‘Below the poverty line’: Murray slams govt inaction on Jobseeker and Age Care payments

[@vensimo4293]

The young will get old one day it doesn’t take long mate it’s a blink of an eye I’m a bit older than you and keep going like we do . But like you said we are not important anymore but only to our love ones. You spoke with truth and compassion 👏😘

[@caroliner2029]

Good work Paul. Thank you for this report.

[@vensimo4293]

Paul well said mate the older people looking for work have done everything they can in their lives to do the best they can for there family when over 60 it’s hard to say in a job I’m the lucky one but I see it often

[@Magdalene_Madeddu]

I have a friend who is 50 and unemployed, she basically has her entire jobseeker go towards rent. For food and living she has $15 a week. It's disgraceful.

[@axle.australian.patriot]

It's become untenable. I look at the gutter every day knowing that it is going to be my home soon :(

[@aycasummersford3768]

My life at the moment I’m better of in the street then I can eat thank god for my kids

[@galacticnemesis366]

Well she should go and get a job then. 😎👊👍🇦🇺

[@franktully3065]

​@@galacticnemesis366Sometimes easier said than done.

[@Magdalene_Madeddu]

@galacticnemesis366 it seems to get harder for those the older they get. People prefer to employ younger people. I've helped her with applications and practice interviews etc, it's not always easy.

[@gazman2769]

Where's the relief? Took my 1500 and slugged me with medicare levi of 1400.

[@Bushkaboo]

A friend in Ipswich was paying $340 a week for rent and it got hiked up to $590 a week. Insane.

[@dalesmith4985]

Rent is high in Bundaberg too

[@alexwoo3504]

​@@Worldfire_Interactivethey also need to cap the interest rate, make sure it is not up for consecutive 13 times. The rent jump just reflecting the jump for the interest rate, it is lag off around 1 year already.

[@LesleyStoddard]

@@Worldfire_Interactive iNVESTMENT PROPERTIES are expensive to have no joke.

[@rhyno1740]

That happened to my mate.

[@xenatron9056]

It is forcing people to open up their homes to strangers, just so they can keep their home. It's is disgraceful.

[@orionfrost]

disability pension for people with disabilities living independently getting thrown under the bus again

[@itsmexena4727]

Yeah of course 🙄 I'm so sick of it 😒

[@rogermckinnon5738]

Nothing has changed under labor. They will always screw us over.

[@galacticnemesis366]

@@itsmexena4727you can blame that on the ones who rort the system. 😎👊👍🇦🇺

[@Dave-ml4ws]

Yep pretty much. I have to live with a family member. Can't afford to independent. No wonder I'm miserable all the time.

[@Dave-ml4ws]

@@galacticnemesis366 No, I blame a shit government that has done nothing about housing crisis and cost of living.

[@crosseyedone7960]

I disagree, there is one section of the community that is not "hurting" but rather doing very well - State and Federal Politicians, thankyou very much.

[@gregoryellsmore2095]

You forgot the Public "Servants". Take a look at their massive salaries.

[@emmakelly9694]

Good on you Paul Murray and good on Sky News for saying it how it is. Thank you.

[@axle.australian.patriot]

At near 60 and living with chronic heart failure "On Jobseaker" my outlook is not good. Body is shot, but my mind is OK. I have taught myself a new career with certificates for some parts. But try walking into an interview at 60 with chronic heart failure and 0 experience in that workplace... Never ends well and the gutter looks closer and closer. And when the gutter day comes because the rent and electricity is more than jobseaker I will get spat on and abused and called a bum like every other person who is there through no choice or fault of there own.

[@tagiscom]

I offer free advise about how to trade on the stock market successfully, just type in archimedes forum for more info,

[@stephenpage-murray7226]

43.3% of those on JobSeeker have a disability/chronic illness. I’ve got more chance of becoming PM than they have of obtaining further employment.

[@vivianhull3317]

Any centrelink payment is living under the poverty line. Has been for decades

[@Matt_Wilson01]

Its a stop gap its not meant to be a long term choice, way too many lazy carnts in this country

[@rhyno1740]

And the amount of money they deduct from your dole payments if your partner is working, is bloody ridiculous.

