Author | Lightnews

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Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 17h

They have disabilities, pensions and get little support. They’re also among thousands rejected by the NDIS each year

Disabled people and their advocates are exhausted and frustrated but say it’s worth fighting for a system that ‘really does change lives’ * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Scott Hallett, 49, has that country stoicism. He’ll tell you that, at any point in time, his legs will stop working and he’ll collapse – but it’s not that bad. He’ll tell you that one time it happened and the fridge came down on top of him, but that’s nothing to worry about. He’ll tell you that, around his house in Yarraman, in regional Queensland, he has piles of supplies, muesli bars and water, because sometimes he can’t get up for days after one of his falls. He once had to lie there for a week, in his own mess, because he couldn’t get up. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Tom Studans @maximumwelfare.bsky.social · 17h

One of the lessons of Robodebt was that institutions, advocates and their organisations should be very careful in providing communications on behalf of these departments. Just a few years ago, Services Australia was re-writing Ombudsman reports.

We remember. Do you? Act like it.

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Tom Studans @maximumwelfare.bsky.social · 10h

• That is >$220m that would have to be repaid on these numbers, which to the extent they're accepted by Services Australia can't be considered a definitive account of those affected until we see some evidence.

• No full media releases have eventuated from anyone quoted here before the weekend 🤔

Revealed: some Australians have overpaid their Centrelink debt by more than $20,000

Exclusive: Services Australia spokesperson says automatic BPay payments and Centrelink being unable to contact customers may be to blame

Overpayments to Centrelink, affecting 44,000 Australians, is ‘the latest of several breaches of the Social Security Act’, according to the acting CEO of Acoss, Edwina MacDonald.

Approximately 44,000 Australians who have a debt with Centrelink have overpaid it, some by $20,000 or more, Guardian Australia can reveal.

It is the latest in a string of scandals to hit Centrelink after hundreds of thousands of people had their payments illegally cancelled, with several reviews concluding the welfare system is not working legally and the government announcing plans to undertake at least three remediation processes for separate issues – the robodebt class action, income apportionment and overpaid debts.

Economic Justice Australia, which has been briefed on the overpayment issue by Services Australia, said while some overpayments are in the tens of thousands, the average amount was about $5,000.

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Glen Ryan @silverdory.bsky.social · 10h

First flying duck (Caleana major - large duck orchid) of the spring near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. Only a few scattered plants out in flower here but quite a few more of these very distinctive orchids in bud nearby - despite the recent dry conditions. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

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Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 20h

Purpose of a system is what it does

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 3d

While the Bill affects millions of debts + DSS expects close to a million people to access the resolution scheme - there were no submissions to this inquiry from affected individuals other than a message from someone imprisoned with an affected debt that @antipovertycentre.org included

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 3d

Senate Community Affairs Committee has tabled its report into the Social Security + Other Leg Amndt (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025. Bill includes validation of income apportionment, establishes a resolution scheme and makes changes to debt waiver provisions www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentar...

Tabled documents

Documents presented (tabled) in the Senate and the House of Representatives since 2022 (the 47th Parliament). Documents presented prior to this and information for government departments can be access...

www.aph.gov.au

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Cat Walker @kelpieunicorns.bsky.social · 3d

I got on my soapbox about this at a reference group meeting two weeks ago. I know the LinkedIn post would have been seen by NDIA staff.

Yet, this misleading claim is still published and lulling participants into a false sense of security twenty days later.

That's a choice.

#NDIS #Auspol

Cat Walker @kelpieunicorns.bsky.social · 22d

If the NDIA are going to start raising debts against confusing, unworkable in/out lists, they can at least be honest about the lack of formal review rights they defended throughout 2024.

Creating a false sense of security isn't fair on participants.

#Auspol #NDIS

Dear National Disability Insurance Agency: This is false and misleading information. There is NO formal right to review whether a debt should exist. This messaging is dangerous and unfair. It… | Cat...

Dear National Disability Insurance Agency: This is false and misleading information. There is NO formal right to review whether a debt should exist. This messaging is dangerous and unfair. It create...

www.linkedin.com

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Cat Walker @kelpieunicorns.bsky.social · 3d

Still waiting 🧐

Cat Walker @kelpieunicorns.bsky.social · 22d

This overdue request for full NDIA + #NDIS Review emails has been delayed AGAIN after an ETA for this week.

