Diary of our stinking Govt.

[boris1gary]

As it's more than 100 days now, it has been suggested that a new thread was needed.  The current govt has been breaking promises and telling lies at a rate so fast it's hard to keep up.

This below is worrying, "independent" pffft, as if your own doctor is somehow what? biased, it's ridiculous. So far there is talk of only including people under a certain age 30-35, for now. Remember that if your injured in a car, injured at work or get ill, you too might need to go on the DSP. They have done a similar think in the UK with devastating consequences.

and this is the 2nd time recently where the Govt has referred to work as welfare???? So when you go to work tomorrow (or tuesday), just remember that's welfare.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-20/disability-pensioners-may-be-reassessed-kevin-andrews/5400598

Independent doctors could be called in to reassess disability pensioners, Federal Government says

The Federal Government is considering using independent doctors to examine disability pensioners and assess whether they should continue to receive payments.

Currently family doctors provide reports supporting claims for the Disability Support Pension (DSP).

But Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews is considering a measure that would see independent doctors reassess eligibility.

"We are concerned that where people can work, the best form of welfare is work," Mr Andrews said at a press conference.

[bella_again]

hmmm some of the claims and that story I highly doubt for example “As well as the two stories I have just quoted, students described chaplains helping them to 'pray the gay away' and advising them to sleep with a member of the opposite sex to 'correct' their same-sex attraction,” Senator Pratt said.

Christian chaplains are extremely unlikely to say that.  Of course anyone who has actually said anything that would cause significant damage to students shouldn't be a chaplain.  There role is one of non judgement and support. 

'And this statement that He said the survey quoted by Senator Pratt was self-selecting, not scientific and claims of widespread proselytising did not reflect Department of Education figures'  So is there any viability to the survey? should it be redone by DET?

Another interesting fact is that there were 34 complaints down from 93 with 60% unsubstantiated which in reality means that about 13 complaints were substantiated. Whether these are around the gay and lesbian issues I don't know.   So with less complaints does that mean the program is improving to meet student needs?

So is it all a big beat up do you think? 

[boris1gary]

---

@bella_again wrote:

hmmm some of the claims and that story I highly doubt for example “As well as the two stories I have just quoted, students described chaplains helping them to 'pray the gay away' and advising them to sleep with a member of the opposite sex to 'correct' their same-sex attraction,” Senator Pratt said.

Christian chaplains are extremely unlikely to say that.  Of course anyone who has actually said anything that would cause significant damage to students shouldn't be a chaplain.  There role is one of non judgement and support. 

'And this statement that He said the survey quoted by Senator Pratt was self-selecting, not scientific and claims of widespread proselytising did not reflect Department of Education figures'  So is there any viability to the survey? should it be redone by DET?

Another interesting fact is that there were 34 complaints down from 93 with 60% unsubstantiated which in reality means that about 13 complaints were substantiated. Whether these are around the gay and lesbian issues I don't know.   So with less complaints does that mean the program is improving to meet student needs?

So is it all a big beat up do you think? 

---

I don't think it would be a beat up and she does go out of her way to praise many of the chaplains, I found the answer from the head of the chaplain group to be a bit dismissive of some very alarming accusations.

To just say that "christians are extremely unlikely to say that", well I would have thought that it isn't very christian to do lots of things that some of our christians are doing both in government and in support of them. The minister for immigration is a  devout Pentecostal. Abbott says he is a devout christian, andrews the social services minister is also a christian... so nothing about being a christian rules out any kind of abhorrent behaviour from some.

[monman12]

    "The Greens want to establish Tasmania as an asylum seeker haven where economic illegals get accommodated and assimilated at the Pontville Detention Centre before automatic welfare funded life support in Tasmania."

Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim wants Australians to spend $5.4 million to have Tasmania recognised as an asylum seeker haven."
Opinions welcome on the source of the above??
Oh am sure monman12 will be quick to decry  such an information source. I have looked on the Greens site and there is no mention of any such thing - surprise.."

Surprise that research was "conducted", but not at the comment: " there is no mention of any such thing"

Hmmmmmm.  Try the Green's site, or to make it easier pretend it is titled the Green's Independent Citizen Bloggers site!

http://greens.org.au/policies/tas/caring-asylum-seekers

The Greens propose to establish Tasmania as an asylum seeker haven where refugees would be housed for a short period at the Pontville Detention Centre then in the Tasmanian community while awaiting assessment of their claims.

The Greens will invest $5.4 million over four years to have Tasmania recognised as an asylum seeker haven. We will:

1) Negotiate with the Commonwealth government to reopen the Pontville facility to operate as a refugee on-shore processing and community integration centre;

2) Invest $2.5 million over four years to develop an employers' incentive program to employ asylum seekers after they have completed their 30 day initial health and risk assessment.

3) Fund the Migrant Support Centre an additional $1.5 million over four years to assist in the development and delivery of these programs.