[@aycasummersford3768]

I don’t even want to wake up each morning that’s how sad it is

[@wladyslawkoros7245]

Sorry for you that's so hard .

[@Matt_Wilson01]

Ever consider getting a job

[@aycasummersford3768]

@@Matt_Wilson01 I have never been unemployed in my life every job interview I go to the say I’m too old they don’t know the value so please don’t chastise by saying get a damn job I’ve worked 43 years

[@rickman2267]

Let's get some politicians on centrelink payments for a month and see how they go!

[@Matt_Wilson01]

Atleast the politicians are willing to WORK, sick of hearing people cry about dole bludgers with no intentions to ever get a job

[@davidmccarthy6390]

Paul! Why do people think a government running a surplus is a good thing?? They are NOT a business and you CANNOT look at them like one! All that means is they have taken in more tax income than they have paid out,...so they should lower ALL taxes if they are running a surplus! Governemnt surpluses are usually made by cutting essential services to save money!!!

[@darrennash2752]

100 percentage 👍

[@AI_Karen]

Thankyou you are correct

[@GenevaBible1560]

People on job keeper are not only doing it tough, job providers treat a lot of these people poorly. The job providers are wroughting the system there making millions and sending the money to America.

[@darrenashley126]

I am disabled, my Dr in 2010 in Adelaide said I have to stop working. I was attacked by a mentally ill client in 2003. In 2011 I moved to Vic to be near my daughter and have been fighting to get on a pension ever since I can't stand for more than 5 min and sit for more than 30 min yet I am accused by the job provider that I refused to get a job. I would love a job but how can I when I am in bed 22 hours a day? One of the reasons I get rejected is that I gave up drinking myself to death 15 years ago. I feel they just want me to shut up and die. I am in so much pain that I told my Dr on my 50th birthday that If it keeps going like this I hope to pass away in my sleep by the time I'm 60. Typing this has taken 34 min because I have arthritis and my fingers are killing me due to the weather getting cooler. I've had enough of this government and I need help.

[@rogermckinnon5738]

Unfortunately, I can relate, and I currently have basically the exact same problem. It's a case of go home, take a disprin and walk it off, according to them.

[@Chad.H.]

I hear you man . Its time to rally to sack this phsyco

[@Nanjo-x9v]

I hear you. Same

[@AussieDungie]

i hear you mate i have arthritis on my lower spine and the pain i get just from walking and bending over all the time and just doing small jobs around the house

[@davidcruse6589]

I'm with you on that had multiple operations can't stand or walk more then 20 to 30 mins a day can't do steps Specialist wrote letter saying can't work even tried legs blew up so bad after 4 days they sacked me and put 82 yr old they had there to finish the day even though I wanted to and can't get pension either still under appeal for almost a year now So I can relate mine was work injuries as well and like you I'd rather work But besides both my leg issue's I have age issue's with employers now lost my truck licence to get disabled parking because my legs Just hang in their try to get outside in sun and nature it's good for mental health How they could think anyone wants to live this way tells you they've never had to But treat everyone the same as criminals trying to scam the system Only ones doing that are the corporations running the government's disability services Cheers as I can relate

[@fluffycat6489]

The elderly get treated horrificaly by everyone and I really do not like it.

I completely agree fluffycat!! 😣😣😠😠😡

[@vincentcacciola7161]

Totally agree but we voted for this crapp

[@colinyates7485]

I am an aged pensioner on the normal Centrelink pension and I live very comfortably, then again I don’t smoke or gamble.

[@razz0r1980]

Under 400 a week... when basic rents 500+ per week.... doesn't take a mathematics expert to work out that if you earn over 80k and live week to week on a pay check and you loose your job. If you got nothing saved or credit to get you through, you end up homeless and loose everything. Centerlinks not saving anyone!

[@lesliewatt9344]

You really get sick of their bulls:;t

[@stephenpage-murray7226]

Looks like Chalmers has been shamed into an increase.

[@seanudal]

A lot of people have no employment and no benefits. Family and friends are looking after many people whilst struggling themselves. Albo has no idea.

