Rob of Melbourne
@robert24039377.bsky.social
Doer of things, sayer of words.
Longer form writing found here: https://gaijinrobert.wordpress.com/
Longer form writing found here: https://gaijinrobert.wordpress.com/
I'm reading the second research paper on Centrelink's Partner Income Test.
I can't stress enough how bad this is.
If its intention were to ruin lives, it's a success beyond people's wildest dreams.
It's rarely discussed publicly. It's so ugly you don't really want to know about it.
I can't stress enough how bad this is.
If its intention were to ruin lives, it's a success beyond people's wildest dreams.
It's rarely discussed publicly. It's so ugly you don't really want to know about it.
December 13, 2025 at 5:36 AM
I'm reading the second research paper on Centrelink's Partner Income Test.
I can't stress enough how bad this is.
If its intention were to ruin lives, it's a success beyond people's wildest dreams.
It's rarely discussed publicly. It's so ugly you don't really want to know about it.
I can't stress enough how bad this is.
If its intention were to ruin lives, it's a success beyond people's wildest dreams.
It's rarely discussed publicly. It's so ugly you don't really want to know about it.
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
The ALP need to realise they will be criticised whatever they do, so how about do things that are good? And do things to please those who voted for you not those who never will.
The AFR run a 2 year campaign to get the ALP to weaken the changes to super tax concessions to make it easier to avoid paying the tax.
The ALP does it.
The AFR criticises the ALP for weakening the policy because people can avoid paying the tax.
My column #ThePoint
thepoint.com.au/news/251213
The ALP does it.
The AFR criticises the ALP for weakening the policy because people can avoid paying the tax.
My column #ThePoint
thepoint.com.au/news/251213
The rich get tax advice; the poor get lectures: super tax saga lays bare a skewed system
A new report on the amount of revenue expected to be raised by the changes to superannuation tax on balances over $3m highlights yet again how the tax system is weighted in favour of the rich and that...
thepoint.com.au
December 12, 2025 at 11:04 PM
The ALP need to realise they will be criticised whatever they do, so how about do things that are good? And do things to please those who voted for you not those who never will.
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
When we choose not to tax wealthy people and corporations appropriately we are choosing children in poverty and aged stuck in hospital beds, we choose suffering for the many for the privilege of the few
Well, we don’t choose, governments choose for us
Well, we don’t choose, governments choose for us
"Australia passes a shameful milestone: over one million children now living in poverty" #ThePoint
thepoint.com.au/news/251212-...
thepoint.com.au/news/251212-...
Australia passes a shameful milestone: over one million children now living in poverty
For all the focus on inflation, interest rates and cost-of-living pressures this year, the nation quietly passed a shameful milestone in 2025, ensuring a bleak Christmas for more Australian families t...
thepoint.com.au
December 12, 2025 at 12:46 AM
When we choose not to tax wealthy people and corporations appropriately we are choosing children in poverty and aged stuck in hospital beds, we choose suffering for the many for the privilege of the few
Well, we don’t choose, governments choose for us
Well, we don’t choose, governments choose for us
If anyone experiences problems with the job provider system, feel free to let AUWU Advocacy know.
www.auwu.org.au/esp-advocacy
www.auwu.org.au/esp-advocacy
It found that many people regularly receive misleading info from providers, that complaint processes are inaccessible, suspension & cancellation are regularly found to be wrong when reviewed, & that the process to compensate ppl for earlier unlawful decisions have been unfair & unreasonable.
#Auspol
#Auspol
"Disability organisations reiterate the call for the Government to stop all Centrelink payment penalties and end the Targeted Compliance Framework following another alarming report from the Commonwealth Ombudsman about the harms within the mutual obligations system" dana.org.au/call-to-end-...
December 12, 2025 at 6:36 AM
If anyone experiences problems with the job provider system, feel free to let AUWU Advocacy know.
www.auwu.org.au/esp-advocacy
www.auwu.org.au/esp-advocacy
As a cat owner, I can't express what a joy it is having Marshmallow in my life.
It took me a moment to find her!
It took me a moment to find her!
December 12, 2025 at 1:26 AM
As a cat owner, I can't express what a joy it is having Marshmallow in my life.
It took me a moment to find her!
It took me a moment to find her!
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
"The government cannot continue to defend a system that is demonstrably unlawful, harmful, and ineffective.
Employment services must be reimagined as a system of dignity and support, not punishment and surveillance" - @canberratimes.bsky.social
Read more: archive.is/sRWSJ
Employment services must be reimagined as a system of dignity and support, not punishment and surveillance" - @canberratimes.bsky.social
Read more: archive.is/sRWSJ
December 10, 2025 at 2:14 AM
"The government cannot continue to defend a system that is demonstrably unlawful, harmful, and ineffective.
Employment services must be reimagined as a system of dignity and support, not punishment and surveillance" - @canberratimes.bsky.social
Read more: archive.is/sRWSJ
Employment services must be reimagined as a system of dignity and support, not punishment and surveillance" - @canberratimes.bsky.social
Read more: archive.is/sRWSJ
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
"Australia passes a shameful milestone: over one million children now living in poverty" #ThePoint
thepoint.com.au/news/251212-...
thepoint.com.au/news/251212-...
Australia passes a shameful milestone: over one million children now living in poverty
For all the focus on inflation, interest rates and cost-of-living pressures this year, the nation quietly passed a shameful milestone in 2025, ensuring a bleak Christmas for more Australian families t...
thepoint.com.au
December 11, 2025 at 10:45 PM
"Australia passes a shameful milestone: over one million children now living in poverty" #ThePoint
thepoint.com.au/news/251212-...
thepoint.com.au/news/251212-...
