Antipoverty Centre

IT'S HERE: From today you can get our new "Mutual" obligations rights guide – digital or in print It explains in clear terms how people can and can’t be penalised to cut through job agency bullshit. It’s for people with compulsory activities, community sector workers or anyone who wants to help.

Protests call for Centrelink to 'stop profiteering off poverty' as payment cancellations resume

💯 I would also add the fact that it often costs more money to design & implement these debt collection programs than they get back in debt repayments. Our neo-liberal status quo loves to keep their proverbial boot on the necks of everyday people who at the end of the day are just trying to survive.

Oh for goodness sake, raise the rate and END mutual obligation. Mutual obligation only serves those who make money from administering it. And is a cruel rhetoric demonising those who are victims of our economy's supposed need for at least a 4.8% unemployment rate. @tanyaplibersekmp.bsky.social

Why not tax gas companies instead of hounding poor people?

It is even worse than that, because the only reason they are able to do this at all is because they've spent over 3 years ignoring this Robodebt Royal Commission recommendation to restore the ordinary statute of limitations to social security debts. They're relying on the Coalition's Robodebt laws.

“The ‘Mutual’ Obligations Survival Guide is designed to cut through the bullshit and give people confidence that when something sounds like a lie, they can point to the evidence that it is,” – Jay Coonan

As Centrelink penalties resume this week, @antipovertycentre.org has launched a new survival guide to help welfare recipients understand their rights and protect themselves from unfair treatment. Read the full piece on The Point: https://sbrew.link/Spnhj3iD

Why does the government insist on trying to recover blood from a stone? If they want to aggressively recover so-called debts from people who've relied on Centrelink payments, they should at least wait until they can actually afford to live. @kristin8x.antipovertycentre.org on the latest debt BS

This is obscene. It's always the people most marginalised & in need of support who government seeks to claw back budget savings from. How about cut defence spending fewer people need to flee their homes in the first place & provide meaningful support so refugees can feel safe & live a decent life.

If you're on FB, check us out on ABC News Breakfast today talking about the latest Centrelink debt recovery bs

Here's a map of where the "Mutual" obligations guide is going! So grateful to those who ordered free copies so far. Can't wait to get them in the post. Whether you're a welfare recipient, community sector worker or just want to support people on Centrelink, get them here: bit.ly/OrderMOsRigh...

Keeping people in poverty is a choice. I would rather abolish the "fundamentally fucked system" But for the mean time, this will guide you through your rights under the shitfuckery of mutual obligations. #Centrelink #ServicesAustralia #Unemployment #JobAgencies #AusPol

Up early? Tune in to ABC News Breakfast TV to hear from @kristin8x.antipovertycentre.org on income apportionment debt recovery and unlawful “mutual” obligations in 10 minutes

Thank you so much, I will be downloading your guide. Even if you aren't receiving a centrelink payment, you may be able to use it to help someone that is. Labor is bringing back taking away people's payments today, even though it is unlawful, it seems Labor is also bringing back robodebt, be aware.

🚨 If you have received a message like this today please understand your mutual obligations HAVE NOT CHANGED. The government is trying (poorly) to inform you that they have resumed payment cancellations for certain mutual obligations breaches. I have attached the information you actually need:

Rather than recalculate these, Labor passed new legislation to retrospectively validate debts they had already conceded were illegal. Now people are having to go back decades to find evidence with which to defend themselves. This is beyond indefensible. Spitting in the faces of Robodebt victims.

NEW rights guide for people in employment services How to resist job agency bullshit, avoid punishments, and find the easiest pathway through mutual obligations. Share far and wide Online version here: t.co/t4HSnyzbuq Order a physical copy here: t.co/iCxKnNTWY9

The department doesn't want you to understand what a valid reason is, because it's easier for providers to make money off you if you don't know what you can and can't be punished for. Here are some examples from our new MOs survival guide (order a free copy here: bit.ly/OrderMOsRigh...)

She said since the changes there had been situations where he has been unable to have his catheter or stoma changed, which also impacted his quality of life. "It impacts his dignity, and it impacts the small moments of independence that he can have," she said.

“This is systemic & structural racism at play. Governments committed to improve the economic prosperity & social and&emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people... These kinds of measures... demonstrate how governments are failing on those commitments.” – Nick Espie, NATSILS

More info via @antipovertycentre.org "Our concerns remain largely unanswered and we are yet to receive a satisfactory response to issues raised by members of the reference group about the lawfulness of the TCF, including the use of payment suspension penalties."

'turning the temperature down' is also nowhere near as effective at reducing violence as strongly and generously meeting people's immediate health, welfare, wellbeing and educational needs

everyone should get one of these, even if it's just for the art

This may also apply if you have had compulsory activities at any time between 2020 and 2025, and your payment was cancelled.

🚨 For people in the mutual obligations system If your payment was incorrectly cancelled from 2020, you may be eligible for compensation You don't have to wait for the Department to contact you. Check your eligibility and make a claim here: www.dewr.gov.au/assuring-int...

We've been cooking up a book and it's off to the printers! We'll get you one of these bad boys for the palm of your hands, either digitally or physically by filling out the form👇 Thanks to Judy Kuo for the art! tr.ee/wolSRyLBbK

Unhoused man found dead and the dogs may have mauled him before he died or afterwards. Really sad.

That's right – if your payment is currently on hold, the suspension will be lifted next Monday even if you don't do anything

"Losing income support has catastrophic consequences for people in poverty, causing significant distress, putting strain on relationships and derailing people as they try to manage complex challenges or make progress towards their goals." Questions of the legality of suspensions remain unanswered.

We've shared some key info for people who have compulsory activities. Crucially, regardless of why your payment is suspended, any suspension will be lifted automatically on Monday 26 October.

The Australian government is punishing the most vulnerable in society again. @albomp.bsky.social won’t be remembered fondly. #auspol

Without safe housing people, children, families are in danger.

The government is putting on a great show of transparency around its handling of this massive welfare scandal – but the sleight of hand is not distracting us from the fact that the whole system of punishment appears to be operating unlawfully. Most payment cancellations start again next week.

Little more personal today x www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2026...

This is what’s wrong with the world! Not immigration, which is just a smoke screen. It’s that the billionaires are getting richer and everyone else is getting poorer.

“Poverty kills but the cause of death is always written as heart attack,stroke or suicide.”

"None of this is broken; it’s working exactly as intended The violence against people in poverty is everywhere; it is constant, it is systemic and crafting a pitiful image of destitution to mark Anti-Poverty Week is not going to save anyone’s life" Jay from @antipovertycentre.org #AntiPovertyWeek

To his credit, he did not hide in his office with the lights off. Video of our speeches coming later.

"The violence against people in poverty is everywhere; it is constant, it is systemic and crafting a pitiful image of destitution to mark Anti-Poverty Week is not going to save anyone’s life." – our co-coordinator Jay Coonan on @thepointau.bsky.social for Anti-Poverty Week READ:

I fucking hate our neoliberal so called government