[@kaiseylee]

Need to address the fact that we can be unpersoned under these new Centerlink rules and left with absolutely no income coming in for months on end.

[@MyGuy27]

I'm an age pensioner. I worked full time for 46 years and looked after myself. We got an increase of $9 a week in March 24. Lower than the $15 low paid worker will get in the next tax change. My basic bills have increased much more. The only thing Labor has done about cost of living is put put their own wages.

[@catdog726]

I am a 70 year old pensioner who spends 80% of my pension goes on rent and power bill I only have one meal a day because I run out of money before next pension I don't drive my car because I can't afford to because of food costs

[@redruby5689]

We are still struggling, every stage of our lives...young families, retired, pension and unemployed. Businesses closing....they are just hiding a recession and something is going to brake.

[@navajojohn9448]

It looks like the jobless benefit is 50% of the weekly minimum wage rate.

[@aaronaaron3003]

And the average rent is more than the Centrelink benefits. Just wait until you or one of your family members get cancer or need surgery and can't work. Iv been trying to find work for 3 years now after 4 back surgeries and haven't ever knocked back a job what do you suppose I do? Iv paid more in tax than a lot of people as a pressure welder. Your not allowed to just sit around and knock back jobs if you knock back a job you loose your payments these days so there are very few people who want to be Centrelink payments like you obviously think.

[@itsmexena4727]

​@@aaronaaron3003I'm so sorry mate, I hope you can get a job soon.

[@vexile1239]

I looked after my mum from 2016 to '22, they never gave me full carer assistance because she was semi-independent, she is asleep now, she needed a pacemaker but was denied because she wasn't 65

[@aaronaaron3003]

@@vexile1239 I'm sorry for your loss mate that's heavy 😞. My father had two heart attacks 6 months apart in 2021 when he was 55 he has slowed down dramatically because his heart was damaged pretty badly it hurts so much to see he almost didn't make it both times so he was lucky. He has had open heart surgery & a triple bypass surgery that was hard to see it made me quit cigarettes.

[@lynndonharnell422]

So throwing the odd billion anywhere and everywhere is not inflationary???

[@RonaldBridge]

Tradies want a $1000 to wake up in the morning

[@peterremkes9376]

Haven't we been talking about the level of jobseeker and pensions for years and years, not just in the last two years

[@gregoryellsmore2095]

So?

[@peterremkes9376]

@@gregoryellsmore2095 So? Why criticise only Labor for keeping payments low but not the Liberals who did the same thing.

[@slavbrav69]

​@@peterremkes9376i wasnt struggling when liberal were in power , duh

[@peterremkes9376]

@@slavbrav69 neither was I and am not struggling now. I just live within my means.

[@ce244]

Inflation is THE reason why people are doing it tough. Duh, Chalmers.

[@shaunepegrum]

I’m on a disability pension and this month I got a total of $23. What am I meant to do with that.

[@peterhatch206]

Instead of wasting billions on competing with high tech on quantum computers and nuclear submarines . Our first priority should be to raise all pensions to the minimum wage and all pensions should be equalised .,

[@rhyno1740]

Well I've just had some positive news. Got an email saying I'm perfect for a job i applied for. Just gotta send them some stuff now. 😊

[@aycasummersford3768]

I was self employed business was so bad towards the end I sold it at ridiculous to pay debts landed a job that lasted 3 weeks as they went under was forced on to Centrelink at 60 I pay 900 rent a fortnight have 51 dollars left what do I do with that I’m genuine in looking for work they see me as a 60 year old I miss out I eat at my children’s houses they pay my phone I’m literally under the poverty line first time on Centrelink I have paid taxes for years from a moderate life to this :(

[@xenatron9056]

Food and beverages have increased way more than 3.2%. My food bill has almost double what I used to pay and my trolley is meagre. No ice cream for me, no treats for me, and times that by all the households in Qld. The Albanese administrations is seriously, a pathetic joke.

[@biagiomarchese9065]

The ALP need that budget surplus too buy you vote in election year ??