Topic: 'Cost Drivers' presentation + feedback from May 2023.

Right after the States raised concerns re 'complexity' of patients unable to access disability support.

My reaction: 👀

#Auspol

Unredacted copy of FOI 24/25-0761 (NDIS Review correspondence) - a Freedom of Information request to National Disability Insurance Agency

I am writing to request an unredacted copy of the documents released under FOI 24/25-0761 for the purposes of the FOI Act, along with the presentation materials referred to in the documents released. ...

www.righttoknow.org.au

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Pookleblinky @pookleblinky.bsky.social · 6d

"The aim was to induce personal crises in victims, leaving them too unnerved and psychologically distressed to have the time and energy for anti-government activism"

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Tom Studans @maximumwelfare.bsky.social · 8d

Yeah no it's not law or policy it's a secret third thing that totally determines how the law is applied in a very legal way that also very conveniently means it can't be appealed legally, at law.

[Excerpt from FOI of Targeted Compliance Framework mutual obligations rules]

12.2.7 Participants cannot appeal Demerit decisions under Social Security Law

All Participants have the right to ask for a review of a decision made under Social Security Law and, in most cases, to appeal the decision to a tribunal or court. This includes decisions to suspend a Participant’s Income Support Payment as a result of non‑compliance and decisions made by Services Australia to reduce or cancel their Income Support Payment.

Demerit decisions are not decisions under Social Security Law and so Participants cannot appeal or ask for a formal review of any decision to confirm a Demerit using the same processes as those that apply for decisions under Social Security Law. However, Participants may dispute Demerit decisions.

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Tom Studans @maximumwelfare.bsky.social · 8d

If you're in the way of a particular budget outcome they will directly attack the rights and lives of your community whatever the situation.

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MJ O’Neill 🏳️‍⚧️ @mjoneillchw.bsky.social · 8d

Basically, the Australian political class as a whole is aligned on one central belief - that poor people should be subject to worse laws and treatment than rich people. That’s Centrelink, robodebt, mutual obligations, ndis, all of it.

Tom Studans @maximumwelfare.bsky.social · 8d

A lot of very talented lawyers and legal academics/analysts are easily absorbed trying to understand 'mutual obligations' on its own terms. But the aim is, as in Robodebt, simply to construct a vaguely-deniable parallel rule of law for recipients.

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Jeremy Poxon @jeremypoxon.bsky.social · 6d

Huge story here. Daniel had his payments illegally cancelled by the Mutual Obligations system. After years of bravely fighting, he exposed the error and won the backpay he was always legally entitled to

Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 7d

Centrelink illegally cancelled Daniel’s jobseeker payment. He fought back against the system – and won

After taking his case to the administrative review tribunal, Daniel’s complaint then went to the commonwealth ombudsman, which is now investigating Centrelink * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Daniel’s chest tightened, his stomach dropped. The Centrelink worker at the end of the line told him his jobseeker payment had been cancelled. But he knew it wasn’t right. Daniel is one of an estimated 310,000 Centrelink recipients who had their payments unlawfully cancelled between 2020 and 2024 because they were incorrectly told they had not met their mutual obligations under the scheme. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Jeremy Poxon @jeremypoxon.bsky.social · 6d

This has massive ramifications, and hopefully inspires many other victims of unlawful mutual obligations decisions to demand justice from the government.

If you're in this cohort, and would like support, please get in touch: [email protected]

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Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 7d

We could start with a Human Rights Charter

Wendy Harmer @wendyharmer.bsky.social · 7d

My good God, reading about USA politics is both exhausting and scary.
Here in Australia, we should be both alert and alarmed.
Protect our precious and fragile democracy - with its checks and balances- to stop the contagion.

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A Little Thought @alittlethought.bsky.social · 14d

The NDIA justified the lower support worker hours by saying “you have the capacity to partake in leisure activities of your choosing at home independently such as watching TV, using your phone or reading.”