Whoops

Now some repeated  government diary entries
Asylum seeker detention on Manus Island is constitutional, High Court rules
 "The High Court has unanimously upheld the Federal Government's constitutional right to send asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea......The court's also upheld the actual designation of Papua New Guinea as a processing country,...."
 A somewhat decisive  judgement when compared with Poor Me's 2011 Malaysia fiasco:

 "The decision is a win for the Government after a 2011 High Court decision scuttled a Labor government plan to send asylum seekers to Malaysia."

The response:
"blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahlblaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahablahhhhhhhhhblahhhhh"

Oh gosh, ouch, what a cutting adult response, now that is a very BIG response from the sandpit worthy of a : Chuckle.

On second thoughts,  even a: 

nɥºɾ

[boris1gary]

there is no demand on the site monman12, better luck next time.

[monman12]

Oh ouch!

nɥºɾ

[bella_again]

True Boris but I think the point is the research does not line up with actual departmental research.  I think it is a little biased if you read that whole report, what is needed is an independent inquiry to be conducted with no bias from either side to get at the truth of that.  Remember though 13 complaints not necessarily in that area that are proven is minimal compared to the amount of chaplains out there.  He does say that this behaviour is not acceptable and disciplinary action is taken against any chaplains who are seen to have breached their guidelines which suggests to me that this is not the norm.  But there should be an investigation into this.

It does concern me that the actual welfare officers are being removed from schools in place of Chaplains who on the whole do a great job but are not necessarily trained in mental health.

Will be interesting to see what the high court ruling is on this whole issue.

[boris1gary]

Bella, yes it will be interesting. On a selfish note I am glad my children have finished school. Everything this mob have done in public education so far has been terrible and with bad consequences for the future.

[monman12]

"Everything this mob have done in public education so far has been terrible and with bad consequences for the future."

I do not have the time to check (and knowing how much research occurs here)  a list of what  "has been done" so far would be appreciated,

AFR 16 June

SA Labor backs Coalition on higher education funding

South Australia’s Labor government has split from federal Labor and quietly endorsed a key part of the Abbott government’s higher education reforms: funding private colleges and TAFEs to provide higher education courses.

In a submission to the House of Representatives inquiry into TAFE, the SA government backed the move to fund non-university higher education providers and to extend Commonwealth funding to sub-bachelor degrees.

These were recommended in a review by David Kemp and Andrew Norton which preceded the federal ­government’s reforms announced in last month’s budget.

“South Australia supports such ­policy and funding changes as ­recommended by Kemp-Norton,” the SA government submission said.

SA Higher Education Minister Gail Gago said on Saturday the federal ­government’s plan to recognise and fund sub-bachelor degrees delivered by the SA TAFE system was welcome.

“The extension of funding of ­sub-bachelor program’s to TAFE SA and other registered higher education providers provides an opportunity for TAFE SA to access Commonwealth funding for its diploma and advanced diploma courses on an equal footing with universities,” she said.

“TAFE SA already works closely with a number of universities in terms of providing opportunities for students to transfer to university and have recognition for their studies in TAFE SA and the recognition and funding of these sub-bachelor programs delivered by TAFE SA is welcome.”

In backing the expansion of funding, to private colleges and TAFEs, Labor in South Australia has split from federal Labor, which opposes the policy.

nɥºɾ

[cherry*135]

TAFE funding cuts: Labor calls for rethink

April 2014

Shellharbour MP Anna Watson says cuts to TAFE funding will "rip the guts out" of the education provider in the Illawarra.

Illawarra Labor MPs Sharon Bird, Ryan Park, Stephen Jones and Anna Watson met leaders from the NSW Teachers Federation and the Australian Education Union in Wollongong on Monday to discuss changes to TAFE funding models.

Services, courses, teaching hours and basic facilities have recently been reduced or cut entirely from Illawarra campuses, but enough is enough, according to those on the ground.

‘‘Why rip the guts out of TAFE in an area of high unemployment, where we need jobs?’’

Maxine Sharkey, assistant general secretary of the NSW Teachers Federation, said it was important providers such as TAFE offered education services at a local level.

‘‘We’re working with local MPs to keep services in the Illawarra, so people don’t have to go to Sydney to study,’’ she said.

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2203453/tafe-funding-cuts-labor-calls-for-rethink/

[cherry*135]

Here we have an area with the second highest rate of youth unemployment in NSW.

What is Abbott's answer to that?

1. Earn or learn

2. Cut services and reduce courses at TAFEs in this area

Make sense? NO

Tertiary sector unites in funding concern

June 18, 2014, 10:30 p.m.

While Tuesday's state budget revealed a $1.8 billion investment in TAFE institutes across NSW, Mr Long said this did not accurately represent the experiences of TAFE teachers and students in the Illawarra.

"On the ground courses are being cut, teachers' hours are being cut, some teachers are being made redundant," he said.

"We're concerned that there's teachers who are losing work, or in some cases the courses are being reduced so students are getting less hours."

He said there were particular worries in the region about the future of Dapto TAFE and a reduction in study time for trade students.

Mr Long said the Federation would continue to campaign to halt the privatisation of vocational education in NSW.

"The history of TAFE getting people skills, getting them engaged with society and community and formal education, to get people really important skills to set them up for the rest of their life is based on a model of public education, not profit making."