Michael Klapdor
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Michael Klapdor
@mklapdor.bsky.social
800 followers 650 following 630 posts

Social policy researcher at 🇦🇺 Parliamentary Library, Canberra
Mostly welfare, social security, family payments, child care, veterans
Personal account | Impersonal observations

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The Parliamentary Library of Australia is a significant research and information service that supports the Parliament of Australia. Established in 1901, the library is an integral part of the Department of Parliamentary Services and provides independent, impartial and comprehensive information to members of Parliament, namely members of the Senate and House of Representatives, their staff and the broader parliamentary community. .. more

Political science 53%
Education 13%
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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · Oct 31
Parl Library has updated the Digest for the Social Security Technical Changes No. 2 Bill to include analysis of the new measure allowing Home Affairs Minister to stop payments to persons subject to an outstanding warrant for a serious violent or sexual offence: parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/dow...
Screenshot of text on p. 18 of Bills Digest: 'Cancelling payments for fugitives Government amendments to the Bill, proposed and made in the House of Representatives on 29 October 2025, added new Schedule 5 to the Bill. The Schedule will enable the Minister responsible for the Australian Federal Police (AFP)—currently the Minister for Home Affairs—to issue a notice to the Minister for Social Services which requires the cessation of certain social security, family assistance, and parental leave payments as well as concession cards where a person is subject to an outstanding arrest warrant for a serious violent or sexual offence. The measure was not previously announced.

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 3h
2026 Parliamentary Library Issues and Insights publication is now live. Includes briefs on the care economy, the aged care workforce, the future of money, tobacco control, political violence, mis/disinformation, freedom of expression, 4-day work week, + funding R&D www.aph.gov.au/About_Parlia...
Issues and Insights
Issues and Insights
www.aph.gov.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 4h
This Bill is listed for debate in the House of Reps today
mklapdor.bsky.social Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 1d
Background material from Parl Library on the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026.
Bill amends child support + social security laws that don't align with policy and practice. Child support changes are retrospective. parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/dow...
Screenshot of Key Points section of linked Bills Digest. Key points • The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 (the Bill) amends child support and social security law to: – align child support legislation with Services Australia’s long-standing practices in relation to the start date of child support periods and eligibility for child support for parents/carers with less than 35% of the care of a child – retrospectively apply the child support amendments and validate previously unlawful decisions – provide legislative authority and a framework for urgent payments to social security recipients outside standard fortnightly payment instalment periods – clarify the operation of employment income assessment rules for social security payments in relation to a partner’s employment income and for when rates are calculated following a payment suspension or claim for a new payment. • The Commonwealth Ombudsman investigated 2 of the 3 child support issues addressed in the Bill. In relation to 1 issue, the Ombudsman found Services Australia had knowingly failed to comply with child support legislation for 6 years. • The Ombudsman did not investigate 1 of the child support issues relating to the start date of child support assessments. It is unclear how long government agencies have been aware that start date decisions were being made unlawfully, and what the impact on families has been.'

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 1d
Background material from Parl Library on the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026.
Bill amends child support + social security laws that don't align with policy and practice. Child support changes are retrospective. parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/dow...
Screenshot of Key Points section of linked Bills Digest. Key points • The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 (the Bill) amends child support and social security law to: – align child support legislation with Services Australia’s long-standing practices in relation to the start date of child support periods and eligibility for child support for parents/carers with less than 35% of the care of a child – retrospectively apply the child support amendments and validate previously unlawful decisions – provide legislative authority and a framework for urgent payments to social security recipients outside standard fortnightly payment instalment periods – clarify the operation of employment income assessment rules for social security payments in relation to a partner’s employment income and for when rates are calculated following a payment suspension or claim for a new payment. • The Commonwealth Ombudsman investigated 2 of the 3 child support issues addressed in the Bill. In relation to 1 issue, the Ombudsman found Services Australia had knowingly failed to comply with child support legislation for 6 years. • The Ombudsman did not investigate 1 of the child support issues relating to the start date of child support assessments. It is unclear how long government agencies have been aware that start date decisions were being made unlawfully, and what the impact on families has been.'

