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/
Rehab consultant wants to discuss shifts with me today.
They're rostered for the next month. I'm guessing he's angling at signing me on to a progress plan.
This stuff is so boring.
I'm returning to work as fast as is safe for me.
I don't need to be babysat.
I'm a casual - don't make me insecure.
They're rostered for the next month. I'm guessing he's angling at signing me on to a progress plan.
This stuff is so boring.
I'm returning to work as fast as is safe for me.
I don't need to be babysat.
I'm a casual - don't make me insecure.
December 14, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Rehab consultant wants to discuss shifts with me today.
They're rostered for the next month. I'm guessing he's angling at signing me on to a progress plan.
This stuff is so boring.
I'm returning to work as fast as is safe for me.
I don't need to be babysat.
I'm a casual - don't make me insecure.
They're rostered for the next month. I'm guessing he's angling at signing me on to a progress plan.
This stuff is so boring.
I'm returning to work as fast as is safe for me.
I don't need to be babysat.
I'm a casual - don't make me insecure.
Happy holidays to everyone on income support.
Mutual obligations are paused until 5 January for both Workforce and Inclusive Employment Australia.
AUWU will have your back when they return. Don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Mutual obligations are paused until 5 January for both Workforce and Inclusive Employment Australia.
AUWU will have your back when they return. Don't hesitate to reach out to us.
December 14, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Happy holidays to everyone on income support.
Mutual obligations are paused until 5 January for both Workforce and Inclusive Employment Australia.
AUWU will have your back when they return. Don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Mutual obligations are paused until 5 January for both Workforce and Inclusive Employment Australia.
AUWU will have your back when they return. Don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Shitty sleep.
But that's ok. I lay on the couch for hours with my eyes shut.
Marshmallow got my attention a few times.
Caffeine will be injected into my blood very soon.
It's going to be a busy and productive day. That's why I'm getting in some breathwork and meditation first.
But that's ok. I lay on the couch for hours with my eyes shut.
Marshmallow got my attention a few times.
Caffeine will be injected into my blood very soon.
It's going to be a busy and productive day. That's why I'm getting in some breathwork and meditation first.
December 14, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Shitty sleep.
But that's ok. I lay on the couch for hours with my eyes shut.
Marshmallow got my attention a few times.
Caffeine will be injected into my blood very soon.
It's going to be a busy and productive day. That's why I'm getting in some breathwork and meditation first.
But that's ok. I lay on the couch for hours with my eyes shut.
Marshmallow got my attention a few times.
Caffeine will be injected into my blood very soon.
It's going to be a busy and productive day. That's why I'm getting in some breathwork and meditation first.
@phonakins.com
Heya, we might launch a petition as a way to raise awareness and drive recruitment to the campaign to scrap PIT.
It should include a link to the community Discord.
We'll try to build a broad coalition first.
We're meeting APC and PWDA today. Other groups have signalled interest.
Heya, we might launch a petition as a way to raise awareness and drive recruitment to the campaign to scrap PIT.
It should include a link to the community Discord.
We'll try to build a broad coalition first.
We're meeting APC and PWDA today. Other groups have signalled interest.
December 14, 2025 at 10:41 PM
@phonakins.com
Heya, we might launch a petition as a way to raise awareness and drive recruitment to the campaign to scrap PIT.
It should include a link to the community Discord.
We'll try to build a broad coalition first.
We're meeting APC and PWDA today. Other groups have signalled interest.
Heya, we might launch a petition as a way to raise awareness and drive recruitment to the campaign to scrap PIT.
It should include a link to the community Discord.
We'll try to build a broad coalition first.
We're meeting APC and PWDA today. Other groups have signalled interest.
Business as usual. The Labor government is putting the boot into the poors.
They create unemployment, force the unemployed through a correctional social engineering program, then penalise them for supposed personal failures in their activity or administration.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
They create unemployment, force the unemployed through a correctional social engineering program, then penalise them for supposed personal failures in their activity or administration.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Almost half of people using employment providers threatened with payment suspensions, new data shows
Government not maintaining ‘effective oversight’, with majority of decisions being overturned, commonwealth ombudsman found
www.theguardian.com
December 14, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Business as usual. The Labor government is putting the boot into the poors.
They create unemployment, force the unemployed through a correctional social engineering program, then penalise them for supposed personal failures in their activity or administration.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
They create unemployment, force the unemployed through a correctional social engineering program, then penalise them for supposed personal failures in their activity or administration.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
Institutionalised psychological abuse - an integral aspect of a system that blames individuals for govt choice to maintain unemployment
Despite two damning ombudsman investigations, this Department has learnt nothing.
The fact that people regularly overturn unlawful suspensions of their payment does not justify unlawfully suspending their payment. It's incredible that this still needs to be pointed out
The fact that people regularly overturn unlawful suspensions of their payment does not justify unlawfully suspending their payment. It's incredible that this still needs to be pointed out
December 14, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Institutionalised psychological abuse - an integral aspect of a system that blames individuals for govt choice to maintain unemployment
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
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?