$1,177,811) for each ticket. Eventually he found out that he had the winning lottery numbers of 2, 15, 19, 26, 27, 29, and 2 and went to claim his prize. After receiving the hefty sum, Mr Li donated 5 million yuan (AUD$1,074,597) to charity and is still unsure of what to do with his fortune. Mr Li has been playing the lottery for a decade and only won minor prizes until this time round. “I regard buying the lottery as a hobby, and my family does not care. Plus, I do not spend much money on it, and the lottery provides a ray of hope for me,” he told the South China Morning Post. Image: Guangxi Welfare Lottery Centre

Money & Banking

Centrelink changes spark uproar

A change to Centrelink that’s due to start next month has been described as “the Hunger Games crossed with Black Mirror” and has prompted concerns for what could happen for those not capable of meeting the new requirements for welfare payments. From July 1, the current system of mutual obligations, tasks, activities, job searches and interviews a person has to complete to receive their payments will be removed, with the points-based activation system (PBAS) taking its place, per <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/careers/uproar-over-new-pointsbased-system-for-welfare-recipients/news-story/150a60503a14f7a8559c249b5f60d242" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. Though some are happy to see the mutual obligations system come to an end, there are concerns about the problems the new PBAS - which requires recipients to earn 100 points and do at least five job searches a month - could bring. Welfare recipients can complete any of more than 30 tasks and activities from the system’s list, with each task carrying their own points value. Though programs like PaTH Internship, the National Work Experience Program, and Launch Into Work are worth 25 points - enough to reach 100 points in total - others like full-time Work for the Dole, the Adult Migrant English Program and Skills for Education and Employment are worth just 20 - requiring recipients to take on extra tasks to make up the remaining 20 points. Five points are also earned for every five hours of paid work, 20 are received for attending a job interview, and being part of the Defence Force Reserves can earn recipients 10 points, with relocating for a job being the only task worth the full 100 points. If individuals earn more than their monthly 100 points, up to 50 can be banked for the following month. However, welfare recipients have been warned their payments could be suspended and they could receive a demerit if their points target or job search minimum aren’t met. The Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union (AUWU) said the new system dialled mutual obligations “up to 11” and that it was “the Hunger Games crossed with Black Mirror”. “Using technology to ‘gamify’ starvation points (score them or lose your payment) is morally offensive to basic human decency,” the organisation said in a statement. “This is not the design of a human welfare system - this is the design of a digital workhouse set up to brutalise people in desperate economic need and push them out of the system and onto the street.” With concerns raised about some people’s ability and capacity to meet these requirements, the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) has advised that these requirements could be reduced, the value of some tasks could increase, or additional activities could be created as an “activity bonus” based on personal circumstances. However, there is also confusion about how these changes - and which provider welfare recipients will be reporting to - will play out when it is introduced in less than a month, with the AUWU fearing another “robodebt-style disaster”. “The AUWU advocacy team is receiving a large number of reports from members telling su the system has not been properly explained to them,” advocacy coordinator Racquel Araya said. “We are trying to get a handle on this system so that we can advise those reaching out, and we still do not have clarity from the department on how exactly the reporting will work, how problems will be handled or resolved and whether Centrelink has the appropriate capacity to deal with the increased call centre inquiry volume.” Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