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
Pope never misses
December 11, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Pope never misses
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
A list of the organisations reiterating their call for the Australian govt to stop ALL payment penalties (incl suspensions) & to end the Targeted Compliance Framework.
December 11, 2025 at 7:03 AM
A list of the organisations reiterating their call for the Australian govt to stop ALL payment penalties (incl suspensions) & to end the Targeted Compliance Framework.
Literally the first result of search "Centrelink bootlicking"
December 11, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Literally the first result of search "Centrelink bootlicking"
Sorry, l can't help laughing at this one!
I hope they've been thoroughly cleaned!
I hope they've been thoroughly cleaned!
December 11, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Sorry, l can't help laughing at this one!
I hope they've been thoroughly cleaned!
I hope they've been thoroughly cleaned!
Brotherhood of St Lawrence report on the abusive Centrelink Partner Income Test below.
Let's keep the pressure up on government!
l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...
Let's keep the pressure up on government!
l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...
l.facebook.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Brotherhood of St Lawrence report on the abusive Centrelink Partner Income Test below.
Let's keep the pressure up on government!
l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...
Let's keep the pressure up on government!
l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...
Flare might be easing. First day I don't feel like I'm in mental and physical quicksand.
Fines Vic gave me an extension for their fine of riding through an empty pedestrian crossing at walking pace.
The admin for the appeal is a massive burden!
Fines Vic gave me an extension for their fine of riding through an empty pedestrian crossing at walking pace.
The admin for the appeal is a massive burden!
December 11, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Flare might be easing. First day I don't feel like I'm in mental and physical quicksand.
Fines Vic gave me an extension for their fine of riding through an empty pedestrian crossing at walking pace.
The admin for the appeal is a massive burden!
Fines Vic gave me an extension for their fine of riding through an empty pedestrian crossing at walking pace.
The admin for the appeal is a massive burden!
If I don't prove I'm 16 or over, what's Bsky going to do?
December 10, 2025 at 10:13 PM
If I don't prove I'm 16 or over, what's Bsky going to do?
Mutual obligations gets things backwards. Instead of putting the most vulnerable people on them and threatening to take away their ability to eat and pay rent, we should put the nastiest, most arrogant and most bigoted people on them - the same people punishing the poor panders to.
December 10, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Mutual obligations gets things backwards. Instead of putting the most vulnerable people on them and threatening to take away their ability to eat and pay rent, we should put the nastiest, most arrogant and most bigoted people on them - the same people punishing the poor panders to.
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
Somethings got to give
There is one overriding political problem, from which all others follow. Until it is addressed, every policy advanced by governments is window dressing.
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
Just 0.001% hold three times the wealth of poorest half of humanity, report finds
Data from World Inequality Report also showed top 10% of income-earners earn more than the other 90%
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Somethings got to give
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
The social media ban is the Platonic ideal of contemporary politics:
An ill-conceived, superficial "we must do something" response to a serious systemic issue
The real harm it will cause terrifies me
Can it inspire us to create a better politics?
in-between-days.ghost.io/the-social-m...
An ill-conceived, superficial "we must do something" response to a serious systemic issue
The real harm it will cause terrifies me
Can it inspire us to create a better politics?
in-between-days.ghost.io/the-social-m...
The social media ban and the end of politics
The Albanese government's teen social media ban, which came into effect this morning, is perhaps the Platonic ideal of contemporary politics.
It should make us all very angry. And then it should insp...
in-between-days.ghost.io
December 10, 2025 at 1:11 AM
The social media ban is the Platonic ideal of contemporary politics:
An ill-conceived, superficial "we must do something" response to a serious systemic issue
The real harm it will cause terrifies me
Can it inspire us to create a better politics?
in-between-days.ghost.io/the-social-m...
An ill-conceived, superficial "we must do something" response to a serious systemic issue
The real harm it will cause terrifies me
Can it inspire us to create a better politics?
in-between-days.ghost.io/the-social-m...
Why don't disabled people slogging through a difficult shift not get crip loading?
December 10, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Why don't disabled people slogging through a difficult shift not get crip loading?
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
I would watch the shit out of this buddy movie.
'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.'
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
December 10, 2025 at 8:53 AM
I would watch the shit out of this buddy movie.
Day 5 of flare
How am I supposed to work like this when I feel like I could collapse into a puddle? I opened a book and the words swam before me. Even a YT video seems beyond me...
How am I supposed to work like this when I feel like I could collapse into a puddle? I opened a book and the words swam before me. Even a YT video seems beyond me...
December 10, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Day 5 of flare
How am I supposed to work like this when I feel like I could collapse into a puddle? I opened a book and the words swam before me. Even a YT video seems beyond me...
How am I supposed to work like this when I feel like I could collapse into a puddle? I opened a book and the words swam before me. Even a YT video seems beyond me...
Trying to rest while in an unrestable state.
If there are any spoonies who can tell me how to overcome this hurdle, I'd love to hear from you.
If there are any spoonies who can tell me how to overcome this hurdle, I'd love to hear from you.
December 10, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Trying to rest while in an unrestable state.
If there are any spoonies who can tell me how to overcome this hurdle, I'd love to hear from you.
If there are any spoonies who can tell me how to overcome this hurdle, I'd love to hear from you.
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
My favourite entitlement expense scandal. I hope those dogs were happy!
December 10, 2025 at 12:18 AM
My favourite entitlement expense scandal. I hope those dogs were happy!
Am I banned from social media if I don't provide ID? Lemme have a look...
December 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Am I banned from social media if I don't provide ID? Lemme have a look...
