@katistrophik wrote:
Just want to put this out there too - Re: COVID
I could not understand the increase in Jobseeker, I really couldn't and I still can't.
As far as I am concerned (and this is just me remember) but because I had NO JOB to lose, interviews for jobs were NOT allowed in person, so no costs to get to them, WHY did I need (qualify for) the extra money ?
My son definitely needed it, he is in Hospitality and they were shut down early on - 25th March, so he needed the payment to live and pay bills as did many, but it cost me no extra money during COVID, and I can not for the life of me imagine it would have cost other 'unemployed jobseekers' any thing extra either.
What am I missing?
I asked exactly the same thing Kat. Life really didnt change a lot for majority on the dole, so not sure why their payments were doubled. I'm a shift worker, and some fortnights, those on the dole were bringing home more than me, for doing no more than sitting at home doing nothing, while I slog my guts out, being called out in the middle of the night, working severely sleep deprived.
All those increased payments will do is, the long term bludgers got used to the extra money, then it goes back to normal and they scream poor. Apparently the ones who were benefiting the most with the increased payments were the online gambling sites. They went into overdrive. Even the drug dealers were screaming poor because they couldn't go interstate to buy their stash.
I totally agreed with helping those who lost their job due to the pandemic. I did not agree one bit with doubling the dole, as it served absolutely no purpose. It gave most more money to buy meth, grog and smokes. What will they do when things go back to normal? They certainly won't be out there looking for a job.