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

abcnewsbot.bsky.social
ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 1d
The convicted Christchurch terrorist and murderer is giving testimony in the New Zealand Court of Appeal as he seeks to vacate his guilty pleas over his 2019 attack on two mosques.
Christchurch terrorist in fiery exchanges in NZ Court of Appeal
The convicted Christchurch terrorist and murderer is giving testimony in the New Zealand Court of Appeal as he seeks to vacate his guilty pleas over his 2019 attack on two mosques.
www.abc.net.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 1d
Have always loved Kudelka's cartoons featuring Lancaster bombers - my grandfather was a navigator during WWII just like his. This multipanel piece on Anzac Day really resonated: thenib.com/anzac-day/
RIP to one of the best to ever do it. I'll stay away from Tassie out of respect
One of the panels of the linked comic on Anzac Day by Jon Kudelka. Depicts him as a kid with his grandfather, smoking, looking up at the stars. Jon asks him 'what was it like flying a bomber?'. The grandfather replies, 'Frightening'.

Reposted by Parliamentary Library, Jo Barraket, Joanna Tai , and 1 more

leroylynch.bsky.social
Leroy @leroylynch.bsky.social · 1d
Cartoonist Jon Kudelka has passed away, his wife Margaret has confirmed.
www.facebook.com/margaret.kud...

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 1d
Cloud lifting over Woden valley. There’s a roo hiding behind the rock on the right.
Photo of Woden valley from Mt Taylor. Rocks and trees in the foreground. Tall buildings in the middle distance and a wave of cloud in the background.

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

rhtebooks.bsky.social
Richard 塚正ー緑 @rhtebooks.bsky.social · 3d
WHO'S IN THE CAGE NOW BITCH?!?

Reposted by Parliamentary Library, Nathan P. Kalmoe

washingtonpost.com
The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 3d
In a city packed with mighty real estate titans, they are the small ones.

New York landlords say they are at their breaking point as Mayor Zohran Mamdani begins to implement even more aggressive tenant-friendly policies.
NYC’s small landlords say they won’t survive Mamdani plan to freeze rent
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has criticized landlords and vowed to freeze what tenants in rent-stabilized apartments pay monthly.
www.washingtonpost.com

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 3d
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...
www.aph.gov.au

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

abcnewsbot.bsky.social
ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 4d
A 26-year-old man has been convicted in the ACT Supreme Court of sexually assaulting two girls at Canberra Reptile Zoo.
Man convicted of sexually assaulting two girls at Canberra Reptile Zoo
A 26-year-old man has been convicted in the ACT Supreme Court of sexually assaulting two girls at Canberra Reptile Zoo.
www.abc.net.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 5d
New social security and child support Bill introduced:
- amends child support leg. to align with policy and practice (and validates previously unlawful assessments)
- provides for weekly or urgent payments
- clarifies employment income assessment rules
parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/sea...
parlinfo.aph.gov.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 5d
Many pre-Dec 2020 debts were calculated using an unlawful method. The gov passed a law to say the debts were ok and lawful. This scheme will make payments to people who might have been affected in recognition of the fact their debts might have been incorrectly calculated.

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 5d
In 2024-25, Disability Employment Services suspended the payments of 69,208 participants with a partial capacity to work (166,306 total suspensions).
Suspensions applied to those with psychiatric conditions, neurological conditions, autism and brain injuries. www.aph.gov.au/api/qon/down...
Screenshot of linked Answer to a Question on Notice - 2 tables showing the disability records of DES participants with a payment suspension in 2024-25.

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 5d
Services Australia sampled historical debts and found a majority of those related to employment income were affected by income apportionment.
There are potentially millions of affected debts from this period - gov estimated around 900,000 people will apply apply for the scheme.
mklapdor.bsky.social Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 5d
ICYMI Income Apportionment Resolution Scheme is open for applications. Scheme pays the debt amount (<$200) or up to $600 (>$5,000) per debt.
Eligible debts were raised Sep 2003 to Dec 2020 + likely to be affected by the previously unlawful method:
www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/income-appor...
Screenshot of Services Australia website: "Who is eligible for the Resolution Scheme You may be eligible for the Resolution Scheme if all the following apply: - you received an employment income debt for a debt period between 20 September 2003 and 6 December 2020 - your debt was likely to be affected by income apportionment and raised before 5 December 2025 - you haven’t been prosecuted and found guilty of fraud in relation to your debt - your debt has not been previously waived in full or zeroed before 30 January 2026. You can apply for the Resolution Scheme if your employment income debt was affected by income apportionment between 20 September 2003 and 6 December 2020."