Centrelink under fire after threatening to cancel 102-year-old woman's pension

Centrelink is facing backlash after threatening to withdraw pension payments to a 102-year-old woman. Anne Hawkins, who is bed bound in her home in Punchbowl, was shocked last month when she suddenly had to provide the government agency with proof of her identity. The letter also stated that the documents needed to be provided in person. Ms Hawkins was only able to provide her Australian Citizenship certificate, due to her age, as Centrelink advised her family that she would need to obtain a NSW proof of age card. Ms Hawkins’ daughter Mary, said to do so she would, “need to be taken there by ambulance and wheeled into the Centre in a hospital bed.” Frank, Anne's son, told NCA Newswire that he spent several hours on the phone to Centrelink trying to resolve the problem, but to no avail. He said, “It was extremely frustrating for me and my family. We protected mum from as much of the aggravation as possible. Telling her was worst case scenario.” Anne's family were extremely concerned and shocked that the government agency were asking a 102-year-old to flout lockdown guidelines and risk exposure to the Delta variant of COVID-19. “We’ve been locked down since the last week of June. This letter arrived on the 30th of July. It arrived during lockdown. It is pretty unreasonable that Centrelink should be asking people to show up to a service centre in the middle of a lockdown,” Frank said. Ms Hawkins' local MP Tony Burke got involved in the issue, and demanded an explanation from Centrelink. “They actually wanted her to put herself at risk by leaving the house so she could jump through ridiculous bureaucratic hoops,” he told NCA Newswire. When Anne's family informed her of the situation, she joked she would have to get a job. Government Services Minister Linda Reynolds told NCA Newswire she “sincerely apologised” for the inconvenience caused. Image credits: 10News

Money & Banking

Meghan Markle's special message after daughter's birth

Meghan Markle may be on maternity leave after welcoming daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor just two weeks ago. But it hasn't stopped the Duchess of Sussex from sharing a beautiful message about something close to her heart - animal welfare. The Duchess has remained Patron of Mayhew after Megxit and wrote a message for the UK charity's annual report, praising the organisation and others similar for their efforts during the pandemic. "When I reflect on 2020, I always come back to the importance of community and connection," the duchess wrote. "We may have been forced apart, but we found new ways to be close and to support each other through this shared crisis. For many of us, this was made all the easier with our pets by our side." The new mum, who gave birth on June 4 to her daughter with Prince Harry, also spoke about her miscarriage last July, writing about the grief she experienced over the past year. "Over the last year, each of us have felt the profound effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic," Meghan began. "Be it the loss of a loved one, the health challenges far too many faced, or the disproportionate life changes everyone has experienced, it has been an overwhelming process of grief, growth and also of gratitude. "I have heard from so many of you about the impact of having a pet with you at home during the isolation of lockdown; you have mentioned the therapeutic effect of having your animal by your side and the solace and comfort you found in their company." Praising the charity's hard work in these tough circumstances, Meghan hinted that she remains involved in their work from the US. "I have been proud to witness Mayhew adapting to the moment – through virtual rehoming, TheraPaws visits over Zoom and delivering care packages to animals and pet owners in need," she wrote. Meghan, who had two rescue dogs (Bogart and Guy) in Canada before she met Prince Harry, has been a champion of animal welfare charities for a number of years. Image credit: Getty

Family & Pets

"Very violated": Great-grandmother opens up about losing family home

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Val Ciufici, 84, has shared how she found herself homeless after trusting her granddaughter to care for her after she became ill. She's claimed that her granddaughter Sam took everything she owned. "I became very sick. I live alone. I have no family here. I have no friends," Ms Ciufici told A Current Affair in a video filmed from the hospital, where she was recovering from a heart attack. "I have lost my home which I lived in for many years. I have lost my furniture," Ms Ciufici said. In new security footage, Sam and her partner Brett Stevens were seen repeatedly loading up a trailer with Val's possessions. Facebook advertisements have also shown some of the grandmother's jewellery and possessions being offered for sale online. Val claims she had no idea what was happening. "I feel very violated, very hurt and very disappointed," Ms Ciufici said. Her daughter Wendy Shields said "it's horrific what's happened" to her mum. Sam has claimed that her grandmother agreed to transfer her home to her two years ago before she was sick. "There was no pestering, like I said I have a letter from 2019 from her lawyer saying she had started the process," Sam said. Instead of taking Val home, she took her to an isolated farmhouse outside of town. "I didn't know where the property was, nothing, and the only thing we could do was ring the police and do a welfare check and that's how we found her," Ms Shields said. According to Val's family, the great grandmother only managed to escape from her new accommodation after seeing her doctor and asking them to call her daughter. It was after Val's other heart attack that she was taken to hospital and was determined to get her story out. "Please be very careful because I know there are a lot of people out there in the same situation," she said. </div> </div> </div>