“My existence doesn’t revolve around sitting in four walls and looking at a TV,” D’Netto says

El Gibbs @bluntshovels.bsky.social · 14d

“It makes you feel like, ‘am I even a human to you guys?’. What’s the point of being here? Will that save your budget?” Kieron D’Netto

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Kieron relies on NDIS after surviving a catastrophic diving accident – but new rules could put his life at risk

Brisbane man is one of hundreds reporting devastating cuts to NDIS plans after rule changes last year

www.theguardian.com

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Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 11d

NAAC defends the decision not to hold robodebt public hearings. Pathetic www.canberratimes.com.au/story/908769...

National watchdog defends no robodebt public hearings

The national anti-corruption commission is investigating six public officials tied to the illegal robodebt scheme that resulted in...

www.canberratimes.com.au

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Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 11d

We’ve been saying this forever. The social media ban will harm kids

ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 11d

LGBTIQA+ advocates are concerned the social media ban will have a significant impact on queer youth in regional and remote areas of Australia. They say there are not enough offline, physical supports for these teens to access when the ban comes into effect.

LGBTQIA+ advocates say social media ban will 'cut off' regional queer teens

LGBTIQA+ advocates are concerned the social media ban will have a significant impact on queer youth in regional and remote areas of Australia. They say there are not enough offline, physical supports for these teens to access when the ban comes into effect.

www.abc.net.au

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Powerd Media @powerdmedia.bsky.social · 11d

Powerd Media sat down with Jordan Steele-John to discuss how his upbringing shaped his passion for implementing social and political change.

Read more: https://loom.ly/nTSeN3c

Alt text is available on all images.

#Disability #Accessibility #Inclusion #AusPol

Text reading: Powerd Media sat down with Jordon Steele-John to discuss how his upbringing shaped his passion for implementing social and political change. And a photo of Jordon Steele-John in a dark shirt and white pants sits smiling at the camera.

Text reading: In 2017, Mr Steele-John became the youngest Senator in the history of Australian politics as well as the first person with a physical disability to be elected at the ripe age of 23. As a result of his position, Parliament House was renovated to include a fully accessible office for Mr Steele-John and a wheelchair accessible space within the Parliamentary Chamber. And a photo of Jordon Steele-John in a dark shirt and white pants sits smiling at the camera.

Text reading: The Senator argues that climate change is a specific threat to the disability community. “We will all continue to live through climate…in a context where our emergency service systems so often let us down, so often think of us last and therefore put us at higher risk.” And a photo of Jordon Steele-John in a dark shirt smiling at the camera.

Text on a grey background reading: He went on to claim that the Australian government needs to improve the collaboration process with the disability community, specifically regarding the NDIS and the Thriving Kids initiative. “There should be services and supports that are in place beyond the NDIS, but they must actually meet community need rather than political expediency.”

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Mx. Fee - FREE LINK @mxfee.bsky.social · 14d

This is the NDIS the ALP and @albomp.bsky.social want. They truly do not believe that disabled people are human, or should ever be seen in public.

#AusPol

Excerpt from the article that reads as below.

In it, the NDIA planner justified the lower support worker hours by saying: “The evidence demonstrates that you have the capacity to partake in leisure activities of your choosing at home independently such as watching TV, using your phone or reading.”

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Jeremy Poxon @jeremypoxon.bsky.social · 15d

Now that the Deloitte report, about the government's unlawful administration of mutual obligations, is making international headlines, it's worth looking at what's actually in it (apart from AI slop) and WHY it was actually commissioned

A thread👇

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Jeremy Poxon @jeremypoxon.bsky.social · 15d

Labor's employment minister rep admits that payment suspensions "cause harm", but they're "an important part" of the (unlawful) mutual obligations system, because

"At the end of the day we want ppl to get off payments and find a job"

gross 'best form of welfare is a job' stuff from the ALP here

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Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 15d

Frankly I want them to be as odd as possible. Make your change agents extra weird

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Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 15d

Pre-print: Complex Genetics and Regulatory Drivers of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Insights from Genome-Wide Association Study Meta-analysis pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41001447/

Complex Genetics and Regulatory Drivers of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Insights from Genome-Wide Association Study Meta-analysis - PubMed

These results establish the first evidence of common variant contributions to hEDS, supporting a complex, multisystem model involving neuroimmune-stromal dysregulation. Our findings add novel indicati...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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