Centrelink: The empire strikes back
Tuesday, 10 January, 2006
3rd January was my first day of proper work at MM. It was also the day of my Job Network Services interview. I rang them in the morning to tell them I wasn't going to make it, only to be told that the lady I was supposed to see wasn't in anyway. Then I rang Centrelink and told them that I no longer wished to receive Newstart because I was now working (albeit only 3 days a week).
“Are you sure you don't want to stay on it until you can pick up more work?” asked the call centre lady.
Gee, hang on, I thought they were quite keen to stop paying people.
“I'm sure. I don't need that kind of bother.”
So she stopped my payments (which meant I didn't get anything for the week between Christmas and New Year's which I wasn't prepared to quibble over).
“Do I have to post back the Jobseeker diary?” I asked.
She then went away and checked with someone.
“No, that's fine,” she said.
Grrr ..., I thought, and recalled all those times I looked ridiculous while job-hunting and all for nothing.
Then a couple of days ago I got this in the mail:
It's nice to know my tax dollars are funding this kind of absurdity ...
Blinks:
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Issues organised by tale.
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Whoa whoa whoa… those healthcare cards are not absurd! That is the only help the government gives me, and it’s fantastic! When I had to go around filling a heap of prescriptions for my rash, everything was reduced to about $2.80 instead of $15. And I can use it to get into the cinema for cheap in Port Macquarie too.
No, Little, you’ve missed my point. Check the dates on that picture.
That takes me back!
I tried never to complain - the Government gave me free money for years - but it is so very nice not to have to haggle with them anymore.
Brightened my day