Relationships

Pauline Hanson wages war on welfare recipients

Pauline Hanson has claimed people on welfare have “lost their rights” in a scathing speech where she was also asked directed to withdraw personal comments she made towards an Aboriginal senator. Speaking in support of cashless debit cards that critics have dubbed as “racist”, the One Nation leader shocked the chamber on Wednesday by declaring anyone relying on welfare had forfeited their right to decide how they spend the money. The card links 80 per cent of welfare payments to a cashless card to stop the purchase of drugs, alcohol and pornography. “That’s what this card is about. It’s not about a person’s rights,’’ Senator Hanson said. “When you go onto this card, you basically lose your rights as well. If you go on a welfare system, you’ve lost your rights.” The Morrison Government’s plan to introduce to welfare card as a permanent initiative didn’t go down too well after Senator Rex Patrick announced he would oppose the legislation. But the plan was back in action after Stirling Griff from Centre Alliance indicated he would back changed to extend it for two years. Hanson has said there have been many positive effects that came from the cashless welfare card, which restricts recipients from spending money on drugs, alcohol and pornography. “There have been increased purchases of baby items, food, clothing, shoes, toys and other goods for children,’’ she said. “That’s why they are quite happy to be on the card. They can say: ‘I can’t give you money. I haven’t got it.’ Humbugging is in these communities. They know that family members are taking money from them.” However, the One Nation leader then turned her sights on the Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe who has described the card as “racist.” “I can’t let go what Senator Thorpe said earlier in this chamber. She commented that it’s her land,’’ Senator Hanson said. “Senator Thorpe talks about her land. What about the white part? Where’s her white father in all of this, who I should say is a member of the One Nation party?.” The remarks then prompted a demand from the Deputy President of the Senate Sue Lines that Senator Hanson withdraw the remarks. “Senator Hanson, are you arguing with the Deputy President of the Senate? I’ve directed you to withdraw those remarks,’’ she said. “It is my responsibility under the standing orders of the Senate to ensure that debate is within the standing orders. I further remind you of a statement the President made on several occasions in this place about how this is a workplace and how we need to respect one another and to not refer to other senators in a personal way. So I would ask you to withdraw the remarks that you made about Senator Thorpe’s family. “It’s not a debating point. I’m directing you to do that, so please do that."

News

Police investigate the welfare of re-homed autistic child of YouTube influencers

Police have confirmed they are looking into the welfare and whereabouts of the adopted son of YouTube couple Myka and James Stauffer, who they admitted they “re-homed” with another family. Myka sparked fury online when she came forward on her YouTube channel to announce she had sent her adopted son Huxley, five, to live with another family after his special needs meant that they could no longer provide the best support for him. The couple adopted Huxley from China in 2016, and did not shy away from sharing the process on Myka's YouTube channel. Though they were told the boy suffered from brain tumours, it was later revealed to the family that the young boy has level three autism and a sensory processing disorder, the result of having a stroke in utero. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836396/myka-stauffer-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/410fbb6f9d404221ac32968c2f25ddaf" /> Image: Instagram Myka and James announced that they had sent Huxley to live with a family better equipped to handle his needs in a video that went viral last week. Fans promptly accused the pair of "re-homing" him because of his autism. It has also since raised questions about Huxley's whereabouts since leaving the Stauffer family. The Delaware, US County Sheriff's Office is looking into the case alongside “several other agencies”, according to BuzzFeed News. Tracy Whited, the office's community and media relations manager, said that the case is ongoing but was able to confirm that the five-year-old boy “is not missing”. “All adoption cases are confidential, and must go through a thorough process, with specific requirements and safeguards,” Whited said. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836397/myka-stauffer-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/64ab6f6e927345fa9b1eb7f6f5a2bda8" /> Myka and her husband took to Youtube to reveal they had "rehomed" their son Huxley. “In private adoptions there are the same legal requirements that must be adhered to. These include home studies as well as background checks on the adopting parent(s).” She added that both parties are being represented by attorneys. Last week lawyers for the Stauffer family released a statement addressing the backlash surrounding Myka and James' video. “We are privy to this case, and given the facts at hand, we feel this was the best decision for Huxley,” lawyers Thomas Taneff and Taylor Sayers said. “In coming to know our clients, we know they are a loving family and are very caring parents that would do anything for their children. Since his adoption, they consulted with multiple professionals in the health care and educational arenas in order to provide Huxley with the best possible treatment and care. “Over time, the team of medical professionals advised our clients it might be best for Huxley to be placed with another family.” Fans and critics asked to know how little Hux had been “re-homed”, as the details were never made clear. Myka appears to have since removed all photos of Huxley from her Instagram account while images of her other four children remain.

