PM&C confirms that the Secretary responsible for the mutual obligations scandal was sacked www.themandarin.com.au/307119-pmc-c...

It has been revealed that Albanese recommended to the Governor-General to sack Employment Secretary. It comes after two Ombudsman investigations and a bungled Deloitte report, but “no question of misbehaviour or misconduct” … what’s going on? www.themandarin.com.au/307119-pmc-c...

Here's the list of 144 issues Services Australia had registered through its Legal Compliance and Remediation Program in November 2025 - program is meant to identify and escalate 'legal non-compliance' in the agency's administration of services and payments: www.aph.gov.au/api/qon/down...

“Because at the moment it seems that both are in lockstep to ensure profits for provider CEOs, dividends to shareholders and brutal poverty for everyday people,” @jaycoonan.bsky.social from @antipovertycentre.org

"Unlike fires, floods and cyclones, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) does not recognise heatwaves as a natural disaster – leaving it up to the discretion of service providers to determine how they respond." Thx to @thepointau.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/news/260205-...

"Punishment Pays: The reason why the Government won’t bin Mutual Obligations" by @jeremypoxon.bsky.social for @thepointau.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

New from me: Why won't the government switch off the unlawful mutual obligations system? FOI documents reveal a ramshackle Department that's scrambling to cover legal messes, preserve industry profits, and pretend that punishment is policy thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

"As it stands, this Government has chosen to drag the public into yet another unlawful welfare scandal, because it is unwilling to challenge private business, and Robodebt-era systems and ideologies of punishment." @jeremypoxon.bsky.social in @thepointau.bsky.social thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

The welfare system is not safe for poor people & nor is it safe for workers. Increasing surveillance & punishment of desperate people will not improve safety. Ensuring people have enough money to live and access to the support they need, without coercion, removes the conditions that create unsafety.

Surveillance of welfare recipients is not an appropriate response to people in increasingly desperate circumstances committing violent acts. But Labor's plan seems to be just introducing more pre-crime punishments until needing welfare is itself seen as the crime. www.itnews.com.au/news/service...

Lump sum Aus Gov Disaster Recovery Payment extended to additional areas in Victoria affected by the bushfires - provides $1,000 for adults and $400 per child. Will be able to claim from Friday afternoon. www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/vic-bushfire...

Big win for NDIS users at Federal Court. Sherri Sutherland and Victorian Legal Aid successful in establishing that people with disability are not required to prove that other services can’t meet their support needs first before getting onto the NDIS: www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/access-ndis-...

We are sick of hearing about “responsible” budgets from the treasurer. This is not responsible. There is no justification for denying people support they need for a decent life.

Workforce Australia just posted this on FB Mutual obligation requirements will be paused for participants in the Goulburn Murray Employment Region due to bushfires, from Monday 12 January 2026 to Sunday 8 February 2026 (inclusive). www.workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/...

As of right now folks dealing with bushfires/recovery can have their Centrelink payment stopped for not doing forced activities that are useless at the best of times, even if the reason is because their provider is unable to do something. More great stuff from Minister Rishworth & her department 👍

Amanda Rishworth has decided the best response to unlawful use of welfare penalties is to spend $44 million beefing up the welfare cop apparatus. "It will not stop the threats, the bullying, abuse and the unlawful payment suspension decisions that derail people’s lives." – @jeremypoxon.bsky.social

Her first assistant secretary also got the arse last year for tech glitches that wrongfully punished job seekers www.innovationaus.com/gig-guide-wo...

Another public servant bites the dust who's job involved ensuring the welfare compliance machine stayed on – just one week after the 2nd Ombudsman's report on unlawful administration of penalties. When will Labor deal with the real problem & end the thing? www.themandarin.com.au/305013-depar...

I boycott any "charity" that uses forced labour, including "vinnies". Any "charity" that pays no tax, and is part of the "work for the dole" bullshit, will get nothing from me. This Labor gov't has the same policies of hate and punishment of the poor, as the LNP does, I despise both of them.

These corporate charities claim they exist to help the poor. Meanwhile they are annoyed that poor people get a break from doing forced unpaid labour at christmas. Give money to poor people not charities. PSA: compulsory activities for people on Centrelink payments are paused from 16 Dec to 5 Jan

Don't believe Labor voters expected this. Punishing those doing it tough while allowing billion dollar corporations to escape tax altogether is now the Australian way.

Excellent work by all at the Anti-poverty Centre @antipovertycentre.org

An economist can correct me if I’m wrong, but as I understand it, the system as *designed* REQUIRES ~4-5% unemployment. It then punishes those people for being unemployed, including a payment so low it actively hinders seeking employment. Then blames them for being unemployed. DARVO as policy.