[@Cotterpin_Doozer]

Yep, they need to squeeze the surplus from honest hardworking private sector Australians to plump up the more rort prone public sector funded jobs and payrises/labour votes in the next budget.

[@NathanMulvay]

Carersbl can work but dont get job network assistance or any help to find work like jobseeker has. We save Australian s money by careing for loved ones instead of being in a facility

[@deidrethompson765]

And Ukraine got how much of our money?????

[@leojansen2773]

We the pensioners are the ones that build this country and get treated like shit when they are finished with us.

[@stuartobrien78]

Im on the Disability support pension. Ive been on it for 30 years. I can work but i don't think Work Force Australia is very flexible.

[@myeverythingworld8123]

Fantastic job things are just great

[@stephenpage-murray7226]

Average age on JobSeeker is 50. Largest recipient group are women over 60 (136,000+), 43.3% have a disability/chronic illness and unable to work a normal job. Coalition introduced a $10k bribe to businesses to ‘encourage’ them to hire JobSeekers, it failed. Business want young, fit/healthy young candidates, they’re not on JobSeeker!

[@stuartobrien78]

I'm on the Disability pension and in social housing in kew, and I think I still find the cost of living going up.

[@AI_Karen]

So giving 100m to Ukraine doesn't fan inflation?

[@hereweare9096]

The whole thing is shady all these countries giving 100s of millions to Ukraine. For what..

[@trevormaurer3684]

While I agree with Pauls view that jobseeker is to low I always find his views inconsistent one night he complains about how much welfare ( correct term social security ) is costing the nation and the opposite the next. Its the same with the surplus when we have on why its not being used then complains about Government running deficits for years and not paying off debt

[@LynMurray-j1z]

Take off the fuel excise so everybody gets a reprieve maybe supermarkets can bring prices down

[@rachaelcourtnell7275]

Oh the job seeker does still have a vote, not that government care until they lose.

[@mdancey19.37]

Try living on dsp...which is same amount as the aged pension.

[@robinwood590]

The World Ecnomic Forums Budget, they could not think for themselves these UN puppets.

[@DanielAbell-q2l]

I'm old 52 years old. But I'm alive. Iive with 5 adults. Between us the is 3 children. This is just it. My house mates work I don't .free childcare. All out money goes to rent and food. Can't even take the kids fishing.thos sucks

[@ETERNITY777]

😡😡 HEY ALBO THE HOMELESS WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU 🤑😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

[@shanehansen3705]

better to raise the earning threshold before loss of moneys from newstart to encourage people to stand on their feed instead of on others it's better to find some work that can lead to more than none

[@merinsan]

Welfare is one of the reasons for the cost of living crisis - the government takes so much money in tax to support all the welfare it provides.

[@itsmexena4727]

No, it's giving Ukraine 100 million, spending 600 million on a referendum No one asked for all the pointless spending, I mean they gave Hamas 46 million 😉 they could've spent all this on fixing their own country.

[@merinsan]

@@itsmexena4727 It's one of the reasons. Not the only reason. Certainly wasting money giving to Ukraine, and running a pointless referendum are not helping too. But the main problem is wasting money, which means government needs to tax too much. Most people effectively pay over 50% tax - this slows business investment and leads to higher costs.

[@KuriosDiogenesJar]

If you listen to the Trolls at the Reserve Bank, the unemployed are the heroes saving "The Economy " Bankers making human sacrifices to their God.

[@YBS6589]

Will this effect the salaries of all jobs? 🤔 i know it probbably will, but im skeptical

[@Thisisnolongerajoke]

Without foodcare in orange nsw I would starve

[@normgodfrey3204]

Don't cover up the result fix the cause

[@user-jz1ht8ry2w]

Ageism? No, this is Australia. Aussie, aussie, aussie, we, Australians all look out for each other. Vote Albonese, he sees Australians as the most well off people in the world thanks to his government.

[@KingsleyThomson-j1w]

Andrew Charleton talking the Labor BS spin he looks like a robot reading from a blackboard,,, Grim Jim will shuffle the numbers to make him look like the worlds best treasurer and Albo and his clowns will bask in the glory!! Its all spin and BS,,,,

[@vincentcacciola7161]

Welcome to Australia a digital zoo

[@patrolgirl2006]

If the government stopped or halved the amount of money being sent overseas will help Australians alot.Everyone relies on tax returns to help catch up on bills.