Caring

Coronavirus supplement: your guide to the Australian payments that will go to the extra million on welfare

On Sunday, the government announced a <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus">second</a> coronavirus economic package. In addition to further one-off payments, the package includes some of the most significant changes to social security payments Australia has ever seen, even if only on a temporary basis. The <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/1242242080400793600">amendments</a> passed by parliament on Monday night expand them further. The package effectively doubles rates of JobSeeker Payment for most people without children. The maximum rate for a single recipient without dependants is currently A$565.70 per fortnight. Lone parents and those over 60 who have been on benefit for nine months or more currently get more, while members of couples each get somewhat less. For the six months from April 27 the government will boost it by A$550 per fortnight through a special time-limited <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Fact_sheet-Income_Support_for_Individuals.pdf">Coronavirus Supplement</a>. Importantly, the extra $550 will go to all current recipients, including those who get less than $565.70 because they have assets or are in part-time work. It will also go to both existing and new recipients of the Youth Allowance JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefit. Thanks to Monday night’s <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/federal-parliament-passes-coronavirus-economic-stimulus-package-20200323-p54d73.html">amendments</a>, it will now also go to <a href="https://www.anneruston.com.au/supporting_students_through_the_effects_of_coronavirus">full-time students receiving Abstudy, Austudy and Youth Allowance for Students</a>. There are also <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/coronavirus-stranded-visa-hold%20ers-thrown-welfare-lifeline-and-extended-stay/news-story/5697ef9768c61255afa9330adcb10994">reports</a> that special payments (and the Coronavirus Supplement) will be made available to temporary visa holders who lose their jobs or suffer significant financial hardship because of the coronavirus. In addition, the government will no longer need legislation to make further changes to settings, giving the Social Services minister unprecedented powers. This will give the government the ability to respond flexibly as circumstances change. One million now, an extra million soon Roughly 1.3 million existing recipients will receive the supplement, including the 200,000 or so students added on Monday. To them will be added as many as <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansardr/bead2837-76c9-4ce9-952b-eafe8e2d614f/&sid=0045">one million more</a>, who are not currently receiving the JobSeeker or any other payment. Among them will be permanent employees who are stood down or lose their jobs, sole traders, the self-employed, casual workers and contract workers who find themselves meeting the benefit income tests as a result of the coronavirus. Included are people required to care for people who are affected by the coronavirus. Accelerated processing The assets test for JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance Jobseeker and Parenting Payment will be waived for the duration of the Coronavirus Supplement. In addition, the normal one week waiting period will be waived, as will the liquid assets test waiting period (which can be up to 13 weeks). People already in this waiting period will be given immediate access to payments. It is also important that the Coronavirus Supplement will be paid automatically. Current recipients will receive the full $550 on top of their regular payment without asking for it. Services Australia is putting on an extra 5,000 staff to deal with the inflow of new claimants and <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Fact_sheet-Income_Support_for_Individuals.pdf">accelerating claim process</a>. Australia moves up the ranks These changes will significantly boost the adequacy of working age social security payments in Australia – at least temporarily. This chart shows where Australia sat in 2019 compared to other members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on replacement rates – the percentage of previous after-tax earnings that an unemployment payment provided to a single unemployed worker who had previously been on two-thirds of the average wage. Australia is coloured red, and is at the bottom of the pack. A <a href="https://insidestory.org.au/social-protection-and-the-viral-recession/">number of countries</a> have boosted their payments, at least temporarily, in response to the coronavirus. The chart below shows where Australia and New Zealand and France sit now, compared to the 2019 replacement rates of other countries. Australia is again coloured red, but has climbed toward the middle of the pack. The charts show that Australia’ short-term earnings replacement rate climbs from 38% to 68%, because the base rate nearly doubles while rent assistance stays the same. Replacement rates will be lower for higher income workers who lose their jobs and higher for part-time workers and casuals. It is worth noting that other countries are adopting approaches that differ in where support is being targeted. Denmark, for example, is providing a direct wage supplement to employers of 75% of wages up to a ceiling, on the condition that they do not lay off workers. This is actually less than the current replacement rate of 84% in Denmark, but if it is successful it would effectively mean that Danish workers would continue to receive their normal salary (a 100% “replacement rate”). It remains to be seen whether that strategy works. Improvements on delivery The government has indicated that the stimulus package is “scalable”, meaning