Our backgrounder on the unlawful use of Centrelink payment penalties has now been updated with key excerpts and analysis from the Ombudsman's report. Check it out here: bit.ly/TCF_backgrou...

Thanks @3crmelbourne.bsky.social for having us on to talk about what is happening in the system of compulsory activities known as "mutual" obligations and what the Commonwealth Ombudsman found in his latest investigation into unlawful penalties for people on Centrelink payments. Interview from 1:10

Thinking of this in light of any real reform following the Robodebt scandal, the refusal to raise the social security rate to any substantial level, and the acknowledgement by the public service that 140 aspects of the social security system have been operating illegally.

"It was court rulings, the threat of mass compensations and deaths which made the Morrison government act on robodebt... ongoing reports from advocates, legal experts and those caught in the system prove beyond a doubt the fire isn’t just burning, it’s burning out of control." Ty Amy for reporting

Centrelink payment suspensions cause distress, waste time and subject people in poverty to abuse by welfare cops. 2.7 million payment suspension notices a year and the system that applies them doesn't even hold the information to check whether they are lawful or not.

"Payment suspensions cause immeasurable damage to our lives, destabilising people when we are already struggling to survive. This scandal must end, not when the government decides what tweaks it would like to make to this system, but now." @antipovertycentre.org www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Significant statement from the Ombudsman on payment suspensions - the system is unfairly and unlawfully punishing people who are "below the poverty line" and are "unlikely to find ongoing employment no matter how hard they try to comply with the requirements placed upon them"

#BREAKING: The Commonwealth Ombudsman has published their investigation into the Targeted Compliance Framework & Mutual Obligations system Their findings on the Department's administration of many parts of the system are incredibly damning 👇

Secretary defends job providers' use of payment suspensions, as she's "interrogated the system in a very active way" So, she's asked about @antipovertycentre.org analysis, showing the system is threatening 5 payment suspensions a minute, & admits she didn't even check this data. Such interrogation!

The average value of a household’s energy debt increased by $219 last year - to $1,367 via @antipovertycentre.org

“Social security law decisions are being made at a rate of millions a year, and we have extensive evidence of the problems with unlawful decisions on suspensions, and no action is being taken." Thank you @dholmesnoise.bsky.social @themandarin.bsky.social for reporting.

Labor's one concrete promise to welfare recipients in 2022 was to abolish compulsory cashless welfare.

This is a disgrace. Every single MP and Senator who voted for this should lose their seat. Forget politics, it violates a fundamental legal principle: you're innocent until proven guilty. I hope the High Court quashes this on a challenge. It's clearly punitive action by the executive.

A stupid and unjust entangling of policing and welfare. The Albanese govt should put their time and effort into things that would make a real difference: fixing the ineffective job provider scheme, and getting rid of the cruel and counterproductive 'mutual obligation' system. #poverty #auspol

Disgraceful

"Welfare recipients have a right to be treated equally under the law, and should not be subject to punishment before having access to legal advice for any reason, ever. This heinous new law must be reversed." This is an appalling law that will further criminalise poverty. #auspol

Plibersek is burying herself in this portfolio. Although it really brings out her true colours.

There is no justification for punishment before conviction. But even the government’s desperate attempt to put bandaids on this thing is laughable. Oh, you plan to tell the ombudsman you cancelled someone’s payment after you’ve done it? Who cares, it’s not like he can stop you???

Today @tanyaplibersekmp.bsky.social succeeded in establishing new powers to cancel Centrelink payments before conviction. Thanks @senatorthorpe.bsky.social @andrewwilkiemp.bsky.social @davidpocock.bsky.social @pennyallmanpayne.com for trying to stop this dangerous law.

Sadly, they cut a deal with the Libs to indeed rush this through

good to see some small studies now on how the NDIS interacts with other systems. we need much more of this theconversation.com/the-ndis-shi...

Governments can and should buy and build public homes. Enough for all who want to live in one. It benefits the people who get to live in them AND stabilises the private rental market, in turn stabilising house prices.

Giaan, 17, had her life taken by the system meant to protect her. When will we break the chain of harm & coercion? We desperately need a comprehensive & empowered watchdog over mental health services—one w lived experience leaders & real power to act. 9now.nine.com.au/a-current-af...

this is about as far from the recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission as possible. only covers NDIS services, doesn't talk about the horrifying rates of abuse and violence against us in EVERY single system consultations.health.gov.au/disability-a...

sounds familiar 🤔

This decision last week flew under the radar - case could have significant ramifications for Centrelink debt decisions