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 5d
More information on income apportionment and the resolution scheme provided in the Bills Digest for the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentar...
Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025
Key points The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025 (the Bill) will: retrospectively validate social security payment rate calculations...
www.aph.gov.au

Reposted by Patrick Dunleavy

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 5d
ICYMI Income Apportionment Resolution Scheme is open for applications. Scheme pays the debt amount (<$200) or up to $600 (>$5,000) per debt.
Eligible debts were raised Sep 2003 to Dec 2020 + likely to be affected by the previously unlawful method:
www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/income-appor...
Screenshot of Services Australia website: "Who is eligible for the Resolution Scheme You may be eligible for the Resolution Scheme if all the following apply: - you received an employment income debt for a debt period between 20 September 2003 and 6 December 2020 - your debt was likely to be affected by income apportionment and raised before 5 December 2025 - you haven’t been prosecuted and found guilty of fraud in relation to your debt - your debt has not been previously waived in full or zeroed before 30 January 2026. You can apply for the Resolution Scheme if your employment income debt was affected by income apportionment between 20 September 2003 and 6 December 2020."

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 6d
Consultations on the future of income management finished in December 2024. No announcements in the year since. www.dss.gov.au/income-manag...
www.dss.gov.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 6d
As at January 2026, there were 32,848 people on income management (IM):
- 8,907 under original IM (BasicsCard)
- 23,941 under Enhanced IM (SmartCard)
- 8% (2,631) were voluntary participants, 92% compulsory
- 81% of people subject to IM identify as Indigenous
data.gov.au/data/dataset...
Australian Government Income Management Program - Data.gov.au
Updated data for the Australian Government’s Income Management (IM) program will be available on the third Thursday of every month. The data summary will include: Table 1. Number of IM participants...
data.gov.au

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

houseofcommons.parliament.uk
House of Commons @houseofcommons.parliament.uk · 6d
The House of Commons sits from 11.30am today.

The #OrderPaper is published each sitting day and lists the business of the House.
House of Commons Order Paper Tuesday 3 February 2026, link in post for full Order Paper.

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

abcnewsbot.bsky.social
ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 7d
The federal government has revealed how its NDIS alternative for some children under eight will work.
Thriving Kids model released after months of uncertainty
The federal government has revealed how its NDIS alternative for some children under eight will work.
www.abc.net.au

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

jeremypoxon.bsky.social
Jeremy Poxon @jeremypoxon.bsky.social · 14d
This latest ombo report, called "Following the law is not optional," can be found here: www.ombudsman.gov.au/__data/asset...
Commonwealth Ombudsman report "Following the law is not optional An investigation into the actions of Services Australia and the Department of Social Services to address an ongoing issue of non-compliance with the law"

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

robertarnol.bsky.social
Rob Arnol @robertarnol.bsky.social · 14d
In other Tasmanian news ….

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 15d
Thank you @pixelatedboat.bsky.social for this fb memory
Photo of old white guy with a big moustache. Text over image says: ‘Mal "Chubber" Chub Ate a bloody big load of sausages. Legend.” Screenshotted tweet reads: ‘Pixelated Boat @pixelatedboat Congratulations to the Australian of the Year!’

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 17d
JobSeeker numbers have been slowly climbing in line with the slow rise in unemployment

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 17d
Thanks! The Parenting Payment Single changes just explain that dip in September 2023. Would have hit the million mark a while ago if it wasn't for those changes

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 17d
Not in terms of the total number of recipients but today's numbers are relatively low as a % of the population. In the early-mid 1990s the number of people receiving unemployment benefits got up close to 900k - above 7% of the population aged 15-64. www.aph.gov.au/About_Parlia...

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 17d
I have a historical timeseries of income support as a % of 15-64 but need to update with 2025 figures (need to request 2025 data from DSS to account for changes in their data reporting). Used for the charts in this brief: www.aph.gov.au/About_Parlia...
Working-age income support recipients
Issue The proportion of Australia&rsquo;s population aged 15&ndash;64 receiving income support payments reached record lows in 2023 and 2024. This was driven by a strong labour market and pre-COVID-19...
www.aph.gov.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 17d
In December 2025, there were 1,009,370 recipients of JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other). First time since April 2022 there were more than 1 million recipients of these payments (note the Sep 2023 Parenting Payment eligibility changes have affected the totals). data.gov.au/data/dataset...
Line chart showing the total number of JobSeeker and Youth Allowance (Other) recipients from March 2019 to December 2025