that it is possible to increase the amounts even further and to extend their duration. And the government has already fixed some gaps in its initial plan relating to students and newly arrived residents and temporary visa holders. Permanent residents will be eligible for assistance immediately and not subject to current waiting periods - which can be up to four years. Without extending benefits to temporary visa holders we would have had what academics <a href="https://insidestory.org.au/of-visas-and-viruses/">Henry Sherrell and Peter Mares</a> warned would be hundreds of thousands of people who are suddenly unemployed, without access to welfare, and without a method to return to their country of citizenship. The provisions of the special benefit that will be available to temporary visa holders <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/special-benefit/who-can-get-it#a1">define</a> severe financial hardship as earning less than the highest special benefit fortnightly payment, being unable to improve that financial position and having limited savings. There is another group whose status should be clarified urgently - that is people who have applied for permanent residence and are still in that application process. There is a case for treating them as if they had already become permanent residents rather than temporary workers. The ‘benefit cliff’ remains A remaining downside with potentially big unintended consequences is the legislated proposal doesn’t yet adjust the spouse income test, excluding many couples where one earner loses their job and leading to a perverse and undesirable “benefit cliff”. If the recipient’s spouse is working and not receiving a Jobseeker or equivalent payment, then the JobSeeker payment will be reduced by <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/topics/income-test-jobseeker-payment-partner-allowance-and-widow-allowance/29411">60 cents for every dollar the partner earns over $994 per fortnight</a>. This means that the recipient can receive some JobSeekers Payment – and hence the full $550 per fortnight Coronavirus supplement - until the working partner’s income reaches $1,844 per fortnight. At that point they face the <a href="https://theconversation.com/getting-poorer-while-working-harder-the-cliff-effect-113422">“benefit cliff”</a>. If the working partner has an income of $1840 per fortnight, the recipient gets the full supplement of $550 per fortnight, but if the worker has an income of $1850 a fortnight, the recipient gets nothing. The same cliff faces single people, as well. But this partner income threshold of $1850 per fortnight ($925/week) is right in the middle of the Australian income distribution. We calculate that, among two-earner couples aged 25-54, of the primary earners who lose their job, about half will get the Coronavirus Supplement, while of the secondary earners, only somewhere between a quarter and a third will get it. (These are rough estimates based on Bureau of Statistics income survey estimates of the personal income distributions). Given that in most couples the secondary earner is female, the different treatment has the potential to discriminate against women. One way to eliminate the cliff would be to integrate the Coronavirus Supplement more properly into the income support system, so that people with spouse income above these cutoffs would continue to receive a reduced payment. The government has asked for power to fix this issue via regulation, but has not yet announced how it will address it. The scale of the challenge An extra <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansardr/bead2837-76c9-4ce9-952b-eafe8e2d614f/&sid=0045">one million</a> recipients (the treasurer’s estimate) would mean that the share of the working age population receiving income support climbed from 14.2% to 18.7%, an increase of 4.5 percentage points, which is bigger than the 3.5 and 3.8 percentage point increases during Australia’s two previous post-war recessions in the early 1980s and early 1990s. In both of these earlier recessions, the unemployment rate shot up from under 7% to near 10% or higher within a year. The current increase will take place in the next six months, rather than over a full year. Not all the effect will directly be in the unemployment rate. Some will be in the non-participation rate as people decide to neither work nor look for work. The best measure to watch to track the labour market will be the reduction in hours worked. International experience also suggests that it will be substantial. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-20/canada-sees-500-000-employment-insurance-applications-this-week">Service Canada</a> is reported to have received more than 500,000 applications for Employment Insurance in the past week, 20 times the number recorded in the same week a year ago and equivalent to about 2.5% of the labour force. Similar trends have appeared in the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2020/mar/24/when-it-comes-to-unemployment-in-australia-definitions-have-been-broken">United States</a>. In Australia, we are already seeing the payment system struggling under <a href="https://twitter.com/ServicesGovAU/status/1242225599835516929?s=20">the load of new applications</a>. Ultimately, the key goal of our economic response to the coronavirus must be to share the economic costs. The government has made an excellent start in the package announced on Sunday and extended on Monday. But we have to be prepared to ramp it up and expand support so that everyone living in Australia is adequately supported and the burden of the crisis is shared fairly. Written by Peter Whiteford and Bruce Bradbury. Republished with <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-supplement-your-guide-to-the-australian-payments-that-will-go-to-the-extra-million-on-welfare-134358">The Conversation.</a>