[@DogSKiD]

Leave Melbourne and find a job, everything outside of major cities have next to no work, the cities are filling up with the young and the towns are being over run with retirees. Hervey bay has a prolific amount of aged care and pokie machine venues, you either work in health or you are retired here.

[@patfallon3027]

When the government tells the Australian public what they are spending money on , they are just rearranging the deck chairs while the Titanic is sinking and polishing the brass at the same time

[@trickyboy1517]

Do you honestly expect us to believe you care about people living in poverty, Sook? :I

[@DominicPelleREAL]

Yes, we care because Labor created them. If you were anything approaching a man, instead of a clown, you'd care too.

[@trevormaurer3684]

Paul loves his nightly whinge its how he makes his living

[@navajojohn9448]

Albo can do like China to reduce the pverty rate. It lowered the rate to $1.00 a day is considered poverty.

[@itsmexena4727]

Don't give them any ideas 😅

[@axle.australian.patriot]

@@itsmexena4727 Heck no, alblo already takes enough out of the CCP rule book.

[@Learning2read650]

Cute rings

[@gavinelliot3564]

Govt/distcusting mess.next

[@kane-vn6bn]

gov taxes and income higher than ever yet money not going to citizens, LABOR

[@vernonwhite4660]

Look at East asia very few pensions . My mrs in Thailand gets 600bt /month A$30 /month age pension. Your in la la land😊

[@galacticnemesis366]

I do support those who actually need support and I’m not saying all people on jobseeker or disability pensions are rorting the system. I have however seen first hand those in society who are career welfare culture rorters I’m talking about those who actively watch and seek out anyway they possibly can to get things like emergency payments by scamming the system they then frantically send messages to everyone else they know to do the same. There’s also the bullshit single parent family. Mums on single parent benefit while Dad still working and living in the home and providing meanwhile Mums gambling the whole pension away trapping Dad into working harder and longer hours so his kids have food on the table. We need stronger compliance. I do not agree that we should be paying people to not work. There’s plenty of bogans on the dole who could work but choose not to. The whole system needs a reboot. 😎👊👍🇦🇺

[@rjclue2630]

My mate finished his medical science degree in Sydney but no job cuz he is now 45 😂

[@vadersfather1248]

The greed of nurses ,police ,ambulance drivers ,firefighters and tradies has caused this because every time they get their pay rise they push up the average weekly wage and the government assumes we all make that and costs go up every time

[@alancotterell9207]

Labor has inherited a poisoned chalice. Was that not to be expected after all of the self-serving LNP shit ? - 10 YEARS !

[@gregoryellsmore2095]

Ahh, so it's someone else's fault? It was never as bad as it is now

[@colonelklink9911]

If Murray sacrifices his meal allowance no Australian will go hungry in 2024.

[@gregoryellsmore2095]

You're a nasty little gremlin, aren't you.

[@aishasgoat5759]

Violence is wrong no matter who commits it but if you push people to far they will break so when a government makes it financially difficult to live then takes way right to speak and changes family law and makes it harder to run a small business to live you get what we have rates of suicide and violence going up and I thought Labor cared about this as they spend billions talking about it if you listen to self centred Albanese.

[@antontsau]

Choose one, not both - we want to have working economy or we want to provide good life for everybody. Yes, we do not have enough money to satisfy everybodys wishes, we can not support those who do not work on level above poverty (50K pa, to pay rent, bills, food and so on), especially if our beloved government rapidly wastes money and kills economy with all their wef agenda. Unfortunately no one sends us money from Mars, all these welfare payments come from working taxpayers, and we are not so rich to give them generous. We have our own problems to solve. And for all these poor jobless pensioners - more vote for labor, they promise-promise (not give!) you much more. YOU chose all this economy nightmare, YOU get the result.

[@coopsnz1]

$60000 under poverty line , ,we pay so ,much taxes why it is