Retirement Life

Why cashless welfare cards do more harm than good

The Australian government touts compulsory income management as a way to stop welfare payments being spent on alcohol, drugs or gambling. The Howard government introduced the <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/basicscard">BasicsCard</a> more than a decade ago. About 22,500 welfare recipients now use it, mostly in the Northern Territory. Now the Coalition government has big plans for a more versatile <a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/families-and-children/programmes-services/welfare-conditionality/cashless-debit-card-overview">Cashless Debit Card</a>, trialled on about 12,700 people in four regional communities in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. These trials aren’t complete, nor the findings compiled, but a string of senior ministers, including <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-eyes-long-term-cashless-debit-card-roll-out-20190907-p52oxb.html">Prime Minister Scott Morrison</a>, have indicated they are already sold on expanding the program. <a href="https://www.incomemanagementstudy.com/blog/hiddencosts">Our research</a>, however, <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-mounting-evidence-against-cashless-debit-cards-but-the-government-is-ploughing-on-regardless-123763">adds to the evidence</a> that compulsory income-management policies do as much harm as good. Financial (in)stability Over the past year we have conducted the first <a href="https://www.incomemanagementstudy.com/">independent, multisite study</a> of compulsory income management in Australia. It has involved 114 in-depth interviews at four sites: Playford (BasicsCard) and Ceduna (Cashless Debit Card) in South Australia; Shepparton (BasicsCard) in Victoria; and the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay region (Cashless Debit Card) in Queensland. We also collected 199 survey responses from around Australia. Proponents of compulsory income management champion its potential to “provide a stabilising factor in the lives of families with regard to financial management and to encourage safe and healthy expenditure of welfare dollars”, as the then social services minister, Paul Fletcher, <a href="https://www.paulfletcher.com.au/portfolio-speeches/speech-to-sydney-institute-welfare-personal-responsibility-and-the-cashless">said in March</a> last year. Our study found some individuals experience these benefits. But most face extra financial challenges. These include not having enough cash for essential items, being unable to shop at preferred outlets, being unable to buy second-hand goods, and cards being declined even when they are supposed to work. <hr /> <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/316964/original/file-20200224-24690-153xr6u.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/316964/original/file-20200224-24690-153xr6u.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Survey respondents reported a range of challenges related to compulsory income management. Hidden Costs: An Independent Study into Income Management in Australia <hr /> In Playford, Jacob* told us about being on the BasicsCard, which can only be used with merchants that have agreed to not allow cardholders to buy excluded goods. The limits on where he could shop made it harder for him to manage his finances. “I couldn’t make decisions about saving money,” he told us. He and his wife used to catch the train to shop at the Adelaide markets, for example, but vendors there couldn’t take the BasicsCard. The Cashless Debit Card is intended to overcome the limitations of the BasicsCard. It’s like a debit card except it can’t be used to withdraw cash or at businesses that sell prohibited items. But Emma*, a single mother in the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay area, told of her struggles to make basic purchases using the card. It often failed – even at businesses that purportedly accepted it – and her family went without. She also felt excluded from the markets and second-hand retailers where she used to shop. Her greatest stress, however, was rent. Emma* said she had always been on time with rental payments until the Cashless Debit Card. She described one occasion when, two days after paying the rent, the money “bounced back” into her account. When she rang the card’s administrator (card payment company <a href="https://www2.indue.com.au/">Indue</a>), she was told: “It’s just a minor teething issue, just keep trying.” The extra stress from “worrying about which payments were going to get paid” was considerable. Others shared similar experiences. Social (dis)integration Supporters of compulsory income management claim it brings people back into the community by combating addiction and encouraging pro-social behaviour and economic contribution. As federal Attorney-General <a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansardr%2F5d1aabc6-2984-42d1-bf5e-3f493db56d60%2F0048;orderBy=customrank;page=0;query=Cashless%20debit%20card%20SearchCategory_Phrase%3A%22house%20of%20representatives%22%20Dataset_Phrase%3A%22hansardr%22%20Speaker_Phrase%3A%22pitt,%20keith,%20mp%22;rec=1;resCount=Default">Christian Porter said in 2018</a>: “The cashless debit card can help to stabilise the lives of young people in the new trial locations by limiting spending on alcohol, drugs and gambling and thus improving the chances of young Australians finding employment or successfully completing education or training.” However, our study found the card can also stigmatise and infantilise users – pushing people without these problems further to the margins. One of the problems is that compulsory income management is routinely applied based on where a person lives and their payment type, and not on any history of problem behaviour. The large majority of our respondents indicated they did not have alcohol, drug or gambling issues. <hr /> <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/316963/original/file-20200224-24676-1jamv1d.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/316963/original/file-20200224-24676-1jamv1d.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> The majority of survey respondents had been managing finances well before compulsory income management. Hidden Costs: An Independent Study into Income Management in Australia <hr /> But as Ray* in Ceduna explained, having the card meant others viewed him as a problem citizen. <blockquote> I’m embarrassed every time I have to use it at the supermarket, which is about the only place I do use it. I sort of look around and see who’s behind me in the queue. I don’t want anybody to see me using it. </blockquote> This was a common experience across the interview sites. Maryanne* in Shepparton told about being judged for shopping for groceries with her BasicsCard. <blockquote> I got called a junkie and I said: ‘I’m not a junkie, do you see any marks or anything?’ They were like: ‘No, but you have a BasicsCard.’ I said: ‘What’s that got to do with it? Centrelink gave it to me. I can’t do nothing.’ </blockquote> <hr /> <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/316965/original/file-20200224-24664-asok53.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> Stigma was a common concern among survey participants. Hidden Costs: An Independent Study into Income Management in Australia <hr /> A path forward The overwhelming finding from our study is that compulsory income management is having a disabling, not an enabling, impact on many users’ lives. As the policy has been extended, more and more Australians <a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Publications/National/Factsheets_and_policy_briefings/The_Cashless_Debit_Card/">with no pre-existing problems</a> have been caught up in its path. This does not mean a genuine voluntary scheme could not be maintained, but it would need to sit alongside evidence-based measures to tackle poverty. Addressing the <a href="https://raisetherate.org.au/">inadequacy of income support payments</a>, ensuring <a href="https://theconversation.com/these-job-snob-claims-dont-match-the-evidence-121429">decent employment and training opportunities</a>, and providing accessible social services and secure and affordable <a href="https://theconversation.com/supportive-housing-is-cheaper-than-chronic-homelessness-67539">housing</a> would be a better starting point for creating healthy lives and flourishing communities. <hr /> Names have been changed to protect individuals’ privacy.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/132341/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/greg-marston-737150">Greg Marston</a>, Head of School, School of Social Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-peterie-564209">Michelle Peterie</a>, Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/phillip-mendes-101820">Phillip Mendes</a>, Associate Professor, Director Social Inclusion and Social Policy Research Unit, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/zoe-staines-426110">Zoe Staines</a>, Research fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-dont-want-anybody-to-see-me-using-it-cashless-welfare-cards-do-more-harm-than-good-132341">original article</a>.

Retirement Income

The major $2.1 billion crackdown coming to Centrelink

A major Centrelink overhaul would be able to save the government $2.1 billion by adapting the way welfare recipients report their employment income. Over 1.2 million people receiving welfare payments could soon be made to specifically report the actual fortnightly income to Centrelink, rather than giving a calculation based on their wage and hours worked. Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston says she hoped the proposal will make the process simpler. “We want to make sure that Australians who need financial support are able to get the support that they are eligible for – no less and no more,'” Minister Ruston said. “The current system of calculating earnings can be confusing and lead to misreporting especially when accounting for overtime or penalty rates. “These changes will make accurate reporting much easier for people getting a social security payment.” Under the system currently in place, welfare recipients are required to report their or their partner’s earnings based on the number of shifts they have worked and their hourly rate. The coalition hopes that by simplifying the reporting system, it will become more accurate and prevent those receiving payments being left owing money or having to repay the government for being overpaid. The new change would additionally allow employment and income data to be pre-filled online, as it is also occurs with online tax returns. Draft legislation detailing the changes will be released for consultation this week. The coalition has hopes to bring the proposed laws to parliament when it resumes next week. The new system, which has already been dubbed “<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/D_Melissa2/status/1221911564933926912?s=20" target="_blank">robodebt 2 on steroids</a>”, comes months after robodebt was deemed unlawful after a legal challenge in the Federal Court. The government has wound back on the original scheme, which is also facing a potential class action lawsuit.

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Forcing people to repay welfare ‘loans’ traps them in a poverty cycle – where is the policy debate about that?

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Coronavirus supplement: your guide to the Australian payments that will go to the extra million on welfare

Why cashless welfare cards do more harm than good

The major $2.1 billion crackdown coming to Centrelink

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Forcing people to repay welfare ‘loans’ traps them in a poverty cycle – where is the policy debate about that?

Can you lend a paw this tax time to help cats in need?

"Get a job": Ben Fordham slammed over interview with welfare recipient

“Extremely difficult”: Woman forced to live in car for over two years

Federal Budget 2023: How to make the most of the key promises

Over-55s the only group to receive Centrelink payment boost

Jackie O sends welfare check for concerning caller

A horse died on the set of The Rings of Power: more needs to be done to ensure the welfare of horses used in entertainment

"You have to beg for help": how our welfare system pressures people to perform vulnerability

Record boost to Centrelink payments coming for nearly one million Aussies

Man hides hefty lottery win from wife and child

Centrelink changes spark uproar

Centrelink under fire after threatening to cancel 102-year-old woman's pension

Meghan Markle's special message after daughter's birth

"Very violated": Great-grandmother opens up about losing family home

Pauline Hanson wages war on welfare recipients

Police investigate the welfare of re-homed autistic child of YouTube influencers

Coronavirus supplement: your guide to the Australian payments that will go to the extra million on welfare

Why cashless welfare cards do more harm than good

The major $2.1 billion crackdown coming to Centrelink

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